Obi wan rubbed his eyes roughly and yawned. He reached over to the bedside table and picked up his chrono. How long have I been asleep? He mused squinting his eyes trying to focus on the small screen in his hand.
"Ugh," he groaned placing the offensive object back on the small table. "Half past three in the morning how uncivilized," he mumbled. He stretched his arms still feeling the lingering aches from his last few run-ins with the Sith.
I wonder if they are still awake, he mused.
Pulling the covers away from his battered body the Jedi slowly moved his legs over the edge of his bed. He couldn't hear any talking. Standing up he stumbled over to the chair and grabbed his robe shrugging into it. He walked over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of dark brown sleep pants, dragging them up over his boxers.
Closing his grey eyes the Jedi searched the force, hoping for some indication of what awaited him outside his bed chamber.
It was eerily quiet.
A little too quiet.
Obi wan sauntered from his room trying to focus in the darkness. Bright blue and white lights flickered and danced on the wall of the sitting room behind the sofa. The holoscreen was still on with snow crackling across the screen. Whatever channel it was on had obviously retired it's transmission for the night. The quiet hiss hung in the air disturbing the silence. He retrieved the remote from the table and muted the volume, the irritating noise giving him a headache.
Staggering over to the sofa his eyes were instantly attracted to the red and green flashing lights on the dark lord's chest panel. He sighed releasing a deep breath he wasn't aware he had been holding. Running his hand through his hair he waited for his eyes to adjust, not believing the sight before him.
Vader was slumped on the sofa, his head tilted off to the side resting on the cushion with his eyes closed. His arm was lying protectively over his wife's shoulder draped across her chest.
Padmè was lying peacefully along the couch with her knees gently tucked up. Her head nestled on the dark lord's lap with one hand under her chin, dainty fingers wrapped over his thigh. His heavy black cape draped over her back dwarfing her tiny body.
They were both deep in sleep.
The dark lord mumbled something unintelligible as he shifted his head slightly, tightening his arm around his wife's body. They both had relatively peaceful expressions on their faces seemingly content with being together once more.
Turning off the holoscreen Obi wan dropped the remote onto the opposite side of the sofa and returned to his bedroom, feeling slightly more at ease knowing they were both now sleeping. Entering his bedroom the Jedi sat cross-legged on the floor resting his hands on his knees preparing to meditate.
"Don't get complacent Obi wan," Qui gon reminded him, taking a seat in the chair beside the bed.
The Jedi let out an exasperated huff. "Good morning Qui gon," he groaned turning to face the ghostly Jedi behind him. "I don't suppose we could postpone this conversation to a more civilized time?" he asked wearily raising his eyebrow.
Qui gon crossed his leg up onto his knee with a concerned look on his ethereal face. "I'm afraid not my old padawan. Anakin won't be asleep for much longer," he warned glancing over towards the door expectantly.
Obi wan closed his eyes and decided to try and meditate any way. "He looked pretty out of it to me," he replied quietly.
"It won't last Obi wan," Qui gon cautioned, "you must be ready."
The Jedi lifted his head at his late master, "be ready for what Qui gon?" he asked confused.
The ghostly master glanced once again at the doorway, "use your feelings Obi wan, may the force be with you," he said as he disappeared from sight.
Obi wan scratched his head in frustration, be ready for what? I don't sense anything, he thought furrowing his brow. Qui gon was trying to warn him about something, but he always spoke in such irritating riddles. Closing his eyes once again the Jedi prepared to meditate.
The force screamed at him and his eyes flew open. Shocked from his meditation he was suddenly on high alert and hurried into the sitting room. The dark lord was beginning to twitch and his breathing was shallow. Obi wan used the force to turn the lamps on beside the sofa casting a dull light over the room.
Vader's face was strained and contorted. His arm pulled tight around his wife's chest as he began to stir. The deep mumbling intensified as his head started to twitch, his eyes darting back and forth beneath their lids. Small beads of sweat appeared over his forehead and his feet shuffled on the floor.
He was having another nightmare.
Obi wan readied himself, perched on the opposite side of the couch waiting for his former padawan to awaken. He closed his eyes and felt along their old force bond trying to reach the Sith.
He felt suddenly cold.
Opening his eyes the Jedi glanced around curiously at his surroundings. A thick black haze hovered on the floor beneath his feet. Streaks of blue lightning crackled across the midnight sky illuminating the ominous storm clouds looming above. A shiver rolled through his body causing each hair on his neck to prickle. He was outside but he had no idea where, the landscape unlike any he had ever seen before.
