Disclaimer: GL owns Star Wars and everyone in it. We only play in it 'cause it's fun.
Warnings: Rated M for strong sexual situations, language and violence. You have been warned.
Forbidden Longing
A collab fic by Lilac Moon and PyramidHead316.
Chapter 27 – The Approaching Storm
The façade of Obi-Wan Kenobi slashed in a calculated arc at the figure across from him. The bald white-skinned woman who was his opponent met his maneuver beautifully, parrying the move with her twin lightsabers. Darkness loomed in the sky above them, with lightning striking many areas in the distance.
It had been a week since Obi-Wan departed from Coruscant. Lord Sidious had sent him to Korriban to complete his training, and had assigned one of his agents to instruct him. The planet was strong in the dark side, and would work to turn Obi-Wan quickly to the dark side without any difficulties. The plan had worked beautifully, as Sidious anticipated. After one week, he had become immersed deep within the dark side. Any trace of Obi-Wan Kenobi had disappeared. There was only Darth Vader.
Vader slashed at the lithe woman with his azure saber, blocking and parrying the attacks gracefully despite his disadvantage of only having one saber. He had learned much in the past week spent on this planet. To his chagrin, he had discovered that there were certain techniques used to improve one's lightsaber skills unknown to the Jedi, which dark side users used to even the odds against better trained Jedi. He had quickly set about mastering these techniques, with his dutifully assigned 'tutor' at his side. He was certain he was almost ready to assume his rightful place at his Master's side.
"Come now, Kenobi. Is that the best you can do?" Asajj Ventress taunted him, swinging her lightsabers at him in a flurry of red-tinged movements.
Vader struggled to match her deadly movements. She was good, he had to admit. He had always thought she was an impressive swordswoman, though she was only partially trained by Jedi standards. But her anger gave her an advantage that evened the odds against any aggressor, great Jedi Masters included. His feet fought to keep up with her incredible footwork. He found himself falling back under the viciousness of her assault, as he fought to relinquish his memories of Soresu and adopt the more intense style she had been teaching him.
"And to think I've been training you for the past week. I think I've been wasting my time here with you," Asajj scoffed, sneering at her rival with plainly visible disgust. "I think that brat Skywalker would have done better by now."
The former Obi-Wan Kenobi released a growl of anger and slashed viciously at the bald alien woman. She knew any mention of his former padawan was enough to get him riled up. Ventress took a step back as he intensified his attacks. He wouldn't kill her, but better to be safe than sorry.
"Ah. That's much better," Asajj said mockingly. This was how their sessions went for the past week. Asajj taunted him, insulted him, tormented him in every way until she pushed him to the brink; his breaking point was always near. And Vader accepted it willingly, under the direction of his Master. The dark side source on Korriban gave her an advantage that he couldn't possibly hope to overcome, as he did in ordinary circumstances. Not until he completed his training.
She had tormented him in other ways, too. And he willingly submitted to those as well. He knew they were an unusual pair, the two of them; there had always been some connection between the two of them that neither of them understood. It made a twisted, ironic sort of sense that she would be his teacher in the dark side.
Vader swung his light sword at the pale white woman, trying to disarm her and bring thus confrontation to an end. Asajj parried the offensive maneuvers beautifully with her twin red lightsabers, creating a whirling flurry of light.
"I knew it. You are still weak. You still use a Jedi's lightsaber, for Sith's sake!" Asajj scoffed, giving her student a disgusted glance. "The Master must have been insane when he chose you for his new apprentice. You will never be a true Sith. You will always be a pathetic Jedi Master, playing at being a greater part of the universe the Jedi refuse to accept," she said.
Vader growled in frustration, unleashing a particularly brutal slash. "I think you have that mistaken, you delusional witch. I recall quite a few times clearly in which I bested you, and that was the usual for us," he said, raising his eyebrows sardonically. Asajj growled in sudden rage.
Ventress charged at him with furious intent. Vader parried the blows efficiently with his lightsaber, sidestepping her attacks with elegant gracefulness. The mark of a Soresu swordsman was to look for a hole in the enemy's defense, and though he was trying to use a stronger fighting style, some of the basics from that form still proved useful in a dueling exercise.
