Yes, here's a new chapter and no, you're not dreaming. It's starting to get serious for Obi-Wan now...

Chapter 25:

The throne room lay in its usual semidarkness Palpatine preferred for all that outside the evening sun was shining, setting the whole planet ablaze.

"Send a Commando of Clones stationed at Alderaa to search the mountains," Palpatine directed the knee-high kneeling hologram of his military coordinator. "Tell them to search for more Jedi and Jedi associates."

"Yes, my lord."

"And make sure they are successful!"

"Of course, my lord."

"Dismissed."

The hologram flickered out as Palpatine leaned back in his seat. Admittedly, he had no reason to expect another Jedi on Alderaan, but the Force had been maddeningly elusive around that planet lately. He loathed not being able to see everything. And that was enough of a reason.

His concentration was diverted from that problem when a red light began to blink on the arm of his chair and a small hologram appeared.

"The fleet has returned from Alderaan, my lord," a fleet officer reported.

Palpatine smiled. The day was getting better.

"Have the Jedi escorted to the throne room at once," he ordered, dark glee rising at the prospect of finally teaching that nuisance of a Jedi his place.

"Yes, my lord."

This hologram, too, disappeared. Palpatine, still smiling, settled down to wait.

As he was marched through the many polished corridors of the Imperial Palace, surrounded by ten guards, Obi-Wan did his best to prepare himself for the imminent confrontation with Sidious for there was no doubt in his mind that that was where he was being taken – but without the Force even that was a struggle.

A treacherous part of his mind wondered if Force-deprivation over an extended length of time had any negative – and lasting – effects.

He scowled. A Jedi was not defeatist!

Especially after the friendly discussion with Cody, which had proved enlightening and had boosted his hoped. It might just be that the loyal Clone planned something, though he hadn't said so explicitly.

They rounded a corner and suddenly a deafening roar split the air.

Obi-Wan needed only one second to take in the scene before him; a Wookie, relatively small for his species but still towering over any human, his fur a mix of dark brown – around his shoulders and tights – and light brown – especially his abdomen – who seemed to have been escorted down the corridor by two guards – Obi-Wan nearly snorted, only two men to guard a Wookie?? - had somehow freed himself of his cuffs and was in the process of smashing one guard into the wall. But what the Wookie didn't seem to have noticed was the other guard preparing to shoot him in the back.

The next second Obi-Wan was moving, using the shock of his guards to slip out of their midst, and before the guard could pull the trigger he crashed into him, sending them both sprawling onto the floor.

Taking full advantage of his element of surprise, he yanked the blaster out of his opponents hand and shot him, only slightly hampered by the stun-cuffs around his wrists, which had been, fortunately, cuffed only in front of him this time.

Obi-Wan jumped up again, throwing the blaster to the Wookie, who'd finished bashing the hapless guard's head against the wall, and shouted, "Run!"

The Wookie howled an angry reply, shooting wildly with the blaster, but now his ten guards had began to move and draw their blasters, too, and even a Wookie in hot-blood wasn't foolish enough to attack when he was outnumbered so badly.

Growling angrily he turned to flee, howling to Obi-Wan to follow him, but Obi-Wan knew they would never make it if they both ran, so instead he threw himself in front of the guards, who were just preparing to open fire, effectively hindering them from shooting the Wookie in the back as he ran.

A short fray followed as he tackled the first two guards, but predictable he soon lay on his back on the cold, hard floor, with even more bruises to show than before, pinned down by two guards, while the remaining six who hadn't been blasted by the Wookie pointed their blasters at his head.

But he'd achieved his goal. The Wookie was gone, and hopefully, he would get out of the Palace undetected.

Staring up at the six grim-looking guards and the polished black ceiling, he decided a statement was in order.

"Nice view," he said.

The doors of the turbolift opened to Palpatine's private throne room, and as he was pushed out of the pod, Obi-Wan had trouble suppressing a shudder. Even without his Force-senses the place fairly reeked of evil to him.

As far as he could see, there were only four red guards in the whole room, two guarding the exit and two on each side of the broad chair, his own had not left the turbolift with him, and, of course, Sidious, a shadowy figure on, sitting on the aforementioned chair, appearing to be shrouded in darkness.

