A/N) Apologies for the delay in the chapter last week! Uni is getting on top of me and my family life has been manic the past few weeks so I have barely had any time to write. I found some time today and finished off this chapter. Posting a bit later than normal but hey at least it is here, right? :D

Thirteen

Naboo held painful memories for him. It was the place where his life had changed forever. Obi-Wan, cloaked and standing in the shadows at the top of a tower, peered out onto the tranquil city below. His eyes fixed upon the palace. Memories welled up inside him.

Within the power reactor, Qui-Gon Jinn had died. Here Obi-Wan had fought for his life, and it was there he had first felt the power of the dark side. He had touched the darkness and allowed it to take him within its grasp. It was only falling down the reactor that he had realised it had fed his overconfidence. That had been when his Jedi training had kicked in.

He had outwitted a Sith Lord and killed him, all because he had succeeded in calming his anger and centring himself within the light. But now his soul was grey, no longer in the light as it had always been. Even he could recognise the signs that his continue exposure to Dooku was slowly pulling him down further that dark path. He had to get out from under his influence; he needed time to think.

Yet while Palpatine was still in charge, he could not leave. He had a deal with Dooku and he wanted to see this war ended.

The Chancellor was due to visit Naboo; glancing at his chrono, Obi-Wan figured the Sith Lord would be landing right now, debarking shortly after. A more reckless man would simply attack at that point, but Obi-Wan was not that type of man, even with the darkness that was residing within his soul.

He did feel angry at Palpatine, for he had trained the man that had killed Qui-Gon. His intention on Naboo was not to kill the Chancellor. It was too soon for that. His objective was to threaten the Chancellor. The Sith Lord wouldn't risk revealing himself if he confronted him, not on Naboo where he was regarded as a hero. Dooku had told him that his Master wasn't ready to take full control yet, when the time was right he would risk everything to keep his grip on the galaxy.

Obi-Wan had an advantage in the present, and he intended to use it.

Anakin descended the ramp, walking right behind the Chancellor, with Ahsoka at his side. The young man silently observed his surroundings, keeping his eyes sharp for any small movement that would threaten the Chancellor. Throughout their trip to Naboo, the Chancellor had been friendly with him, talking to him like they were very old familiar friends. Despite his concerns, Anakin had readily accepted the attention.

The Chancellor always knew what to say to him, so it was becoming increasingly difficult for Anakin to believe that his old friend was truly was Sith Lord. He kept hoping that he was wrong and that Obi-Wan had been misled…

He couldn't deny that his Master had been told things by a man that should not have known them in the first place. The fact that Anakin had only told a few people of his slaughter of the Tusken Raider's clinched it for him that the Sith Lord manipulating everything was indeed, the Chancellor, no matter how reluctant he was to believe it.

"Master…" whispered Ahsoka, as they escorted the Chancellor to the waiting speeder that would take him to the Naboo palace. Two other Jedi Knights were on the assignment too, and both G'Nar Nikkos and Freo Dali were both very capable Jedi Knights. They had requested a restful assignment and the Council had given them the duty of escort, which both were content with, as it enabled them to rest from the pressures of war they had been constantly involved in.

"What is it, Ahsoka?" enquired Anakin.

"I sense danger…" she swallowed; her voice waving slightly as she tried to place the lingering disturbance that was sending gentle ripples out into the Force. "I think someone is targeting the Chancellor."

"Physically targeting him now?" he continued probing, it was a good way to test Ahsoka's growth in the Force. If she could determine if the threat was imminent or not… He stopped short of the speeder, his eyes casting around, as the elder man clambered into the speeder. He could sense a threat in the air but it wasn't imminent.

Ahsoka hesitated. "I don't believe it is happening now…"

Anakin nodded in approval. "Well done. There is a threat coming. But it is not going to happen now." He cast his eyes upwards towards a tower window, fixing upon a shadowed figure in the window-line. He blinked and the figure was gone. He knew who that figure was. He knew that Obi-Wan was here and he was the threat he was sensing.

