Chapter Twenty-Five: Darkness Breeds Darkness
Previous Episode: Ghosts of Mortis
Chapter Preludes: The Citadel
"Remember, not a word to Rex or Cody. Not until we discuss what happened."
"Yes master," Anakin and Ahsoka chorused while the former brought the shuttle into the cruiser hangar. Cody and Rex - the former who was gripping a thermos and ignoring his chattering partner - were waiting for them. R2 was beside them, rocking back and forth on his treads in excitement.
Obi-Wan glanced at his two apprentices. "Now if you could agree with what I say all the time -"
Anakin cut the engines, glancing at him in amusement. "Yeah, no."
"I can only hope for such a thing."
Ahsoka laughed, hopping out of her seat and releasing the ramp latch. The hangar was buzzing, filled with shouting clones and oil fumes and clanging machinery.
"Gone for more than a moment, sir?" Rex asked when they stepped down the ramp, raising his eyebrows. "What does that mean?"
Obi-Wan didn't know what to say. We traveled to Mortis and got caught in the battle between the literal personas of light and dark! I saw my dead master! Ahsoka died! Anakin turned to the Dark Side!
Anakin grinned when R2 squealed and whirred up to him, addressing Rex while stooping to pat the droid. "We traveled back to the time when Obi-Wan had that luminous mullet. It was hilarious - I even got pictures!"
"Anakin…"
Cody pressed his lips together, trying and failing not to laugh. Rex chuckled, though it sounded more like a giggle.
"You had a mullet?" Ahsoka asked, leaning back on her heels to examine the back of his head. "When? Why?"
"Anakin, let's not discuss my life choices."
"I'll show you some holos later," Anakin whispered loudly to his padawan, who nodded and grinned.
"General Kenobi. Should we get to the discussing the mission at hand?"
"That would be much appreciated, Cody."
Anakin straightened, glancing at the thermos in Cody's hand while they walked to the command center. "That's not caf, I take it Commander?"
"Tea, General Skywalker. I'm not a fan of caf - unlike the 501st."
Obi-Wan fought a smile. "Really, Anakin - half the caf in the Galaxy is drunk by your men."
In the command center, they stood around the holo, listening to a young clone technician ramble about signals and frequencies and missing milliseconds in the logs and "kriff, we really need a software update on this flagship."
Cody gradually drew his gaze away from the map, raising an eyebrow at the rambling technician before them. "What are you saying, Shiny? In simple terms?"
The technician gulped nervously, though he pointed to the spot on the map and managed to speak in a relatively steady voice. "We've been monitoring this signal for six days. The moment the Generals shuttle was logged, the signal to Chrelythium was gone too."
"Like a glitch?" Obi-Wan asked, scratching at his beard. He exchanged a glance with Ahsoka, remembering once again it had been days for them and only a matter of seconds for the galaxy.
So much can change in such a short period of time, he thought, looking over to Anakin - who hadn't spoken a word since they maps had been drawn up, choosing to the let technician speak.
"General Skywalker?" Rex asked when the silence got to much to bear. "Have any thoughts?"
Anakin offered a humorless smile. "I'm still thinking about Obi-Wan's mullet. But to answer your question, Rex." He folded his arms over his chest. "These systems are old. I don't think they've been updated since the war began."
"But that doesn't explain why the signal from Chrelythium suddenly stopped."
Because the signal was for us, Obi-Wan thought when Anakin didn't respond. Tapping his fingers against his arms, he said, "How about we monitor for a signal for the next twelve hours? I can contact the surface now and explain why we continue to occupy their airspace. If nothing comes of the monitoring General Skywalker and Commander Tano will take a battalion to the surface to investigate and ensure there is no Separatist activity. Meanwhile I will stay up here and contact the Council to see how to proceed."
"Wait." Ahsoka looked between him and the holo map. "This was a mission issued by the Order - not the Chancellor?"
"The Jedi Order is allowed to operate without the consent of the Chancellor, Ahsoka. There was even a period in time when a Jedi was the Chancellor." He might have been speaking to Ahsoka, but he was looking at Anakin while he spoke. "We didn't always have a disdain for politics and diplomacy."
"We didn't always have friendly relations with Mandalore, yet here we are."