Asajj was absolutely surprised when Sidious contacted her and ordered her to train Obi-Wan Kenobi in the ways of the dark side. She was incredibly doubtful at first – how could the great Obi-Wan Kenobi ever have turned? And when she realized the reason why he had begun his fall, she had enjoyed a hearty laugh the likes of which had been absent in her life for the past several years. It amused her to no extent that Kenobi wanted his former Padawan. She hadn't thought Obi-Wan felt that way about the boy. That made things more difficult for her, in some respects, but she had managed to take advantage of the situation nonetheless and…shed light on some unresolved issues they had between the two of them. She had to admit, she was enjoying this assignment. The chance to taunt, belittle, and obliterate Obi-Wan Kenobi in battle after all the times he had eluded her in this war was something she could not afford at any point to pass up. And yet, she could also spend time with him, and get to know the enemy that had so captivated her for the past couple of years. Sad as it was to admit, she was developing a fondness for him.
She knew that was a dangerous situation. She knew Sidious wouldn't tolerate her mind straying from their goals at this time. First and foremost, the destruction of the Republic was the formidable goal of their organization. And whatever had motivated Sidious to pick Obi-Wan Kenobi as his new apprentice, she knew he wouldn't have that unless Kenobi now planned to play some crucial role in that objective. But Asajj had survived all these years despite whatever the universe had thrown at her, and she was well equipped to handle some confusion in this game. She had no idea what her own intentions were at this time, but she was glad to instruct him in the better aspect of the Force, and she would surely figure out the rest before his training was complete.
Vader had been surprised to realize who his new instructor was, but he had quickly grown to accept it. He knew Sidious had contacted her, ordering her to teach him about the dark side. He also knew she had been informed not to tell Dooku about this endeavor. Some torture over their holographic connection ensured Asajj cooperated with him. Asajj hadn't questioned the purpose in training Kenobi in the dark side, but it didn't take a genius to see Obi-Wan was a better apprentice than Dooku. He was younger, stronger, and more flexible than the older ex-Jedi.
It was clear that Obi-Wan's training would mean that Dooku would soon be supplanted. But the obvious remained unsaid between the two of them. Whether that was because it was it was unnecessary, or because Asajj wanted in with whatever Sidious and his new apprentice had planned, and Obi-Wan personally, Vader didn't know.
She still hadn't fully accepted his new moniker, seeing him as the General in service to the Republic she had fought time and time again – a fact which she used prominently to outline his weaknesses. Vader didn't know whether to be proud Obi-Wan had left such a mark on her, or offended she refused to acknowledge he had left that weak man behind.
Vader slashed at her with a downward arc coming from the left, catching her off-balance. Asajj struggled to keep her defenses up, but Vader took advantage of the opening. He pushed her back as he dealt her a succession of quick strikes, forcing her to use both blades to defend herself as he struck furiously from all angles, until he pushed aside her blades and held his saber forward in a killing blow. Asajj was subdued for a moment at his sudden victory, but she quickly resumed her cool nature.
"Good. You're learning. I think in time, within another week or two, you'll be ready to serve him in the capacity he desires," Asajj said, switching off her lightsabers.
Vader powered off his azure saber. He wiped the sweat off his brow with his forearm, sighing from the exertion of the past several hours. Training with Asajj was always an exhausting routine, yet he felt more capable with the Force than he ever had as a Jedi. He was truly ready to take his place carrying out the plans of his Master.
Vader went to a nearby holoprojector away from Asajj's range of hearing. He had received a message that Lord Sidious wanted to speak with him. He had been ordered to check in within a week's time, and the Master had deemed it fit to remind him of his obligation. No doubt the older Sith Lord wanted to inquire about the progress of his training. Ventress kept her distance, inspecting some thing or another about her lightsabers. Vader didn't care.
The image of Lord Sidious came from the projector in a miniaturized version. Vader greeted him with a bow, in the way Sidious expected – with respect, admiration, and fear. As expected, the Sith Lord was blunt about the status of his progress. He informed Sidious of the exercises they had engaged in, the details and techniques she had covered with him about the dark side, and everything he had learned, smiling in great pride when the Sith gave his subtle grin of approval. The conversation turned to other matters. Vader listened to the Master's words, fully absorbing every single word he was saying about their plans. When the request came, Vader simply nodded. There was no questioning Lord Sidious' orders. Vader looked at Ventress out of the corner of his eye. She was staring at him occasionally, but not too interested, obviously passing off the conversation as just the typical report between a Sith Lord and his Master.