The question was, was the Force telling Anakin to protect the Chancellor for now? Or was the danger sense surrounding the Chancellor indicating that he would strike and reveal himself?

He had to keep an eye out.

Jumping over the side of another speeder, Anakin and Ahsoka made their way towards the Naboo Palace, certainty falling around.

Whatever was going to happen on Naboo would change everything.

Alone at last after a tiring day meeting with diplomats and his elected queen, Palpatine shed the disguise of the kindly old man he wore and became Darth Sidious. A dark clock covered his senatorial robes, and he walked slowly down the darkened corridor, having given his Jedi guards the slip. Throughout the day the lingering feeling of danger had continued to gnaw at him, and now he had time to address it himself.

He decided to let himself into the Palace Hall. He had the authorisation codes and his entrance wouldn't be picked up on, unless of course he was being watched, which he knew he was. He could sense and stench that was radiating from the Jedi.

Inside the hall, he kept the lights switched off. He preferred the darkness. Making his way to the centre of the room, he settled himself onto his knees and slid into the darkness of the Force. The path ahead was murky – tonight would determine which path would be trod.

His danger sense flared, and he smirked. The presence he had been sensing drew nearer. His lips curled up in a sneer. "I thought you would come."

"Chancellor."

The Sith Lord slowly rose to a standing position, his back still to the intruder. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, what a pleasant surprise!" He twisted quickly, throwing out his arms as lightening shot from this fingertips, heading straight for the Jedi Master, who stood a little way from him.

A blue lightsaber ignited, battling away the lightening. Sidious ceased his attack, lowering his hands slowly.

"Don't play games with me!" hissed Obi-Wan. He stepped forward slowly. "I'm here for a specific reason. You will let me talk!"

Sidious could sense the darkness rolling off Obi-Wan Kenobi. There was anger and hatred there, resentment of what Sidious was and what he planned to do. Was this man really a Jedi still? No, he wasn't. His soul was corrupted, yet he was still fighting the inevitable. Sidious could feel the conflict within the Jedi, could sense the emotional anguish that cast through his body. For now, he would let the Jedi play this game… He'd let him speak.

After all, there were some Clone Troopers stationed not that far away…

"Very well… speak… and I shall listen to your pitiful words."

Obi-Wan's eyes flared, and his anger gained strength. His free hand clenched tightly into a fist. "I will not let you ruin the Republic that has stood for so long!" he spat out venomously. "You have done enough to ruin the lives of the citizens you swore to serve!"

"And what are you going to do it about it?" Sidious mocked.

"I know things that you wouldn't want getting out," continued Obi-Wan stepping forward, closer to the Sith Lord.

Slowly, the Sith Lord's left hand was moving towards a communicator in his robe pocket. Let Kenobi believe he had a chance of escaping alive.

"Such as?" Sidious enquired, toying with the Jedi and enjoying it.

"I know what you plan to do to the Jedi Order. I know what you plan to do to Anakin. I know what you plan to do to the Republic! I know that you are the orchestrator of everything that has happened in the last ten or so years!"

"Good, good…" smoothed Sidious. "I can sense your hate for me… Use that power!" A dangerous tactic but if he goaded the Jedi then his focus on his surroundings would be lessened. He might not sense the danger of two Clones coming up behind him, with the goal of killing the Jedi…

Kenobi's death would be easy to facilitate as necessary. His behaviour was threatening. And he wasn't backing down. That gave the Chancellor the justification he needed to authorise Kenobi's immediate execution.

"I am not that easily manipulated, Chancellor!"

Sidious had to laugh at that obscure statement. Was Kenobi really that naive to think that he wasn't under Dooku's control?

"I know that Dooku intends to use me to take down the Republic. I won't let him." Kenobi stepped forward. "And I won't let you lose Anakin either!"

