Chapter 11 - Mistake
Coruscant Landing Port
It was a cold night, the night sky of Coruscant which was usually lit up by masses of speeders, and transportation of many sorts was unusually empty, something I had noticed upon my stealth landing. My Star Fighter was quite a ways behind me now, which Master Yoda had somehow inexplicably acquired, it was even modified a bit so I would be able to sneak on planet without detection, I was sure how he managed this, but I wasn't going to complain. I had landed away from the more crowded areas.
I had been moving from transport to transport in short burst, slowly making my way to the now proclaimed Imperial Palace that I could see in the distance. I felt the presence of Padme, and twins within, Obi-Wan as well, but just barely, I suppose he's just hiding himself as best he can. I can't exactly pinpoint where they are, it didn't matter at the moment, I would be there soon enough.
As the final transport to the palace began its descent towards me, a thick sense of dread encompassed my mind, I wasn't looking forward to this rescue, I had a gut feeling something bad was going to happen, but I had no other option.
Imperial Palace
I was dropped off just outside the Palace, the sun had begun to rise at this point. As I made my way towards the main entrance I noticed the lack of..well anyone around, it was eerie almost, I wasn't sure what to make off it, but I pressed forward ever still.
I few moments later I was on the main area, it was empty from what I could tell, which was perfect, I wrapped the force around myself as tightly as possible, a technique I hadn't found a use for in quite a few years, it allowed me to pass through an area as little more then a ghost, no one around would be able to detect me. Palpatine could of course, if he concentrated hard enough, although according to the reports I was given, Palpatine was off world currently, overseeing something, so I shouldn't have much issue, but it didn't hurt to be careful.
A little under an hour later I had made my way through the complex towards the detention area, what had confused me though was the fact that aside from the war criminals, and other locked out folk that were down here, I couldn't locate any of the four, and I had just noticed that I couldn't sense them anymore, which was strange.
I made my way back from where I had came, the only other area that I could imagine they'd be taken to was the one area I was hoping I could avoid, Palpatine's private chambers.
Palace ventilation system
These vents are uncomfortably hot, I never did like the heat, they were also cramped, but I had gotten over any sense of claustrophobia in that horrid suit though.
Looking through the small air vent that was in a high corner in Palpatine's chamber, the room was mostly dark aside from a few lights spread throughout. Expectantly, the room has pretty bare, aside from the necessities, there was his throne like chair sitting in the side of the room, of course Palpatine had one here, he'd put one everywhere if he could help it, which he could. I could see a stasis field off in the far corner with what looked like a body from this angle, it was as good a start as any.
I had silently moved the vent cover away from in front of me and jumped down to the room below, there were no alarms, no guards, this would be simple enough. Moving through the room slowly, I closed in on the floating body just a few paces away from me, I could make out further details the closer I got, the person's clothes were torn asunder, the smell of burnt flesh flowed through the air around them, they were faced away from me, as I closed in I knew who it was, without looking at me, they knew who I was. They looked pitifully weak, it was no wonder I could hardly feel them in the force, they were barely holding on to life. Fear overcame my senses as I turned off the machine and the figure slumped down to the floor below, I rushed to their aid, and placed a handoff them, trying to send the healing power of the force through their body, it wasn't working. A friendly, familiar, yet pained smile crossed his features as he spoke, his voice was but a whisper, this wasn't supposed to happen..not to Obi-Wan.
"Anakin, I'm sorry, I couldn't stop him from killing her..I tri-"
He spoke more, but I couldn't hear a word as the world around me seemed to crash down, I knew better, but my emotions got the better of me as I screamed in pure agony, my heart was on fire, it felt like the familiar flames from that blackest day on Mustafar, the mistakes of today just kept piling up.
Just behind me, I couldn't see it happen from the tears running down my face and facing the opposite way, the throne chair whirled around towards me, an old man was smiling at me, like venom his words seeped from his lips from behind me, cutting off Obi-Wan's warnings that I couldn't make out in time.
"Welcome home, Anakin."
Hiya everyone, sorry for wait, I decided I'm going to post these during the weekends from now on, College is almost done for the year so I'll have some extra time if I'm not working or with my girlfriend, I know it's a bit shorter then last chapter, but I'm still trying to come up with ideas here, I hope you enjoy!
