Chapter 28

Several days later, and a day after Kenshin left the Temple to head to Mustafar, Anakin walked through the dimly-lit corridors of the Temple to his ship. When he arrived at his ship he sensed that Woren, Nev-Kwellen, and Tru were already on board. He stopped at the edge of the ramp when he heard the pattering of feet trying to catch up with him. Taking a deep breath for the outburst he knew would come, Anakin turned around.

Drengin hurled himself at Anakin and wrapped his arms as much as he could around Anakin. "Don't go!" he cried.

Anakin pried Drengin's arms off him and then knelt in front of him so that they would be at eye level. "I have to go."

Tears ran down Drengin's cheeks and he put his arms around Anakin's neck. "I don't want you to leave. What if…" A sob caught in his throat as he continued. "What if you don't come back?"

Hugging Drengin, Anakin rubbed circles on Drengin's back in an attempt to calm him. "Shhh, little one. I won't be gone long."

Drengin shook his head furiously, his eyes red from crying. "You were saying goodbye. You don't think you're coming back."

"Drengin, don't let your fears control you." Anakin told him. "Remember what Master Yoda says. The future is always in motion."

"I know." Drengin hiccupped, clutching Anakin even tighter, his hands clenched tightly on Anakin's cloak. "Why can't I come with you?"

"It's too dangerous." Anakin replied.

"I can stay on the ship while you go fight the Sith." Drengin responded. "I won't get in the way. I promise."

Anakin took a deep breath and stood up, but Drengin wrapped his legs around Anakin's waist.

"No, I don't want you to go." Drengin cried, on the verge of a full blown tantrum.

Anakin rocked Drengin back and forth, his emotional mask beginning to falter. "Please Drengin, don't make my leaving any harder then it has to be."

After five unsuccessful minutes of trying to console Drengin, Anakin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Padme approaching. Without a word to Anakin, Padme managed to remove Drengin from Anakin and was now the one holding him.

"Be careful." Padme told Anakin.

"I will do my best." Anakin replied, kissing her on the lips. He lingered as Drengin's sobbing continued, Anakin's heart breaking.

Padme smiled reassuringly at him. "He'll be all right, Anakin. Go. Come back soon. We'll miss you."

"Thank you." Anakin responded, tears pricking his eyes as he turned and headed up the ramp.

Padme watched as Anakin's ship lifted off and flew out of the hanger bay before heading back to her temporary quarters in the Temple.

Drengin's crying had died down to whimpers and by the time Padme reached her quarters, Drengin was asleep, spent from all the crying he did.

Padme carried him into a spare bedroom and laid him down on the bed.

"Will he really come back?" Drengin asked in a tear strained voice, opening his eyes to look at Padme.

Kneeling by his bedside, Padme brushed Drengin's bangs away from his eyes. "Anakin won't let himself be taken down easily. I know he will do his best to come back soon."

Drengin wiped his face with his hands and swallowed back a sob. "Promise?"

"I promise." Padme answered.

Drengin closed his eyes and Padme tucked him in and gave him a kiss on his forehead.

"Stay with me?" Drengin asked as he heard Padme start to leave the room.

Padme grabbed the chair from the desk and sat down next to Drengin's bed.

"I'm right here."

Drengin snuggled deeper into the pillow and was soon fast asleep.


Nev-Kwellen watched the exchange between Anakin and Drengin with disdain, a scowl on his face.

"Nev-Kwellen, wipe that expression off your face and let's go meditate." Woren told him as he came up behind him.

"As you wish." Nev-Kwellen responded with gritted teeth and turned around to see that Woren had not moved from where he was standing. "What!?" Nev-Kwellen snapped in annoyance as he saw Woren's look.

"You're jealous of him aren't you?" Woren asked, carefully watching Nev-Kwellen's reaction.

Nev-Kwellen snorted and tried pushing his way passed Woren. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Woren blocked him and crossed his arms. "Don't let this interfere with our mission."

"Yes Master. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to meditate in my cabin." Nev-Kwellen answered.

