Twenty minutes later Darth Vader was standing in the middle of what was left of the arena. Two dozen stormtroopers were kneeling in one line in front of him, their hands bound behind their backs, their heads bare of the helmets and lowered to the ground. A large group of battle droids was holding them in check with pointed rifles.
Darth Maul was standing next to his Master. Both of them were only listening with one ear to the speech one of the commander droids read about the 'crimes' the clones had committed and that warranted their execution. At last the droids raised their weapons and showered the clones in blasterfire.
When the last clone dropped dead, Vader turned to his apprentice.
"Do you have the report for the battle on the planet?", he wanted to know. He'd already been briefed by the Mother about the victory they had gained against the Republic's fleet. Only fifteen percent of their ships had been able to flee. Vader knew that millions of clones were still on their way but for the first battle, the one supposed to show the Republic's strength, it had been a disaster.
"The arena is beyond repair and there have been extended fires and bombings on three surrounding cities", Darth Maul began. "I estimate that around a third of the droids stationed here were destroyed and Poggle the Lesser is very... angry about the losses he made. There have been little losses in the civilian population. However..." He hesitated and avoided Vaders eyes for a moment. "We are missing two of our generals, Master."
Vader narrowed his eyes. "Explain!", he demanded.
"General Jinns body could be recovered from the structure. It seems he was killed by a Jedi. General Feral... is still missing. Savage reported that he was caught by the retreating soldiers."
Anger and hatred surged powerfully through Darth Vader as he heard the news. Qui-Gon was dead!? How could that happen?
Oh, he knew - the old man had been fighting Kenobi last time he'd seen him. Vader was confident that with his experience and Vaders added teachings, Qui-Gon was more then capable of taking on his former student. It didn't make sense for him to fail. Except... Except maybe if he hadn't been able to overcome his feelings for the Jedi after all. Qui-Gon may have released Vader from his promise to spare Kenobi but doing so and actually fighting him were two entirely different things.
Still Vader couldn't help but feel a stab of... pain, of betrayal in his heart. Qui-Gon may have been compromised but he would've thought that Kenobi would be as well. He would have thought the Jedi didn't have it in him to kill his former Master. But then again, he also hadn't thought he had it in him to mutilate and leave his former padawan to die.
It was stupid, really. He should have known. He should have known that such bonds meant nothing to Kenobi. Qui-Gons attachment had made him stronger for it had helped him to free himself of the restricting Jedi code. Vader normally didn't think that emotions and bonds made you weak but he couldn't deny that in this case they had been Qui-Gons downfall. It wasn't so much the love he held for Kenobi but rather that he'd given his heart to somebody who wouldn't return his feelings.
"My Master?", Darth Maul asked once the explosion of darkness around Vader had settled enough to allow him to breathe again. "I ask you for permission to retrieve my brother from the Republic's clutches."
Vader, who was been busy burning holes in the clones bodies with his gaze, turned to his apprentice sharply.
"Did you complete your mission?"
Darth Maul blinked confused for a moment. "Master?"
"Did you bring the senator to the Executor safely?"
He felt a spark of anger from his student though he didn't let it show on his face. It had been because of that mission that he hadn't been there when Feral had been caught.
"Yes, my Master."
"Good. We will organize an exchange of hostages. Send them a message."
"Master, I doubt they will agree to it!"
"Maybe so but in discussing it they will waste time, time in which they won't dare to use... too drastic means to get information about our operation out of the general. If they stay unaware of his position in our ranks, they might take our offer."
"Master, I am sure if I pursuit them now I could still get to him in time-"
"You will do as I tell you", Vader reprimanded him strictly. "Your brother will be saved but you have to follow my orders without question."
Darth Maul lowered his head again, anger and frustration fighting within him. "Yes, my Master."
In all actuality, Ferals capture pleased Vader greatly. He had wondered for some time now how he could get Padme back to his younger self safely without anyone suspecting anything. If he just let her go she might get suspected of conspiring with the confederacy. If he let her 'flee' or allow her to be 'saved', everyone would think him incompetent. No, an exchange of hostages was the perfect excuse to get her and Anakin together again. And until then... he'd get to spend some time with his future daughter-in-law.
At the same time on a republican ship heading back to the middle of the galaxy, a worried padawan came bursting into the medical room.
"Master! Obi-Wan!"
"Heard you the first time", a sour voice grumbled and a couple of medical droids moved aside to reveal the form of the auburn haired Jedi in the bed.
"Master! You're alright", Anakin Skywalker said with noticeable relief and moved closer. It was then that he noticed the bandaged stump where Obi-Wans right hand used to be. Immediately, the padawan froze and his eyes widened before narrowing quickly. Blood rushed in his ears as he felt the anger rise inside of him and a scowl formed on his forehead.
"Who did this?!", he demanded to know. "What happened?"
"Anakin..."
"Who hurt you like that!?"
"Anakin!", the Jedi Master called out sharply. "Calm down."