Looking down at his feet he noticed he was in his formal Jedi robes and his lightsaber was dangling from his belt.
I guess I am in his dream, he mused taking a cautious step forward.
There was a deep red glow over the horizon separating the black ground from the stormy midnight sky. Another bolt of lightning shot across the clouds, the deafening crack making him jump back in shock. Far off in the distance he could hear what sounded to be like a woman crying and he instinctively moved to follow it.
Thunder rumbled in the sky causing the uneven ground to vibrate under his boots. The thick haze covering the ground was now climbing up his legs, chilling him to the core.
There were no trees or buildings to be seen anywhere, just the endless black fog separating the ground from the sky. He pushed on dragging his feet through the eerie mist feeling cold and alone.
Lightning cracked once again illuminating the landscape and with it Obi wan was suddenly transported into an icy room.
His breath hung in the air with each exhale forming tiny mist clouds in front of his face. He was surrounded by grey durasteel walls flickered with a glimmer of dull yellow light from the gently swaying lantern hung from the steel rafters.
A sudden blast of blue light lit up the room from the far end revealing three shadowy figures in the distance. He tried to move his feet but the black haze on the floor had wrapped itself around his legs trapping him to the spot. Drawing on the force he willed the mist to release him and it abruptly shrank back sinking deep into the cladded floor.
A piercing scream echoed through the chamber making him wince.
He edged cautiously forward trying to keep within the shadows hoping not to disturb the figures ahead.
A familiar hissing sound filled his mind. Only something was different, the rhythm was laboured and irregular. Almost as if he was injured and battling to breathe.
"PLEASE STOP I'M BEGGING YOU! YOU'RE KILLING HIM!" the woman's voice wailed in desperation.
Was that…Padmè? He wondered despair slowly creeping up inside him.
A menacing laugh reverberated off the walls as the room lit up once again revealing the three shadowy figures more clearly.
One was bent over on the floor with the other knelt down beside it and the last was standing before both of them. The air crackled around the Jedi as iridescent blue bolts attacked the bent over figure.
The hissing respirator faltered as sparks danced across him.
"PLEASE!" she cried out.
The standing shadowy figure crept towards the kneeling one.
"You pitiful woman, he is mine. And soon he will end your pathetic little life and deliver your offspring to me," the sinister voice sneered.
Sidious! Obi wan exclaimed internally. How could he of missed it? He ignited his lightsaber finally announcing his presence striding determinedly towards the shadows.
"Well hello there," he called out trying to avert the Sith Lord's attention.
The Emperor cackled viciously, "Why if it isn't Obi wan Kenobi. I must say I am surprised to see you…alive," he scorned.
The Jedi continued to move towards the menacing figure glancing occasionally to the other two. Padmè had shuffled closer to Vader who had just collapsed onto the floor.
"You'll find that I am full of surprises My Lord," he quipped sweeping his blue blade into attack position.
Vader's respirator continued to fail, hissing and crackling in and out erratically, as the lights on his suit's control panel began to dance in alarm. Padmè lent over him, wanting to remove his mask but the shocks from the last blast were still ricocheting through his cybernetic arm and chest implant.
"Padmè…what…is…happening?" he spluttered, his voice modulator had been damaged making the words difficult to understand.
She lent down with her face just above his mask, "Obi wan is here, it's alright Anakin," she informed.
The Emperor cackled once again, thoroughly enjoying the predicament. "Your compassion for my apprentice is your weakness Obi wan. You must know by now that Lord Vader can never be turned," he purred igniting his own lightsaber casting an eerie red glow over the room.
This is only a dream, it's not real. I have to wake Anakin up somehow.
The Jedi bolted to the fallen Sith and yelled at him, "ANAKIN WAKE UP IT'S JUST A DREAM!"
The Emperor laughed menacingly, "You fool! You still think you can save him don't you JEDI?"
Vader groaned trying to move from the floor, "Obi wan…save…Padmè," he choked.
Obi wan sent a push through the force at his former padawan and yelled through their bond, "ANAKIN WAKE UP THIS ISN'T REAL!"
The sinister laughing continued into the distance as the Emperor faded into the background, "sleep well my apprentice," he chuckled darkly before he disappeared altogether.