Woren let Nev-Kwellen pass, concern briefly appearing on his face.


Two days later, Padme looked out into the night sky as she stood next to the railing of the balcony. A huge mountain loomed in the horizon barely visible except for the tiny pinpricks of light that came from the Temple.

Thunder rumbled in the distance and the star-filled sky was quickly becoming enshrouded by clouds. An air of foreboding settled in her heart as the wind began to pick up speed. Something was about to happen, something bad.

Winona came onto the balcony and went to stand beside Padme. "It looks like a storm is moving in."

"Yes." Padme said in a distracted voice.

"What's bothering you?" Winona inquired.

Padme turned her head to look at her friend. "I'm not sure. Perhaps it's just worry about Anakin and his mission, but I don't think that's the whole reason. Have you noticed how quite it has been around here since Anakin left?"

Winona gazed at the Temple, her eyes narrowing. "I have noticed, but I haven't mentioned it. I agree with you, something is going to happen, but not just on Mustafar."

"That's not very encouraging." Padme pointed out.

Winona gave a brief, short laugh. "It wasn't meant to be. It's the plain honest truth. Besides, lying never helps matters."

"That's true." Padme admitted.

"There isn't anything we can do tonight. Perhaps things will be clearer in the morning." Winona suggested.

Padme sighed, looking one last time at the Temple before following Winona back inside.


Obi-Wan looked into the small crib, smiling at his son's sleeping form. "You'll be a great Jedi someday my son. Together we'll help the Jedi save the galaxy."

"Already thinking about your son's future?" Bruck asked as he entered the small nursery.

Obi-Wan looked at Bruck and then back at his son. "What parents don't envision their children's future at one time or another?"

Bruck shrugged. "I wouldn't know." He stood next to Obi-Wan and looked at the sleeping baby. "Perhaps this war will be over before he gets old enough to join in the fight."

"There will still be the fight for peace and justice on many worlds." Obi-Wan remarked. "Still, it would be comforting to know that my son won't have to fight the Sith if this war is over before then."

Kenshin's eyes blinked open sleepily and Obi-Wan gently picked him up and cradled Kenshin in his arms.

"I'm sure the Crèche mothers would agree with you." Bruck replied.

Obi-Wan lightly chuckled. "They would." He looked back at Bruck and asked, "Would you like to hold him?"

Bruck shifted his feet uncomfortably. "I've never held a baby before."

Obi-Wan simply smiled. "It's easy. Just hold your arms like a cradle." Obi-Wan instructed, placing Kenshin into Bruck's arms. "Now support his head and neck with in the crook of your right arm and wrap your left arm around him."

Once Kenshin was settled into Bruck's arms, Obi-Wan laid a hand on Bruck's shoulder. "See, you can do it."

Kenshin squirmed around in Bruck's arms for a little bit before settling down and closing his bright blue eyes.

"He looks a lot like you, except for his nose and chin." Bruck noticed, looking up at Obi-Wan.

A brief look of sadness passed over Obi-Wan's face. "He does have a bit of his mother's features." Obi-Wan managed to collect his straying thoughts as he continued. "Bruck, how would you like to be Kenshin's Hold-Father?"

Bruck looked at Obi-Wan in surprise. "Me? I…" He briefly glanced down at Kenshin. "I would be honored." He managed to say.

Bruck opened his eyes as he sensed two presences coming toward the ship's cabin he was locked into. Standing up, Bruck took a deep breath as two of the Orcin Council members entered the cabin to escort him to his trial.

The Black Star screamed through Mustafar's red atmosphere, heading down towards the planet's red surface. The sensors located two ships on the planet's surface and Anakin piloted the Black Star to the one closest to Kenshin and the Orcin.


Tru entered the cabin and buckled himself into the copilot's seat. "This is a delightful place." He said sarcastically as they zoomed over the barren landscape.

Anakin ignored him and landed the ship on an old mining platform beside the Red Blaze. "We're running out of time. The trap is going to be sprung soon." He powered the ship down and left the cockpit, followed by Tru.