Obi-Wan glared at the younger man, folding his arms over his chest. "Yes, well - things change. Cody, if you can find the frequency for the Chrelythium authorities that would be wonderful. Rex, Anakin, Ahsoka -"
"Brief the men, inspect ships and weapons, then eat something," Anakin and Ahsoka chorused together.
"That's not creepy at all," Rex muttered.
Cody smirked at his fellow clone. "Told you Kenobi has them trained. You owe me ten credits, Rexie boy."
The meeting between him and the Chrelythium authorities went on for two hours. It was a relief when they finally ended the transmission.
Cody walked beside him in the bustling halls, reading a datapad and telling Obi-Wan of all the antics the 501st and 212th had gotten up to while the divisions traveled together.
It was amusing to listen to Cody rant about Rex with a friendly smile on his face, his usual mask of calm forgotten.
Is this what everyone sees when Anakin and I complain about each other? Smiling despite ourselves?
Guess our men really do pick up our habits, he thought, bidding Cody goodbye at the mess hall.
The walk to his quarters involved more than one clone saying hello and stopping for a chat that was far longer than thirty seconds. The constant conversation made him forget for a moment what was weighing on his mind.
Obi-Wan sighed in relief when he caught sight of his quarters, the sound echoing in the relatively quiet hall.
But he didn't want quiet. Quiet meant listening to the thoughts in his head, the buzzing memories of Mortis, the paleness of Ahsoka's dead body, the joy and frustration upon seeing Qui-Gon again, the hate and fear in Anakin's eyes…
Running a hand through his grimy hair - when was the last time he showered? Before Ordina? A week ago?, he palmed the door open to discover Anakin and Ahsoka waiting for him. They started talking the moment the door was closed, stumbling over each other and not taking time to breath.
"What are we going to tell the Council?" Ahsoka exclaimed her perch on the desk.
Anakin - seated on the bed - scoffed. "Snips, the Council wouldn't even believe -"
"This is insane. Sentient beings that are legitimately the Force?!"
""The Father wiped my memory!"
"You don't remember turning to the Dark Side?!"
"Well you don't either! Master, I saw Qui-Gon and -"
Obi-Wan held up his hand for silence, thanking the Force they were on The Negotiator and not Anakin's cruiser. Relative silence filled the air while he walked to the locker and pulled out a bottle of Alderaanian Scotch and a tumbler.
"Master Kenobi?"
He poured too much Scotch and downed half the glass in one gulp. It burned down his throat, though he hardly noticed - he'd gotten used to the feeling throughout life.
"Obi-Wan? What are we going to do?"
He set the tumbler down - more like slammed it - and braced himself against the counter. They're scared. We face death every day, and this scares them - hell, this scares me.
Sighing deeply, he turned around. Fear and worry were etched onto their faces - they weren't doing anything to hide it.
I can take down a Sith Lord and love a Mandalorian and argue with Mace Windu and and call Anakin brother but I'm just as scared and confused as they are.
"Nothing."
"Are you serious?"
"Obi-Wan, did you get knocked on your head to hard?"
He grasped the tumbler again and took a sip before answering. "My head is perfectly fine, Anakin. But we will not do anything until we have had time examine this problem and solve the mission at present."
Anakin gaped like a fish for a moment. "But the signal was for us - for me! To prove I was the Chosen One." He put air quotes around the last three words. "We're just gonna sit on our asses and do -"
"We are not bumming around, Anakin. I contacted the local authorities of Chrelythium - they willing be expecting you and your battalion ten hours from now. You are to search for a Separatist presence and report back to me."
Ahsoka folded her arms over her chest. "What will you be doing, Master Kenobi?"
"I will be contacting the Jedi Council and informing them of the mission's progress when you return. Force willing, we do not find anything on the surface and are requested back at the Temple by the end of the week."
"You won't tell them about Mortis?" Anakin asked skeptically. "You don't keep secrets from the Council."
"We all have our secrets, Anakin." He finished the Scotch and set the tumbler down. "This is one I do not wish for the Council to know about. Not before I do some research."
Ahsoka snorted. "Madame Nu will think you're high on spice."
"I won't be researching in the Archives. Master Qui-Gon...he spent his entire life learning and recording information about the Living Force. He dragged me to Lothal on more than one occasion, hoping to speak to the elders and priests there. I still have his notes and research - I believe Bant Eerin might have some too."