"Ah, so at last we meet again, Kenobi," Sidious said by way of greeting, which was even rather polite for a Sith Lord Obi-Wan noticed, his voice as oily and smug as he remembered.

"Come nearer little Jedi."

Sidious," Obi-Wan acknowledged coldly, staring straight as the face hidden by the hood and making no move to obey.

He nearly gasped out aloud when suddenly a dark pressure came to bear on him and his legs seemingly moved of their own account, carrying him towards Sidious.

When he stood only three meters in front of the dais, the pressure vanished so abruptly that his legs nearly buckled beneath him.

Obi-Wan fought against the urge to glare at Sidious for this obvious display of power. Instead he asked evenly, and quite civilly, as he thought, "So what did you want to talk about so urgently that you had to chase me through half the outer rim and then drag me here, Sidious?"

Obviously Sidious didn't seem to think so.

"Is that the way you speak to the Emperor of the galaxy?" he snarled.

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Besides the last time I checked the galaxy was a lot larger than the Core only," he commented, though a part of him screamed to kriffing stop baiting the Sith.

Sidious hissed in rage and again the pressure bore down on him, trying to force him to kneel, but this time Obi-Wan was prepared.

Gritting his teeth, he grimly fought against it, keeping his legs still by sheer force of will alone.

A minute stretched into eternity until Sidious finally gave up, releasing him with a growl of anger, leaving Obi-Wan shaky but erect.

An oppressive silence ensued, and Obi-Wan did his best to center himself for the next attack Sidious would throw at him.

Finally the Sith Lord spoke. "I heard about your little...escapade with the Wookie."

Obi-Wan could see his malevolent eyes glittering inside his hood as he leaned closer and hissed, "You'll be punished for that later."

"Who would have guessed?" Obi-Wan couldn't help but mutter, which – not very surprisingly – turned out to be a mistake.

A slight nonchalant gesture from Sidious was all that was needed to have a guard step forward and ram the tip of his energy pole into his stomach. Obi-Wan doubled over, gasping for breath as hot pain seared through his abdomen, trying hard to brace himself for the next hit...but it never came.

When he looked up, the guard was already back in his station and Sidious watched, looking exceedingly satisfied.

"Now that we have established who's in charge here, tell me, Kenobi; where does Skywalker hide?"

Ah. So they'd finally gotten round to the real reason why he was standing in the room here. The nerve of Sidious, asking himto betray Anakin!

"What makes you think I will tell you that?" he asked coldly, but with a determined fire in his eyes.

Sidious leaned even closer, like a falcon diving for his prey. "Because you have no choice, Kenobi. Either you tell me now or I'll force the information out of you!"

Obi-Wan had the sinking feeling he knew what Sidious was talking about.

Mind-rape.

He immediately began building up the strongest shields he could muster, hiding his most important memories and information Sidious could never be allowed to get in the innermost core of his mind, even while stating calmly, "You will try."

Sidous cackled. "Suit yourself. This will be much more fun anyway."

And all at once his presence was there, battering against his outer shields with something akin to a tornado of the dark side, and he was strong, so terrifyingly strong.

The first barriers fell, teared apart by his dark will, but Obi-Wan kept building them anew and with the small amount of concentration he could spare, he continued building an impenetrable wall around his innermost core.

And so it continued, with Sidious tearing his shields down, making only slow progress, and Obi-Wan building them up again – until Sidious had enough.

Obi-Wan led out a choked gasp as suddenly lightning poured into his body, breaking his concentration.

And it continued – and continued, white hot pain enveloping him in an embrace of agony. A small part of him was aware that he as writhing on the ground, but the rest just screamed at him to defend himself. Sidiosu was already deep in his mind. He fought against the pain, fought to concentrate, but it was simply impossible.

So he did the only thing possible – he let go, accepted the pain. And through that he found the clarity and strength to concentrate again. The pain was still there, of course, but he felt as if he was somehow disconnected from his body so that it didn't bother him so much anymore.

Sidous had already broken through all his shields safe the last one, protecting his innermost core and secrets, but now that serenity filled him, he finally – and rather inexplicably – knew what he had to do.

