Chapter Eight

Preparing for Korriban

"Padme, it's time to go."

"I will miss you, my love," she said softly, pressing her face to his as she absently played with his golden brown locks.

"You don't have too, Padme. You can come with me."

"No, Ani. I can't. This is your mission. If Palpatine really is Sidious then I have work to do here in the Senate, to protect you when the time comes. Otherwise, you will be arrested for treason, Anakin. I couldn't bare that. Please Anakin, for me, go and do what you have to."

"I want you to come with me," he said sounding like a little boy again.

"I know you do, Anakin."

"But Padme-you are the mother of my children."

"Anakin, we both have a job to do. You will be fine. I will be fine, and soon we will be together again."

"Just be careful," Anakin said pulling her into a deep embrace. "I'm leaving behind one of my lightsabers, and a few blasters. Always carry one with you. I couldn't bare it if anything happens to you."

"I know."

"Before Obi-Wan arrives, I want to make love to you," he whispered as he began kissing her again...

"It will be a while before I get a chance to again. I'll need something to keep me going."

"So will I, my love." She returned his kisses passionately. He picked up his pregnant wife and laid her on a bench on her balcony.

"I want to see the moonlight on your skin as I make love to you."

Padme's heart began racing. "But we're in the view of people."

"I don't care," he replied kissing away her worries as the night air breezed against his now bare skin. She kissed the burn scar above his right eye. The only clothing left was his elbow length glove. As they drove themselves to the passion only they knew how to create. It consumed them until they lay wrapped in each other's arms listening to their breathing becoming steady once again as he reluctantly stood up and redressed. He used the force to carry her clothes as he picked her up and put her to bed, tucking the covers under her chin he placed a kiss upon her cheek. "I'll be back soon, my love."

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Obi-Wan had hacked into the computer system to put out the assignments for him and Anakin. Only council members knew the password. He smiled with irony as he typed in: Licnuoc. It was Council spelled backwards. Something so simple and yet no Knight or Padawan had yet broken. Actually, it used to be Yoda spelled backwards but his padawan had broken it. Adoy. It had been funny when Anakin had used the main system to reprogram all cleaning droids to speak like Master Yoda. He remembered the say he had gone into the mess hall to order lunch. "Have what will you, hmmm?" the droid had asked. Obi-Wan had glanced around to see if Master Yoda was around, before laughing himself. "Not so young am I," the droid continued. Obi-Wan had laughed harder than he ever had. At the time Anakin had just turned thirteen and it had been the funniest thing he had ever witnessed. "Eat or Eat not there is no try," the droid said impatiently, as Obi-Wan could not stop laughing long enough to order. He soon became aware of the entire Order staring at him. Afterall, it was very rare for him to laugh like that. He turned to see Anakin, grinning from ear to ear and looking at him expectantly. "Skywalker, follow me," he had said ominously and he briefly recalled hearing the other padawans. "Boy, are you going to get it Skywalker."

"Would you mind telling me what that was all about, Anakin," he had said careful to wipe away all traces of amusement away.

Instead of answering, Anakin posed a question to him instead. "Why are you calling me Anakin now, when you just called me Skywalker."

"Anakin, you are my apprentice. I think you should show a little more respect not only to me but too all the Masters here."

Anakin's eyes had gone all wide with innocence. "What do you mean, Master?"

"Anakin, I know what you did."

"What, Master?"

"I know you programed the kitchen droids to talk like Master Yoda?"

"Well, Master I just thought if he heard himself he would talk like every other being. Why does he talk like that?"

"It's not my place or yours to question Master Yoda."

"I know. But it was funny."

"Anakin, that's not the point."

"Admit it Master, it was funny."

"Anakin-"

"Besides, it's not my fault that I could figure out the Council's password."

"Anakin." And despite himself he had found himself asking. "What was it?"

He was rewarded with Anakin's grin. "Adoy. It was easy. Master Yoda is the supreme voice of the Council. It's Yoda spelled backwards. He doesn't like me, does he?" Anakin had asked the smile dropping from the boy's face.

"It's not a Jedi's place to like or dislike. A Jedi does not feel hate, Anakin."

"I know the Code master."

"But do you practice it?"

"Most of the time."

"That said, Anakin, I have not laughed so much since before Master Qui-Gon died."

"It still hurts, doesn't it? Missing someone."

Obi-Wan ignored the boy's question. The boy was getting tall, already he showed promise in being taller than Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan bent down and touched his still clean face where a bit of fuzz was growing. "Now, I think it's time we discussed your punishment."

"How about one week without listening to the Council," Anakin's suggested. "No meditating?" he asked when his Master shook his head.

"Nope. At dinner, I will have your punishment." Anakin's punishment had been to take down all the datapads from the library before cleaning the shelves and then cleaning the datapads themselves. He had been Jocasta Nu's personal assistant a whole week, which meant more meetings with the Council, for they were always wanting something from one datapad or another.

Obi-Wan shook his head clearing the memory. He put out the Order for him and Anakin to be sent to Korriban. Korriban was the sole planet in the Horuset System, located across the galaxy from Korus Major. It had been a burial world for the ancient Sith Empire. It was orbited by seven moons, Obi-Wan discovered, researching the planet that he had only heard about in whispers before Dooku had mentioned it to him. He was going to do something that went against everything he stood for: He was going to free the Sith apprentice; Count Dooku.

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"Obi-Wan Kenobi," came the excited voice of the youth.

"Hello again, Han."

"He's been restless these last few days. He talks alot. I kinda figure he's just bored, and embarrassed having been bested by Skywalker."

"How would you like to join me on my mission?"

"It would be an honor sir, but I'm afraid my superiors would forbid it."

"Leave that to me."

"Of course, Master Kenobi."

" I am here to take Count Dooku with me on a very important mission, I want you to accompy me."

"Are you sure that's a good idea. I'm just a kid."

"Go get your things."

"Yes, Master Kenobi," Obi-Wan watched the boy as he raced off. He reminded him of himself...was it possible? Obi-Wan shook his head, he would soon find out.

"Count Dooku."

"Master Kenobi. Well, what are you waiting for, get me out of here before my master legalizes my execution."

"Treachery is the way of the Sith," Obi-Wan replied before opening the cell.

"Which I have learned."

"About the promise you made to Anakin."

"I will uphold it. As soon as I get what I want."

"Come on rugrat," Obi-Wan told Han.

"I'm NOT a rugrat," he replied, as they went to find Anakin.

"Please try not to upset him," Obi-Wan told the Count.

"My Sith name is Darth Tyrannus," Count Dooku replied after a moment. "Your master was my padawan, in a sense you are like my grandson."

"Going by that logic. In a sense Anakin would be your great-grandson. So tell me gradfather why you would cut off my boy's arm?"

Obi-Wan was rewarded with a laugh. "It was the only way to end the fight quickly and I do so despise Jedi that have to use more than one lightsaber, it's not classic."

"But effective. Afterall, you have been shown the same mercy you showed my former padawan."

"Indeed."