"Why would Master Fisto's old Padawan have Qui-Gon's notes?" Anakin asked. "That doesn't make any sense."
"Master Eerin was Padawan to Master Tahl before she passed," Obi-Wan hesitated, remembering the dark days after the master's death. He knew his audience deserved an explanation. "Master Tahl and Master Qui-Gon were - ah - partners...romantic partners."
"What?" Ahsoka looked between them and grinned. "Huh. Interesting. So the 'a Jedi has no attachments lecture -'"
"Can it Snips."
"Anyway," Obi-Wan interrupted, "Master Tahl often gathered bits of information for my master while on missions. Qui-Gon didn't have the heart to take her belongings when she died - Master Eerin kept them. I wouldn't imagine she has thrown them out."
Anakin leaned his elbows on his knees, fingers clasping together. "Master Eerin is rarely in the Temple. How are you gonna contact her?"
"Now that is a good question. She was undercover, last I knew."
"Well that complicates things."
"Indeed."
"Well, we're getting nowhere. Now if you excuse me - I'm gonna take a nap," Ahsoka muttered, hopping down from the desk. "Don't wake me unless absolutely necessary."
Obi-Wan nodded, watching the Padawan leave the room. He was quiet for a moment, suddenly thinking of her unmoving chest and strongly considering a second drink.
"You should get some rest, Master."
He glanced to Anakin, who looked more exhausted than ever. "You should too."
"You didn't sleep, did you? On Mortis?"
"To be entirely truthful," he poured more Scotch into the tumbler. "I haven't slept in twelve years."
"Very funny."
"I think so." He took a drink, letting it go down his throat slowly. It burned all the way down. "Anakin...before Mortis I heard your conversation -"
Anakin stood, his jaw suddenly set and muscles tense. "I don't need to discuss my family right now, Obi-Wan."
"Your stepfather is dying, isn't he? Surely you can appeal to the Council and ask for leave. I'd vouch -"
"Moisture farmers don't concern the Republic, so this matter doesn't concern the Order." Anakin gave a tight smile, walking to the door. "I'm gonna grab some grub - want anything?"
"I will in a bit." Obi-Wan stared at the liquid in his glass, pressing his lips together. He wasn't surprised when Anakin hesitated at the door, then left a moment later.
What has this Galaxy come too? He thought before downing the rest of the glass.
Fingers shaking, he pulled out his comlink and punched in Bant's frequency.
He spent the next twelve hours drinking, trying to research the living Force and attempting to contact his childhood best friend.
All he got was a pounding headache.
"...the Chrelythium authorities claim they have been trying to contact us for the past fourteen days, trying to tell us there is no threat. They could never reach us until an hour ago - but that was thanks to Anakin. He rerouted their servers and put new wiring in their main communication systems."
Mace Windu frowned, leaning forward in his seat. "There was no evidence of Separatist involvement?"
Anakin shook his head. "I ran every scan I could think of, Masters'. There was no trace of a Separatist digital presence, and no malicious activity on planet, droids or otherwise. It seems to be just a glitch or a malfunction."
Yoda squinted at them, tapping his fingers in his cane. Even over several dozen parsecs his gaze was piercing and owlish. "Sense something amiss, I have. A change, in the Galaxy. Felt it, have you, Obi-Wan, Anakin?"
"By change I hope you mean some good news," Obi-Wan quipped, stepping on Anakin's foot before anything could be uttered.
Mace's scowl deepened. "I'm afraid not, Master Kenobi. We would like you to come to Coruscant immediately, without haste. Certain dire matters have risen, and we need both of you present."
"Regarding?" Anakin prompted, nearly yanking his foot away and jabbing Obi-Wan in the ankle.
"Discuss this on Coruscant, we will. Serious, this is. Wish to convey it over transmission, we do not."
"Master Kenobi, Skywalker - we'd like your best troopers to be present in the briefing with Master Koon - preferably without Padawan Tano, Skywalker."
Obi-Wan felt all hopes of contacting Bant and researching Mortis slip through his fingers. Putting on what he hoped to be a charming smile, he bowed his head. "Of course, Master's. We will be en route within the next two hours."
