Chapter 11:
In another part of the galaxy, someone else felt the burst of pain as well.
When Obi-Wan's shields dropped, they dropped in every way – including those which inhibited Anakin from picking up on anything through their bond. Anakin was sparring with one of his friends when suddenly their training bond, which had remained comatose since Obi-Wan's departure, flooded with an exhausting rush of emotion and pain. The sudden sensation startled Anakin and he stumbled, falling hard onto his knees. It only lasted a moment before the bond was abruptly closed off again, leaving only silence where moments before there had been screaming.
It was a matter of seconds before Anakin was on his feet, rushing from the room and down the hall.
Garen was under the belly of a star cruiser when he was surprised by Anakin running frantically into the hangar.
"Master Garen!" Anakin shouted as he ran across the room, "Master Garen!"
Garen pulled out from the ship in time to have his arms full of a trembling Padawan. He had never seen Anakin this visibly upset, especially not in this manner. Generally Anakin kept his emotions, aside from his anger, in check and hidden away, and the fact that the boy was shaking and appeared to be near to tears, in his arms created great concern for the older Jedi.
"Anakin, what happened? What's wrong?" Garen asked, sending soothing waves to the boy. The waves meant to calm and comfort were rejected by Anakin with a vengeance, although Garen was sure it wasn't a conscious effort.
"He's hurt! He's in trouble!"
"Who?" Garen asked, though he thought he already knew, and dreaded having his suspicions confirmed.
"My Master!" Anakin choked out. "He's been hurt! He dropped his shields, just for a few moments, and it felt as though our whole bond was encompassed in pain. It's bad, he's really hurt. Master would never completely drop his shields intentionally – they were all gone, like they were shattered. And now he's gone again and I can't even feel anything!"
Garen couldn't speak, the same guilt from earlier flooding over him again, because he hadn't tried to help Obi-Wan before anything had happened.
"Go back to my quarters." Garen finally said, his voice quiet and strangely gruff.
Anakin's head snapped up and he stared at Garen with astonishment, "What?"
"Go back to my quarters and meditate. Wait for me there."
"Meditate? You tell me to meditate when my master may be dying?" Anakin was too shocked to even yell.
"Anakin, trust me today. Do as I tell you. I will be there shortly. I have … things to attend to – and then I will be there. Go now."
For once Anakin didn't argue with an order he disagreed with. Something in Garen's tone kept him from speaking, and he only nodded before turning, still wiping stray tears from his eyes.
Garen watched him for a brief moment before he turned. He had much to do and a very short amount of time to do it in.