R2D2 finally brought the starfighter back to the landing pad, and Anakin quickly jumped aboard, setting the coordinates for Naboo. "R2, set up a secure line to Obi-Wan."
R2D2 whistled and beeped affirmatively. Soon Obi-Wan's image was displayed on his ship's console. "Anakin, it's good to hear from you. It seems your suspicions of Palpatine were correct. Unfortunately, he escaped, and we have no idea where he went."
"I think I might know," Anakin replied. "But first, I need to tell you something in the strictest of confidences."
"Of course," Obi-Wan replied, somewhat puzzled.
"Obi-Wan, this isn't how I wanted to tell you this, but Padme and I are married."
Obi-Wan's jaw dropped in disbelief. "What? Married?" he stammered. "How? When?"
"Obi-Wan, please understand. Being a Jedi means more to me than anything in the world, but Padme means even more to me than that. You should know better than anyone how much she has meant to me throughout my life. We became close when I was assigned to protect her, and we were married shortly after the battle of Geonosis. Surely you understand the need for our secrecy in order to continue living our respective lives. I'm sorry I kept this from you for as long as I did, but the only other people who know are her family, R2, and 3PO."
Obi-Wan sat for a moment in silence, going over what this meant for his long time friend, his ally, his brother. If the council found out, he would be replaced in the council and then expelled from the order itself. The greatest of them, even the greatest in their long and distinguished history, cast off from their fellowship forever. It would be tragic indeed for the council, the order, and even the very galaxy. If it were to be known also that Obi-Wan had knowledge of this and didn't disclose it, he too would be replaced in the council. "Why are you telling me this now?" he finally asked.
"Obi-Wan, I need your help. Palpatine has kidnapped my wife, and is holding her on Onderon. He has a lot of troops protecting him, but nothing is going to stop me from rescuing her. Can I count on you?"
Obi-Wan seemed slightly offended. "Anakin, you are my brother. After everything we've gone through, you know I will stand by you, no matter what, even if I lose my position in the Jedi council. I will assemble the Jedi here for an assault on Onderon as soon as possible, and I will not divulge what you have told me." Somewhat as an afterthought, he added, "By the way, how did things go with Grievous?"
Anakin smiled wryly. "Master, you would have been proud. Let's just say that neither Grievous, the Separatist leaders, nor an entire droid invasion army are…functional anymore."
Obi-Wan let out a small laugh. "I knew you were the right man for the job. Anakin, you amaze me."
"Thank you, Master. I'll meet you at Onderon."
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Anakin skimmed above the surface of Naboo in his cloaked vessel. He couldn't afford to be seen right now, and he knew that Palpatine had spies everywhere. The regular landing pads were too big a risk, so he had to land in the open field near the waterfalls. The good thing was the Naberries owned the land. The bad thing was he didn't want to destroy any of the flora or fauna of one of his most cherished places in the universe.
He brought his craft down, and had R2 keep it hovering scarcely two feet above the ground. He jumped out of the cockpit, and headed immediately for the waterfall. He quickly entered the cavern and headed straight for the armor of the greatest Sith to have ever lived. He hesitated as he drew nearer, seeing the eerie power that the suit itself contained, but then realized this would only enhance his efforts in freeing his wife.
"Well, here goes nothing," he said, as he picked up the armor and began to don the dark apparel. He felt a slight tingling as he put on the suit, and although he fully trusted his ability to wear it, was still somewhat relieved when he didn't share the same fate as the last person to attempt to harness its awesome power. He discovered that it self regulated to maintain a stable temperature slightly cooler than the heat of the cave, and realized the benefits of this apparel in any environmental condition. He had thought it looked suffocating to wear, but realized that it was actually quite comfortable, and even seemed to enhance his movements. Everything about it seemed as if it were made truly for him.
As he slid on the shoulder armor and gauntlets, he could feel an energy surge through his very being, intensifying his strength. He could sense through the force the power that this suit added to his own, and he felt truly invincible.
Now all that remained was the helmet itself. He looked at it before putting it on, sensing the fear this must have spread to all who beheld it and died with this ominous sight being their last in mortality. He put on the face, and lowered the helmet over it, completely securing his body in a self sustained unit. He was surprised to find that instead of his vision being somewhat limited, his optic nerves seemed to be connected to the very mask itself, and his peripheral vision was enhanced.
Somewhat as an afterthought, he noticed his breathing. The mask seemed to amplify and deepen the sound of each inspiration and expiration, both becoming harsh and hollow in his ears. It almost gave him the feeling as the suit itself desired to live, yet was unable to do so without the proper host. Just having the suit on made him feel powerful enough to crash through the very walls of the cave itself without sustaining harm or injury.
"Impressive" he said, and noticed that his very voice was conveyed in low, amplified tones. "Most impressive." He felt a presence behind him and spun around, noting how his reflexes and movements had increased in speed, yet maintained control. He beheld the ghostly figure of Konath Ordon before him.