"Make it thirty minutes, Kenobi," Mace muttered. "That's an order."
The transmission cut.
"Thirty minutes isn't enough time."
Obi-Wan gave a grim smile to the younger man, punching in Cody's frequency and relaying the orders.
"Best troopers? That would Echo and Fives, sir."
"Don't forget Rex," Anakin added before the transmission cut. In the now dark holo-chamber he whispered. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Cheer up, Anakin. Maybe -"
"Did you contact Master Eerin?"
"I tried - no such luck. Why do you have a bad feeling?"
"I dunno know. The Father spoke of darkness consuming our galaxy now that him and his children were dead, and now Mace won't tell us of a super important mission? Seems kinda sketchy."
Obi-Wan put a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "You should not dwell on the negative, Anakin. Darkness breeds darkness."
"Now I have the terrifying image of Ventress and Maul doing the dirty."
"You're insufferable."
The journey through hyperspace took roughly twenty-three hours.
It was a relatively easy travel - they didn't get shot at, Obi-Wan helped Ahsoka learn Jar-Kai, and Anakin huddled away with his engineers for one reason or another. At some point he managed a few hours of sleep, but it was interrupted by nightmares of Mortis and phantom gunfire from some battle.
But that was normal - life was normal while they flew to Coruscant, the planet he had called home for so many years.
Everything was so calm and normal that Obi-Wan almost forgot the events that just transpired - and what was looming over them.
The descent into the atmosphere, as always, made him feel ill. The alcohol coursing through his system certainly didn't help matters. He stood in the bay of the cruiser, one hand clutching at a handle while the clones and Anakin chattered around him.
The roar of the engine made him barely hear Anakin speaking to him - he only noticed Anakin's lips moving. "Pardon, Anakin?"
"Force, you are getting old." Anakin didn't bother glancing up from his datapad. "Rex has to be present for the inspection of the 501st's new warehouse - he will be at the meeting via holo."
"Sir - do you even know what this meeting is about?" Echo asked, leaning back in his seat.
"Like the Council tells me anything."
"I was talking to General Kenobi, sir."
"Of course you were."
Obi-Wan felt his lips twitch downwards at Anakin's comment, though he ultimately shrugged while glancing around the small bay. "I do not, actually. You know as much information as I do."
"Sounds fishy to me," Fives murmured, fiddling with his gun. "Weird things happen when Jedi keep secrets - no offense, generals."
"None taken, my friend. I agree - but sometimes they are for the best."
Anakin finally looked up, raising his eyebrows. "What happened to the man who used to say secrets are for those with ulterior motives?"
"I'm afraid that man changed, Anakin."
The cruiser jolted and groaned, and the emergency lights flickered briefly while the gears and engines silenced. The sudden pop in his ears signaled that the gravity was shutting down.
Everyone was quiet, glancing around while the ramp hissed and opened.
"Well…" Obi-Wan straightened, forcing a smile onto his face. "Who wants to discover what death-defying mission the Council has in store for us today?"
Cody shook his head, putting his helmet back on. "When you put it that way, sir, it sounds delightful."
There was no one waiting for them at the cruiser docks. They walked in relative silence towards their transport, taking in Coruscant all at once. For once, the muggy, loud, gasoline smelling air was a blessing to experience.
Anything was better than the overly clean and pure atmosphere of Mortis.
Beside him, Anakin was rubbing above his elbow, at the place where his mechanical arm fused with his nerve endings. "Shifts in atmosphere mess with the electricity fields," he explained when Cody gave him a concerned glance. "Should probably have it checked out."
"Ah."
"Anakin - you remembered to put Ahsoka in charge of inspection?"
Anakin nodded while they climbed into the transport. "I did - her and R2 should be tied up while we are at this briefing. Whatever the hell it is."
Author's Note: Still Sunday by an hour here in New York! This chapter was interesting to write. I feel like it was about here in the series where many of the plotlines started to overlap and become really intricate. I've been having a ton of fun thinking about what characters to bring in and different scenarios that might occur within the episode itself.
Writing the clones are especially fun, because they're so sassy to each other and Kenobi/Skywalker, but they're respectful when they need to be.
Well, that's all I have to say.
Night (or morning, afternoon, evening, whatever) my dears.
ii Digestive Reader ii