"Yes, my Master," Vader bowed, as the transmission faded out.
Moments later, Vader returned to the training area where Asajj still lurked. He noticed she perked up at his renewed presence, as though she was looking forward to their activities post the training session more than she had the actual training itself. He wondered what she truly thought of him. Did she see him as just as another toy to manipulate and enjoy tormenting, or was it more than that?
"Good, you've returned. We should meditate on the balcony together. I have much I can teach you about harnessing your rage," Asajj rasped with a lecherous smile. The balcony was a part of the mansion they were staying in, the ruins of a very old structure that Sidious had refurbished for his own use.
"Actually, I'm afraid we're at the end of our training here. The Master has ordered me to depart on an assignment," Vader said blithely, as though he were casually discussing having a cup of tea. The other assumed a shocked expression.
"What?!" Asajj demanded with rage in her eyes, practically snarling. "You can't be serious. You've only just arrived here. I haven't even begun to teach you half of the things I know!" she protested.
"I'm sorry, my dear, but such is the way of a Sith. The Master's wishes take precedence over all," Vader shrugged. He offered her an apologetic glance. "If it's any consolation, I really have enjoyed our time here. Quality entertainment," he said mockingly. She hated it when he used his humor with her.
Ventress' eyes grew red with indignation. "You're not going anywhere!" she said acidly. She lit up her lightsabers, holding them threateningly in a battle ready position.
Vader lifted an inquiring eyebrow. "Really? Are you questioning Lord Sidious' orders?" he asked the bald, tattooed assassin.
Asajj shook her head vehemently. "He can't be serious about this. You're not ready to take on an assignment of this nature. If you go out there like this, you're going to get killed!" she spat at him.
"I think that's highly illogical," Vader said to her. "I'm sure Lord Sidious is highly aware of my abilities. He wouldn't send me on an assignment unless he believed I was ready."
The reaction was as acerbic as expected. "The hell with Lord Sidious. I am the teacher here, and I say that you are not ready to leave this place yet!" Ventress said to him, glaring at him with eyes burning with disdain and rage.
The Sith Lord looked at her thoughtfully. "I see. I guess we'll have to test that hypothesis," Vader said. He ignited his lightsaber, bringing it around to glare at his opponent with one hand.
Mentor and student stared at one another in a tense fashion, the former willing the latter to back down. He did not do so in the slightest.
"Don't challenge me, Obi-Wan. This isn't a training session. If you engage me with the intent to get past me, you will lose," Ventress said, dark and menacingly.
Vader glared into her eyes. "I suspect you underestimate me, Asajj Ventress," he said, with the most subtle hint of warning underneath. There was a pause in the air, as though the universe had stopped for the confrontation of these two very dark apprentices.
The two combatants launched themselves at each other, trading blows with their lightsabers right and left. Vader slashed at Ventress at with his blade, which Ventress parried with her lightsabers. They engaged in a duel of blue and red lights, blocking and deflecting blows at incredible speeds. Ventress' unusual style served her well as she attempted to get the upper hand, but Vader met each and every one of the blows from her blade with his own, despite only having one lightsaber.
The battle was even at first, with both combatants eagerly striking and thrusting at the other with lightning fast speed. Each one struck with the skill of years of training in the Jedi arts, and subsequent time spent training in the darker methods. But Vader had one secret he had yet to divulge.
He had still yet to immerse himself as deeply as he could in the dark side.
For days he had been training with Asajj Ventress and learning from her how to harness his rage, but he was reluctant to fully immerse himself as deep within the dark side as he needed to. Despite his new situation, he was still clinging to his old defensive system of lightsaber combat instead of fully embracing a more aggressive style. Not to mention, there was another incentive for keeping himself from appearing too skilled. It was an order of Lord Sidious', to keep his full potential carefully hidden from Asajj's eyes until the right moment. Careful consideration, the older man had said, just in case they had some unforeseen complications; the factor of surprise would give them an edge. But now the time had come to show Asajj Ventress what he was truly capable of.