The room suddenly went dark.
Obi wan sat bolt upright in his seat, his chest heaving from the experience.
Vader's eyes snapped open, bright amber orbs glowing in the dim light. Sweat was dripping from his tousled hair and he gasped for breath.
Padmè was also awake, she had hold of her husband's hands firmly in her own, staring intently at his face.
The Jedi cleared his throat, "well that was interesting," he stated flatly watching the dark lord slowly collecting himself across the couch.
"Are you alright Anakin?" Padmè asked staring into his eyes.
The dark lord dropped his head into his hands intertwining his gloved fingers with his hair. "No…" he breathed releasing a deep sigh from his chest.
She placed her hand tentatively on her husband's shoulder armour in an attempt to comfort him. "It was just a dream Anakin," she whispered soothingly.
His head shot up to glare at her. She didn't understand. No one ever understands. He leapt to his feet and started to pace wildly around the small room. His arms were locked behind his back and his head was tipped down to the ground his anger festering deep inside him.
The pair watched as the Sith continued to pace back and forth in front of them, completely silent. His footsteps echoed in the quiet room and his saber clanged noisily against his utility belt as his hips swayed with the movement. Nearing the wall he spun and launched his fist into it with a roar.
"Anakin please come and talk to us," Padmè pleaded leaning forward in her seat bracing her hands either side of her knees.
The dark lord growled in frustration continuing his stride. He stopped suddenly and whirled to face them. "It wasn't just a dream," he snarled viciously his eyes smouldering.
Obi wan stared at the Sith, "what do you mean it wasn't a dream Anakin? Are you saying it was some type of vision?" the Jedi asked curiously his eyebrows furrowed in concern.
Vader nodded his head, "yes Obi wan," he growled and resumed pacing. Shaking his head from side to side angrily the dark lord muttered beneath his breath.
"What do you think it means?" the Jedi asked standing from his seat walking towards the Sith.
"It means, my master knows Padmè and the children are...alive," Vader hissed clenching his fists as he paced furiously.
Obi wan marched over to the dark lord moving into his path forcing him to stop suddenly. "What does that mean Anakin?" he questioned folding his arms and staring at the agitated man.
Vader halted and snapped his head up to glare at the Jedi. "He will take them! That's what it means!" he bellowed throwing his hands into the air in frustration. "You heard Sidious, that wasn't a dream! That was HIM in my HEAD!"
The dark lord stormed past the dumbfounded Jedi up to his wife on the sofa. Snatching his cape. He reattached the chain around his neck and made for the door.
"Anakin wait where are you going?" Padmè cried trying to grab hold of his leg.
He stopped. "I'm going to get our children," he hissed not turning to face her.
She leapt up from the sofa and stumbled towards her husband frantically. "No Anakin, I don't want them here!" she screamed chasing after him.
Vader spun to face his wife his face contorted with rage. Hand outstretched he force pushed the pleading woman away from him and she fell to the floor. "This isn't about what you want anymore," he snarled boring his fiery amber eyes into her.
Dropping his arm to his side he shook off the pang of guilt that rose within, whirling back to charge down the corridor. Leaving Obi wan and his shaken wife in the room.
Obi wan sauntered over to Padmè helping her up from the floor. He watched as the Sith stormed down the passage with his ominous black cape floating in his wake. "Are you hurt Padmè?" he asked worriedly stabilising her as she got to her feet.
She shook her head with tears slipping down her cheeks. Staggering back into the suite she headed for the fresher.
"What do want to do Padmè?" he asked following her into the bed chamber.
She snapped her head around to stare at her old friend. "I'm going with him Obi wan! He'll traumatise the twins and Dormè will get hurt trying to stop him from taking them! We must go with him!" she cried rummaging through her bag for a change of clothes.
Obi wan huffed. He picked up his lightsaber and hooked it to his belt sighing. "He's not going to like this Padmè," he warned turning his back so the lady could change.
"I know but he will have to get over it," she replied shrugging out of the teal dress. Lifting a white tunic from the bag she pulled it down over her head and stepped into a pair of tight black pants. Sitting down on the bed she tugged on her black leather boots and stood up. "Are you ready?" she asked anxiously turning to face the Jedi tucking her blaster in the holster strapped to her thigh.
"As ready as I'll ever be," he replied flatly.
"Good, let's go," she stated.
The pair made their way to the door and exited the suite.