Anakin looked at him in surprise but finally, he took a deep breath and fought down his violent emotions. He could feel his Masters worry for him through their bond. That was ridiculous. He wasn't the one with a missing hand! But he couldn't afford to lose his temper around him, not when he was in such a state.
So the young Jedi calmed himself down forcefully. It was hard, seeing as he was still so worried about Padme, angry at Master Yoda and so confused and furious and sad and just plain mad at his father.
Anakin counted to ten and took a seat by his Masters side before he dared open his eyes again and ask, this time calmly but much more determined:
"Who did this to you?"
Obi-Wan sighed and laid his good hand on Anakins. "Qui-Gon did."
Anakin almost jumped to his feet again at that.
"What!? How could he!? Master, I don't understand it! Why does he work against the Republic? Why is he conspiring with these people? He was your Master, he was a Jedi!"
"Anakin..."
"He's... He's supposed to protect you! No matter what he thinks is right or what my father made him think, a bond between Master and student should be stronger then that, shouldn't it? How could he hurt you like that, it's the worst betrayal!" Anakin couldn't understand it and he was so angry, not just at Qui-Gon but at his father as well.
"Anakin, I killed him."
"I don't - what?"
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and for just a moment he opened up his mind wide enough to let Anakin feel a fraction of the pain he felt inside. The young man flinched back as if he'd been slapped but regretted it in the same moment as Obi-Wan let go of his hand and turned away, unable to look into his eyes any longer.
"I... I killed my old Master", the Jedi choked. "He... He was about to... to finish me off. Said if I'd be captured it would only be worse for me. And I... I killed him. "He shook his head as if unable to believe his own words. "I literally stabbed him in the back from behind."
Anakin felt how their connection was being closed again and he sunk into his seat, suddenly feeling very small and childish. What right did he have to complain about his fathers political orientation when Obi-Wans Master had tried to kill him with his own two hands? What right did he have to be angry at having once again confirmed his fathers disregard for life when Obi-Wan watched his entire world shatter as the foundation of his beliefs crumbled in the darkness? What right did he have to feel confused about his duties between his desire to save Padme, to follow the Jedi Code and to fight side by side with his father when Obi-Wan had had to choose his old Master and the darkness or killing his father figure in the name of the light?
"I... I am sorry", he finally managed to get out.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath and visibly pulled himself together. "My Master... He was not himself anymore", he whispered. "The dark side... does things to people. He was still very much convinced that he was doing the right thing but it was wrong. The dark side is an evil, twisted power. It is everything we Jedi stand against." Obi-Wan looked at him seriously, even putting additional weight behind his words using the force. "Listen to me, Anakin, this is important. We must never, never use it, regardless for which reasons. It changes people without them even realizing it. If we fall for it, we lose whatever we have been fighting for."
"I... I know that", Anakin replied, feeling a bit dizzy.
"Do you? Because, my padawan, you came dangerously close to using the dark side yourself today and that more then once."
Anakin paled. "I wouldn't do that! I know about the risks, I have myself under control." And he did, except for that moment when he hadn't known whenever or not Padme was alright. In that moment, it hadn't been important what would become of him because if Padme wasn't there, there was nothing he could fight for. There was nothing important except for her so of course he would use everything to get her back. It was only later that he'd realized that there was more. There was Obi-Wan. There was his life and reputation as a Jedi. There was his mother. There was even, as ridiculous as it sounded, his father who had no other thread holding him to the light then him.
"Anakin", Obi-Wan said seriously, "you are mistaken. There are no risks to using the dark side. There are only hard consequences. If you use something evil to do good, you're still evil."
"Who said absolutes are for Sith?", Anakin returned.
"What I mean is-"
"I know exactly what you mean, Master", the young Jedi interrupted him. "But I refuse to believe that defending your own life makes you evil."
"No", Obi-Wan whispered, "but it makes me a murderer."
"It makes you a skilled fighter. Sometimes you have to take a life to protect thousands of others."
"You kill for protection but you murder in war! I'm a Jedi, Anakin, a peacekeeper, how can I kill a person, much less another Jedi without failing in my role?"
"If that's so", Anakin called out, "then all of the Jedi who came to save us today failed in their role!"
"Well, maybe they did." Obi-Wan shook his head and sank a bit deeper into his pillows. "I should have never called for reinforcements."
"If you hadn't, you'd be dead! And don't you dare suggest that would be better!"
"Well, we wouldn't be at war..."
"No, we'd just be totally unprepared for when that army comes marching to our front door. It's... sad what happened to Master Jinn but he fought for what he believed in and so did you. Sometimes it can't be helped that different perspectives clash. What makes Master Jinns betrayal so unforgivable is only that he never told you about any of this."
Obi-Wan gave him a crooked smile. "Now it's the student lecturing the Master, huh?"
"Well, I have to when you're being stupid", Anakin returned.
The Jedi got serious quickly again though. "I am sorry, Anakin. You must be quite shaken by the events of this day as well, yet you're holding yourself great. I heard you saved Master Yodas life."