Anakin and Tru were met by Woren and Nev-Kwellen at the entrance of the ramp and without a word, they left the ship.


Kenshin patiently waited in his seat as two of the Orcin Council members brought in Bruck and shoved him into the middle of the circle.

Bruck stumbled from the rough push, but regained his balance in time to prevent himself from falling forward. He stood up straight and with an emotionless face, looked at Kenshin.

"Do you know why you are here?" Kenshin asked.

"Do you know why the Orcin are here?" Bruck countered.

Kenshin hissed between his teeth and answered. "You are here for the most serious crime that can be committed to the Orcin order. Betrayal."

"I did not betray anyone." Bruck defended himself. "I would have been killed if I had stayed."

"Better to die than to betray our leader." Kenshin replied, causing nods of agreement from the other Council members.

Bruck turned to look at Bant, "Bant, you believe me right?"

Bant ignored Bruck as Kenshin spoke.

"Why should you be believed?" Kenshin remarked. "The ruling has already been decided and voted on. The verdict is death."

Bruck's face paled and he anxiously searched each of the Council members faces for any kind of support. "You can't do this. I'm one of you."

"No, you aren't." Siri answered, her face stony and her eyes like ice. "The day you betrayed our leader was the day you were dismissed."

"This is not right, it's against the Orcin code." Bruck protested.

"There have been many changes since you have last been here Bruck." Siri put in. "We will do what we must."

Bruck shook his head, "No! The code cannot be changed, Obi-Wan forbade it."

"Obi-Wan is dead, therefore we will take the appropriate measures to avenge his death." Tarnekk responded.

Turning to the left, Bruck looked at Tarnekk, "We do not take revenge. Revenge is of the Dark Side."

Kenshin gave a dry laugh. "Forget it, there is no escape."

Pressing his lips together into a thin line, Bruck looked back at Kenshin. "What would your father think?"

At that, Kenshin rose from his seat and pointed at Bruck. "You have no right to ask what my father would have thought."

"I have every right as Obi-Wan's friend and fellow Council member." Bruck swiftly rebutted. "Kenshin, you were doing so well before Obi-Wan left with Garen and me to the Sith Temple. What happened that made you this way?"

Ice cold fury burned in Kenshin's eyes at Bruck's words. "I have heard enough out of you traitor!"

Bruck felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as he saw Kenshin raise his hand, horizontally, and palm outward. Bruck felt himself being held in place and with growing horror, felt his Force energy being drawn from him.

Kenshin closed his eyes and drank in the power that he was absorbing. Raising his other hand, vertically and palm up, a small ball of electricity began to form.

Bruck began to feel dizzy and exhausted, his legs trembling beneath him. On the brink of unconsciousness, Bruck was dropped to the floor.

Walking forward, Kenshin stood a few feet from Bruck and began pouring the glowing yellow ball of electricity into Bruck's prone form.

Pain wracked through Bruck's whole body, causing him to convulse. His ability to scream had been taken away by his depleted energy.

Kenshin stopped the Force lightning as the ball disappeared from his hand and began to draw some more Force energy out of Bruck.


Anakin, Tru, Woren, and Nev-Kwellen carefully and quietly climbed the old mining building that rested near the edge of a lava flow. Once they were on top of the roof they crawled over to a massive tear in the room and peered down.

Anakin looked just in time to witness the power that caused the Jedi to fear Kenshin. Closing his eyes, Anakin calmed himself and then sat up to look at his companions, "Go find another way in and try to locate the Jedi Council members." He ordered.

Tru and Woren nodded grimly, but Nev-Kwellen settled to glaring at Anakin.

"We should all jump down there together." Nev-Kwellen told Anakin.

"That would not be a good idea. Kenshin will feel threatened if more then one person were to drop in on him. Now go, we don't have time to waste." Anakin responded and then looked back down through the hole. Closing his eyes, Anakin immersed himself into the light of the Force as he prepared to confront Kenshin. It's time. he said to himself, opened his eyes and jumped down to the metal floor.