"Your young friend is already mine; he doesn't even know it yet," replied Sidious. Oh, it would give him such pleasure if Skywalker was the one to kill Kenobi. He knew now that the Jedi Master did not pose a threat to him at that moment. Kenobi wasn't intending on killing him just yet, though he had plans to, Sidious was well aware of that. Perhaps Kenobi would have a stray of execution… for now.

He was stepping perilously close to the dark side, whether he wanted to believe it or not. Dooku was doing a marvellous job of manipulating him. Perhaps he could even help with his fall? It was a dangerous tactic to aid his own apprentice's goals, but Kenobi's fall would make Anakin Skywalker more susceptible. Perhaps it was risk he could take?

"If Anakin doesn't know who you are yet I would be very surprised at his lack of intelligence," snarled Kenobi.

That confirmed it then. Kenobi had at least hinted towards his identity. Skywalker hadn't shown any behaviour towards realising his identity. Kenobi clearly thought his apprentice could figure out any clues that might be thrown his way. Skywalker was naïve; he wouldn't believe that a dear friend of his would ever betray him or use him to gain power. Kenobi overestimated Skywalker.

"He doesn't know who I am," Sidious hissed. "To him I am just a friend, someone who has been there for him ever since he arrived at the Jedi Temple all those years ago… At the time when you didn't want him…"

The Jedi Master's eyes flashed in anger. "Don't you dare say that, you TRAITOR!"

A satisfied smile began to curl up at the Sith's lips. Oh this was far too easy to wind the Jedi up. He could even get him to attack… But he could sense another presence heading towards his location. The presence was shining brightly in the Force: clearly the Chosen One was tuned in and was feeling the distress and cracks that Kenobi was undoubtedly projecting in his anger.

"My plans are far to accelerated for you to stop them now. The Jedi Order will fall and your apprentice will be mine. His soul is so suited to the darkness. After all… he murdered a whole tribe of Tusken Raiders, did he not?" Sidious baited. He waited, satisfaction flooding the Force.

Kenobi's aura wavered. "You taught him that emotions were fine for a Jedi to have, overruling everything I have sought to instruct him in. You are not his friend. You are his destroyer," he said softly, his voice menacing.

Sidious smirked. "And he will be yours too."

He knew what those words would do… and he was right.

Kenobi leapt at him, his blue lightsaber coming down in a slash strike.

Sidious leapt back, his black cloak swishing around him, as his hands scrabbled for his own lightsaber, but someone else was there first.

"NOOOO!" Anakin Skywalker Force-leapt between them, bringing his own lightsaber up and locking it together with Obi-Wan Kenobi's. He had leapt down from the balcony above.

Sidious had not sensed Anakin's arrival… he had been too preoccupied in rejoicing in the darkness that reverberated around Kenobi. But it was dark in the room, no lights were on… How much had Skywalker overheard? Quickly, Sidious shook off his cloak and threw it in the corner, becoming the Chancellor once more. He stumbled back as the two combatants in front of him withdrew their locked blades.

"Anakin!" Kenobi hissed. "Stand down!"

Skywalker glanced back towards the Chancellor. "No."

Interesting… Sidious mused. Was Skywalker really defending him? Surely the young man had overheard what he had said… Surely he must know his identity?

"Don't tell me that you are that stupid to not even to be able to see what is right in front of you?" Kenobi accused.

"I know that he is a friend," responded Skywalker, stepping closer to the Chancellor, his blade raised in a defensive position.

Sidious was surprised.

"So you are on his side," snarled Kenobi. "I overestimated your abilities, Anakin. Your trust in your friends will be your downfall."

Skywalker's shoulders shook. "I still trust you to find your way back to us. The Order wants you back, Obi-Wan."

"No! Not while you pretend to not know who he really is! And not while you defend him! He is everything you swore to destroy!" Kenobi was nearly screaming, spit flying from his mouth.

The drug Dooku was still feeding Kenobi was working overtime. It was really making him angry… he was in considerable danger of losing control and Skywalker was feeding it spectacularly.

Skywalker's shoulders straightened. "I don't believe you."