"The time has finally come for the Chosen One to destroy the Sith and remove their blight from the galaxy forever. You are truly a sight to behold, Anakin."
"I am honored for the trust you have placed in me, and I promise you, I will not fail," Anakin said.
"Remember, Anakin, that as it was our responsibility and obligation to bring you the knowledge of Dayoro, we must believe that Darth Sidious knows the long lost form of Tulak Hord."
"Thank you Master Ordon. I have been well prepared. I will not fail." Anakin then watched as the vision of Konath Ordon faded away, and he immediately turned and headed back to his ship.
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Here goes nothing, Anakin thought to himself as he came out of lightspeed near Onderon. He saw before him three Trade Federation battleships and a few dozen squadrons of vultures. "It's a good think I came out of lightspeed with my cloaking device activated," he muttered.
Even with his ship cloaked, he realized this wouldn't be easy. How am I going to destroy these without being seen? he thought. He had the element of surprise on his side as they obviously were oblivious to his presence, yet no immediate plan came to mind, so he just flew into the main hold of the nearest battleship and headed toward the main reactor just as he did in his Naboo starfighter over a decade ago.
Making his way through the maze of droids, blast doors, and random crates, he saw many droids look around in confusion at the obvious sound of a ship, yet with none in sight. As he got near the end wall, he skillfully swung his craft around one hundred and eighty degrees and gave his craft just enough thrust off the back wall to bring his ship to a near standstill. He then pointed the nose of his craft toward the main reactor and fired a proton torpedo before he sped off in the direction of his entrance.
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"Sir, battleship number two has just been destroyed!" a Neimoidian technician reported to the new Viceroy Haako.
"What?" he shouted. "How is that possible? There are no ships on our radar within within range of the planet, let alone something capable of destroying an entire battleship. Could it have been a malfunction?"
The technician frantically tried to find any information on the explosion, any distress call or computer message, but was unable to do so. Just then, a second flashing light appeared on his screen.
"Sir, we've just lost number one as well."
Rune Haako was beside himself. "What is going on here? All craft, full alert, and shields at maximum strength!" he shouted.
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Anakin was speeding through the spacious length of the main hold of the second battleship, experiencing the same joy and invigoration that he felt all those years ago when he was a boy podracing in the deserts of Tatooine. It's been far too long, he thought while dodging the many obstacles on his path to exit the exploding vessel. This really is a lot like podracing.
Just then, a distant explosion caused enough sway to dislodge an assembly beam that fell directly onto the back of Anakin's fighter, damaging the cloaking device. He burst out of the main hold as his ship came into view of the entire droid fleet.
"There he is," Rune shouted. "Destroy him!"
Anakin swerved in and out of the many towers and platforms that mired the surface of the battleship, firing shot after shot at the vultures swarming around him. For every craft he destroyed, it seemed that two took its place. He turned to see swarms of the droids pouring out of the main hold. "There must me a thousand of these things out here," he said in frustration as he flew between two towers with scarcely an inch to spare per side. The two vultures on his tail weren't so lucky as they exploded into a fireball that took out several others.
Rune Haako watched the battle taking place from the bridge of the last remaining battleship with mounting anxiety. "I want every available vulture out there," he shouted. The small Jedi craft was spinning in and out of debris, turning and accelerating at impossible angles, and destroying ships with seemingly every shot fired. He watched helplessly as even the wreckage of his destroyed ships would often take on a life of their own and smash into entire squadrons of his fighters. He turned his attention again to the Jedi fighter, tracking it as it weaved in and out of everything in its path, placing itself in perfect position for both offensive and defensive strikes, and performing maneuvers that even his vultures weren't capable of. "This is impossible! No pilot or machine is that good. Who is that out there?"
Obi-Wan and eleven other Jedi came out of lightspeed to a fantastic scene before them. The entire area was littered with the debris of hundreds of destroyed vultures and stray laser fire. His own ship was nearly hit by a seemingly random bolt, and he had to order the other Jedi to break formation in order to keep their ships intact. He found Anakin as he watched him make a micro jump into hyperspace to place him in perfect position to destroy an entire squadron.
Anakin heard Obi-Wan's voice crackle through his receiver. "I didn't know you had perfected that. Didn't I always tell you that was a foolish maneuver?"
"I believe your exact wording was 'That's suicide,'" Anakin said, as he destroyed another two vultures. "If it makes you feel any better, I only do it on very special occasions."
Obi-Wan smiled. "I hope you're saving some of those for us," he said, as the Jedi ships engaged the droid fighters.
"Master, I hate to do this, but I have to get down to the surface as fast as possible. Do you think you can finish up the rest of these?" Anakin asked.
"No problem," Obi-Wan said. "I'll join you as soon as I can."
"I was only able to take out two of the battleships, so I hope you guys can evade that last one," Anakin said as he flew toward the surface of Onderon.
You destroyed two battleships? Obi-Wan thought in disbelief. Anakin, you truly are amazing.