He took every happy memory, memories of love, of shared laughter, friendship and affection and fortified the shield with them, weaving an impenetrable net of positive emotions, and most importantly love. Impenetrable, at least, for servants of the dark, who knew nothing of these emotions.

And even while his life was slowly draining away, eaten up by the endless stream of hungry lightning torturing his body, he was only filled with serenity and joy that he would die without betraying his best friend and brother and the Jedi...

He didn't know it, but a smile graced his lips.

But then a howl of infinite rage echoed in the chamber and suddenly, wondrously, the lightning stopped.

Unfortunately, the pain stayed.

Obi-Wan dimly heard Sidious shout orders and felt two sets of arms grab him before he succumbed to the waiting darkness.

Anakin shivered slightly as a gust of cold wind blowing from the mountains billowed his cloak. He was standing in front of Padme's newly painted Nubian – the silver had been far too conspicuous and he liked black better anyway, it had more style – waiting for the others to arrive to say good-bye.

He'd already done so to the twins, knowing full well, and with a deep ache in his heart, that if he didn't return, they wouldn't even remember him, but he wanted one more word with Padme and Yoda, Shryne and Han had said they'd see him off.

Speaking of Han...he hadn't seen the boy since yesterday evening...odd.

Suspicion creeping up on him, he cast out his Force-senses – and nearly groaned out aloud when he sensed a youthful presence on board. That boy really was too much like him.

Heading up the ramp, he resignedly followed Han's presence and found him in an empty storage compartment, curled up and fast asleep. He obviously had sneaked on the ship during the night and fallen asleep in there. Suddenly Anakin felt another flicker of a presence, but it was gone so quick he couldn't pinpoint it. And since he sensed no danger he stopped looking around, turning back to Han.

For a moment he lingered in the doorway, a small smile curving his lips at the peaceful image – but duty called and he certainly couldn't take Han with him, so he gently scooped the boy up in his arms and carried him back to the house to his room.

Laying him down on the bed in his room, he carefully tucked the sheets around him. Anakin didn't like leaving him just like that, without even saying good-bye, but maybe it was better like this. Or maybe he was just a coward.

Without making a sound he turned and headed back to the landing pad, but not before sending a gentle but strong sleep-suggestion to the boy's mind.

By the time he made it back, Padme and Yoda were already waiting for him.

"What happened? I though you were packed and ready?" Padme asked when he came up beside him.

"I found Han in one of the storage compartments. He's asleep in his room now."

"Asleep? You didn't...?" she prompted concerned.

"No, I didn't," he replied slighlty indignant that she would even think that. "He was already asleep when I found him. Will you keep an eye on him when he wakes? I'm afraid he won't be too happy and he can't be allowed to follow me."

Padme nodded at once. "Of course."

"Where's Master Shryne anyway?"

"Feel well he does not," Yoda spoke up for the first time. "But send his best wishes he does."

Anakin frowned slightly. Something felt off about that explanation, but the Force urged him to depart already, so he just offered, "I hope he will be better soon."

"He will be. Nothing serious it is," Yoda assured him, face as unreadable as always.

There was an awkward pause.

"Yes, well then, good-bye, Master Yoda," Anakin said, floundering for words, hoping the Grand Master would, for once, get the hint.

Apparently he did.

"With the Force's blessing go, young Skywalker."

And the small Master bowed, surprising both him and Padme and, as Anakin returned the bow, turned to hobble back to the house.

A few seconds Anakin and Padme both looked after him until he vanished into the house then they turned in unison toward each other and she fell into his arms.

Holding her close, he inhaled her scent, felt the softness of her skin and wondered how he could ever let her go. Their lips met in a desperate kiss, eerily reminiscent of the one they'd shared on their way to execution, when they'd been sure they would die, and for one blissful second he could forget everything – his mission, the Empire, the galaxy, the universe. There was only the angel in his arms.

But then she drew back, looking up at his face with her beautiful brown eyes, over bright with tears, and whispered, "Please be careful and come back to me, my love."

"I will," he promised softly, silent conviction shining from his eyes.

No more words were spoken, as he reluctantly let go of her completely, turning away, for none were needed.

But Anakin didn't look back; he didn't want to see what he'd seen so often. Her heartbreak, the diminishing of the light of her eyes as he left her, once again to go to war.