That was surprising… Sidious watched. Wary at the sudden turn of events, the Sith Lord probed the Force. Skywalker felt scared, he could feel that so well in his presence, but scared about what?

Kenobi leapt again and Skywalker moved to block.

"NO, Obi-Wan! I won't fight you! And I won't let you take away the best Chancellor the Republic has ever had, just because of your misguided view of him!"

Skywalker was trying to use his bond with Kenobi, that Sidious could feel . He was pouring his energy into it. Something was wrong… He was trying to communicate with Kenobi through their bond they shared… And that raised the Sith's suspicions.

Skywalker glanced over his shoulder. "Chancellor, get out of here! I'll deal with this!" Skywalker pressed back against Kenobi, blocking the strikes that the former Jedi Master was raining down, trying to get to the Chancellor.

He started back towards the exit.

"I'll get you! I promise you that, Sidious!" shouted Kenobi, a deep promise etched into his words.

"Obi-Wan, stop being so delusional! He's not who you think he is!" retorted Skywalker. "I know him! He is my friend! He's just a pawn in this war as any of us is!"

Intrigued, Sidious lingered. What was going on? Surely Anakin Skywalker knew who he was? He couldn't be that naive? But he appeared to be…

Kenobi tried to leap towards the Sith Lord again, jumping high over Skywalker's position, but Skywalker reached out, and a strong Force push sent Kenobi back into the wall. Skywalker held him there, his back to the Chancellor as he advanced to the enraged former Jedi.

"Let me go, Skywalker!" spat Kenobi, struggling against the Force grip, which the younger man had on him. Kenobi's lightsaber was on the floor.

"You've never called me that before…" said Skywalker sadly.

"Maybe I do now because I've realised just how stupid you really are!" Kenobi thrashed out, twisting his head from side to side, trying to break the Force grip but failing miserably against the power Skywalker had.

Sidious could feel the bond between the two dissipating before him. It was crumbling and Kenobi was breaking it.

Even if Skywalker was faking this, he was destroying their friendship. His actions were pushing Kenobi away from any chance of ever returning to the man he once was. This couldn't be more perfect… He suspected Skywalker must know who he was but he had his reasons for defending him. Sidious would look forward to finding out exactly what was motivating Skywalker to fake his belief that Chancellor Palpatine was really just Chancellor Palpatine to his former Master. He clearly didn't know the damage he was causing by doing so…

Slipping out the door, he glanced back one more time. He didn't know what Skywalker had said to Kenobi in those few seconds, but the older man shouted out violently as Anakin retreated: "You mean nothing to me!"

Skywalker reached the Chancellor's position.

"Don't worry, he can't come after us. I've got his lightsaber," said Skywalker. It was clipped onto his belt, having Force-pulled it to his hand during the time he had held Kenobi against the wall. The Jedi Master was still trying to break the hold.

"What do you plan to do with him?" asked Sidious.

"He needs to calm down. Being imprisoned won't help him," admitted Skywalker. "The Jedi Order would like him back and so would I."

"You are letting him walk free after he tried to kill me?" Palpatine said, putting on a bit of fear in his voice. "Several times, I might add!"

Anakin shrugged. "He's misguided, Chancellor, and being manipulated. But being imprisoned won't help him see the truth. I know I should have brought him in, but I feel that he will come back to us. He won't turn his back on the Jedi Order forever. I believe in him."

The Sith studied the young man. Skywalker surprised him. He couldn't work out whether the young man was playing his own game or if he really was blind to the Sith Lord in front of him. He felt uneasy. It would be something he would have to meditate on when he was free of the Jedi. He had to learn whether his plan really was compromised as he thought it was.

Defenceless, Obi-Wan slowly walked from the building. There was no point in trying to pursue the Chancellor now. He had been successful in what he had come to do. He had threatened the Sith, and he knew that he meant business.

Anakin's unexpected arrival had hindered things. Stunned by the events that had unfolded; Obi-Wan had remained in the building for thirty-five minutes before beginning a slow walk back to his shuttle.