Kenshin looked up just as Anakin revealed his presence and jumped down to the ground. He ceased drawing energy from Bruck and threw Force lighting at Anakin.

Anakin held his hand out in front of him and adsorbed the lightning. "This will stop right now!" Anakin told Kenshin firmly as he walked past Bruck's motionless form until he was standing two feet from Kenshin.

"What are you doing here?" Kenshin hissed in irritation.

Anakin lowered his hood and looked Kenshin directly in his eyes. "You know perfectly well. I won't let you kill Bruck."

"Then you will die alongside him." Kenshin declared and raised his arm to drain Anakin of his Force energy.

Anakin stood still as Kenshin drew the Force from him. He smirked as he saw Kenshin's irritated look when Anakin did not become drained like he had expected Anakin to become. "Careful, you don't want to overdue it." Anakin warned.

Kenshin growled and began sending Force lightning at Anakin in addition to draining him.

Anakin merely held his hand up and absorbed the lightning.

A couple of minutes later, Kenshin stopped and sighed. "You are making this very difficult." He remarked and, throwing off his robe, he detached his lightsaber and ignited the deadly blue beam.

Anakin followed suit and tossed his cloak to the side. He brought his glowing red lightsaber up in a classical defense position and waited.

Kenshin attacked first and at the same time that their lightsabers clashed together, a loud roar of thunder filled the air.

Anakin pressed his lightsaber against Kenshin's, the interlocked blades hissing and sparking in protest.

"You won't win, Anakin." Kenshin told him, springing backward to free his blade from the deadlock.

Anakin kept a defensive stance as Kenshin circled him like a hunter stalking its prey. "I'm not here to kill you."

Kenshin rushed forward, his lightsaber slicing down toward Anakin's back.

Swiftly turning around, Anakin brought his red blade up underneath Kenshin's blade and with a twist of his wrist, redirected Kenshin's blade. He ducked as Kenshin recovered and swung the blue blade at Anakin's head.

"Liar!" Kenshin shouted as their lightsabers clashed together again.

Anakin remained on the defensive as he parried and blocked Kenshin's strikes. "Let go of your hatred, Kenshin. It will only destroy you."

"Big words for a Sith." Kenshin retorted, sweeping his leg at Anakin's legs and rolling sideways to avoid Anakin's blade.

"I'm not a Sith. I'm a Jedi apprentice." Anakin corrected, avoiding a swipe at his head.

"Liar! You're here to destroy us and I'm here to stop you." Kenshin retorted, his eyes yellow with malice. Kenshin attacked, driving Anakin to the far end of the room.

Anakin let Kenshin drive him backward, attempting to wear Kenshin down by staying on the defensive. "Why do you hate me?"

Kenshin sneered in contempt. "I don't hate."

Anakin bit his bottom lip as he felt the darkness swirl around Kenshin. "Hate leads to the Dark Side."

"I know that but do you?" Kenshin retorted as he swung his lightsaber at Anakin's left side and as the two blades connected, Kenshin Force lifted a broken table that was lying against the wall and threw it at Anakin, springing away at the same time.

Anakin catapulted up against the side of the wall, narrowly missing the table and then repelled against it to land a few feet behind Kenshin.

Anakin had moved so fast that Kenshin barely had time to turn around before Anakin Force pushed him at the wall.

"Fighting me won't take away the pain." Anakin pointed out as Kenshin recovered.

Kenshin smirked as he stalked forward, his lightsaber at ready. "No, but killing you may."

Anakin heard groans coming from the Orcin Council as he sensed Kenshin begin to absorb their energy. Sith! I need to get him out of here but where and how? "You would harm those who follow you just to destroy me?"

Kenshin's eyes took on a yellow color as he replied, "Let me destroy you and they won't be harmed."

Anakin hissed between his teeth as Kenshin's blade grazed his right arm above the elbow. He spun out of the way and flipped backwards, away from Kenshin. "You are not thinking straight." Anakin responded and ran for a broken window and leapt outside, followed closely by Kenshin.