Anakins expression darkened. "I didn't do anything worthwhile. My duty was to protect Senator Amidala but she's still missing. I came here to save you but ended up in the arena together with you. I couldn't help you with Master Jinn, I couldn't stop Dooku and I didn't even cross swords with my father once. He just kinda... walked away from me."
"Don't be so harsh to yourself. If you hadn't stopped Vader, none of the Jedi would've been able to escape. I would've never made it to the ship in time. And he did let us go, his fleet didn't fire a single shoot at us."
Anakin shrugged. "He probably wanted to send a message to the Republic. A proper declaration of war to demoralize the people."
"It wasn't a message for the Republic, Anakin. It was a message for you."
The young Jedi looked at him funny. "For me?"
"Yes, for you. To show off his power, how easily he could've crushed us all but also how he would generously spare us just because we're your allies. Thousands of clones died today, Anakin, but if you want to win a war you don't shot at the soldiers. You aim for the generals. It didn't make any sense for him to spare that one ship carrying the retreating Jedi. He still wants you to come back to him."
"What about this other Sith Master Jinn talked about? The one that's supposed to manipulate people from the Republic's side?"
"I'll be honest with you, Anakin, I think it's just a distraction. Qui-Gon believed it to be true but he said it himself that he's only ever seen this supposed enemy in visions. It's not even guaranteed that it's a real threat. The force warns us of possible futures but there are many aspects to it and I do not believe Vader mentally stable enough to find his way through the often confusing ways the force leads people on. And that is if Vader didn't just make it up from scratch.
No, I believe he's fighting for them because of you. Do you remember what the Council said when they took you in? You might be the Chosen One, the one who will bring balance to the force."
"But we don't know if that's me! Nobody can really tell."
"No, but whenever you really are the Chosen One or not is irrelevant as long as the right people think you are. Vaders whole reason for placing you in our care might be to make sure the force will chose you and so that he might have a bond with you that might keep you from following your destiny. He doesn't care about politics. If it's just war he wants he could've just as easily fought for the Republic together with you. Instead he forces you to chose a side. In doing so he makes sure that if you do follow his lead, there will be no way back for you. That is why it is such a great accomplishment that you resisted him, that you stood strong and continued to fight for what you believe in. That is what true strength is about and that is why you haven't failed today. Even Master Yoda will have to acknowledge that."
"But if that's true... If you're right, Master, doesn't that mean that this is all my fault? If it weren't for me, my father wouldn't fight with the Confederacy, his fleet wouldn't have been there and we might have won and prevented a war from breaking out."
Obi-Wan sighed and closed his eyes. "Look at us, Anakin, fighting over whose fault it is the galaxy is breaking apart. I have said it so often, you are not responsible for the actions of your father. Everything you do to counter or distract him can only be counted in your favor, but it's not your duty."
"I wish the force would just tell me what to do, what to think. I'm always asking for guidance but it doesn't tell me anything when it comes to my father."
"Me neither..."
For a moment, the two Jedi remained in silence.
"Do you... think he might've done something to it?", Anakin finally asked quietly. "So that nobody could get a read on him?"
Obi-Wan shuddered. "That is... a disturbing thought. But no, I don't think anybody could have that kind of power. We are just... not asking the right questions. I'm sorry, Anakin. I know it must have been a shock for you to see your father like that."
Again, Anakin shrugged but it took a greater effort to appear uncaring. "It wasn't that terrible actually. He never made a secret out of being a Sith or liking to fight. He even hinted that he wanted to take part in a war. I... Mainly I just feel stupid that I let it affect me at all."
"He was... very throughout", Obi-Wan replied vaguely. "You mustn't let his betrayal get to you. You have to be at peace with yourself and with the force. He will only bring you pain. You have to let him go."
"I know that", Anakin replied with a scowl, "but I can't just break a bond that has been there for years." He wasn't talking about himself anymore, he was more concerned about his Master. It would be impossible to release pain and guilt like the one his Master felt into the light side of the force. "I don't think you can either. Sometimes... Maybe sometimes letting go isn't the solution. Sometimes you have to acknowledge your feelings, accept and just... Endure them. Learn to live with them but make them less of a priority."
Now it was Obi-Wan who scowled. "Did your father tell you that?"
"No", Anakin replied. "That was my mother."
XxX
AN: I know, it is a little sad that Qui-Gon's dead but as you can see it is actually important for Obi-Wan's character developement. He's an important part of Anakin's life, it's impossible to leave him out for too long. I was kinda annoyed by his character in canon so I'm using this fanfic to make him... well, not a better Jedi, but a better/ more realistic human.
Writer's block is still plaguing me. I guess that was to be expected after such a big dramatic spike in the story. I'll give my best through.
Oh, and I know that my punctuation is different from the English one. I won't change 21 chapters of it and I won't start writing any different either because that's what I'm used to and comfortable with. Please may stop mentioning it. Thanks.