He had hoped that his former protégé would have worked out the Sith Lord from the clues he had given him. Alas, it appeared he had not. For someone who had been very angry only five minutes before, he was now remarkably calm.

Anakin had betrayed him again. He had taken his lightsaber and he had fought against him. And he still didn't trust his Master.

Betrayal hurt.

Deep down, Obi-Wan understood that he could no longer consider Anakin his friend or his brother.

Tears seemed to well up in his eyes and he wanted to cry. He wanted to let out all the misery he was feeling. Everything that had happened to him over the past month and a half was slowly driving him insane. Was he still really the Jedi he once was? Rational thought said no.

He made his way through the shadows of the streets of Theed towards the docking bay where his transport waited. He had arrived on Naboo using a false transponder and fake ID, no one knowing who he really was, though any Force sensitive's on planet would have guessed he was there.

Why can't Anakin believe that the monster they need to catch is right in front of him? I didn't train a blind student!

Arriving at the dock, Obi-Wan found the door to his hanger was already open. Suspicion flared and he considered bolting from the area and finding another way off planet, however he reached out with the Force and sensed nothing out of the ordinary. Carefully he peered in through the door, not seeing anything that jumped out of him.

No danger seemed to reverberate through the Force.

Pacing slowly through the hanger towards his shuttle, he saw the ramp was down. Someone had been inside his shuttle. Whoever that someone was, was no longer there.

Had they put a bomb on his ship, hoping to kill him? He tried to sense for any deception but he couldn't sense anything. Warily, knowing that it was stupid to even board the ship, he paced up the landing ramp, passed through the quarters area and into the cockpit.

Sitting on the console was his lightsaber.

The one that Anakin had taken from him barely more than an hour ago.

Befuddled, Obi-Wan picked it up, holding it gently in his right hand. His eyes fell on a piece of flimsy paper that had been crushed underneath the hilt. He picked up the small piece of paper, unfolded it and scrawled across the paper in Anakin's handwriting was:

I know who he really is.

Obi-Wan almost collapsed into the pilot seat.

Relief spread through him. His anger against Anakin had been unreasonable. Anakin was up to something. He hadn't betrayed him after all. He just didn't want the Sith Lord knowing that he knew just yet, hence his defence of the Chancellor.

He felt more at ease then he had in a while. Anakin wasn't stupid!

Tenderly, he reached for the bond that he shared with Anakin, seeking to reassure him that he had received the message and understood what game Anakin was trying to play.

But it wasn't there.

In his anger at his young friend during their confrontation, he had ripped it apart, shredding any sort of connection that had remained between them.

Obi-Wan's knees buckled and he fell onto the chair, the piece of paper fell to the floor and his lightsaber clattered next to his right foot. Tears fell down his cheeks as regret filled his very soul.

What have I done?

To be continued…

Please let me know what you think! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and enjoying this story!

As you can see the title to this story is really starting to show through in the narrative. Poor Obi-Wan though. The drug's influence that he is still on made him rather angry in this chapter – confronting Palpatine probably wasn't the best idea. Plus Anakin's own deceit in front of him piled it all on too, so hopefully it is believable.

Of course, Anakin and Obi-Wan no longer have their bond. Obi-Wan ripped it apart during that confrontation. And now Obi-Wan knows the truth now that Anakin isn't as stupid as he had assumed he was… As I was writing the confrontation from Sidious' POV, it was bit difficult to describe Obi-Wan physically destroying the bond, so it might be something I might write a small one-shot about or I may insert it into this story somewhere, as it is actually an important plot point.

Next chapter: Things go very wrong for Anakin…

I honestly have no idea when the next chapter will be posted. It's not written yet. I've decided I'm not going to try to stick to an update schedule – its putting too much pressure on me – so I will update whenever I finish a chapter. That way I won't feel guilty about not updating on Saturday's every week.

Hopefully Chapter 14 will be posted soon!

Until next time,

the-writer1988