Slowly he began to gain the upper hand in the battle, parrying Asajj's maneuvers with more and more ease. He thought about all the things that had frustrated him over the past several months. The losses of the war, the stupidity of the Jedi Council, the arrogance of Count Dooku in flaunting his ability to evade the Republic: all of these coalesced in his mind. He thought about Anakin, who right now was on a distant world with that loathsome senator, instead of in his rightful place at Vader's side. The anger grew to a molten rage inside his soul, as he fully immersed himself in the dark side's power. And before Asajj Ventress knew it, she was struggling to keep up with her opponent. Vader countered with a furious array of moves that had Asajj desperately trying to counter the ferocious barrage the man before her was throwing at her.
Vader slashed at her with furious intent, forcing her farther and father back. He yielded to the dark power coursing through his veins, becoming lost in the incredible rage overtaking him…the seemingly limitless source of power at his command. Asajj tried to tap into her own anger, but it was of little use; Vader was too powerful, too steeped in the fury of the dark side to be turned back. The deadly dance continued for several intense minutes, until the inevitable happened: Vader turned aside her lightsabers and slashed through her right arm, taking her arm off at the forearm. Ventress screamed in agony, dropping her remaining lightsaber. Holding her cauterized stump, she stared at her arm in disbelief, unable to believe what just happened. She crumbled to the ground, unable to remain standing. Ventress cupped her stump protectively. She felt cold, nauseous, and barely able to see through the moisture in her eyes; this was the worst pain she had ever felt in her life. Torture meant nothing compared to losing a limb – now she understood why the Sith most frequently chose this as a punishment.
Vader came within mere feet of her, lightsaber looming in his hand. His eyes were amber colored in hue, and Ventress was shocked when she saw them.
No one she had seen – not even Count Dooku, had ever tapped that deeply into the dark side, save for the Master she and Dooku served. Ventress tried to push herself up on one arm, but it was no use; she slid boneless to the ground. She leaned back, trying futilely to regain some measure of self-control.
Vader stared ominously at the defeated dark side adept. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid your time is at an end, my darling," he said, the words a mocking sneer, letting her know just what he truly thought of her 'fascination' with him.
Ventress felt a terrifying coldness embrace her heart. She was about to die and there was nothing she could do about it. She stared at the man who had once been a persistent rival, and was now a Sith Lord about to destroy her. And suddenly she saw things clearly. What had she done? She had turned this man from a heroic Jedi Knight into a monster, and she had gotten nothing out of it in return. She had always found him intriguing, but she sought to break him; turning him was never part of the plan. And when it happened, she thought it was the greatest irony of all. But now she saw what a terrible mistake it was. For a moment, she saw all the destruction he would cause, the worlds he would ravage, the people he would kill mercilessly; all in pursuit of a man he wanted to enslave and destroy emotionally. Sidious would have his vengeance on the galaxy, and Vader would be his instrument of destruction. Ironic, how at the end of her life, she could suddenly think the clearest.
There was only one thing she could try, and she prayed there was a shred of the man he once was to appeal to. "Obi-Wan, please…" she pleaded, biting down on the humiliation and shame she was feeling. "Don't do this. I am defenseless!" she begged of him.
Vader froze in his tracks as he heard the name he had forsaken, the name that once meant so much to so many. His face showed no trace of emotion, but inside he. What was she trying to do, con him into feeling some sympathy for her, all because she used the name he once wore? Pathetic, even for a ragged lapdog like Ventress. Oh, how he almost felt like laughing! He was amused as he regarded the broken assassin in front of him. She had been reduced to a pathetic, whimpering mess.
Ventress felt a rush of cold dread as she realized her words had had no impact on him. He was too far gone to listen to any of her reasoning, and once again she wondered what she had been thinking in helping Sidious turn this man fully.
Vader regarded the alien woman for one moment, and then he plunged his lightsaber headlong into her abdomen. Asajj screamed in agony, and then he dragged the lightsaber straight down the middle. Asajj's body gave a series of jerky movements as she was in the last throes of death spasms, her mouth frozen in a silent scream, and at last her head fell back against the platform.
Vader stared at the brutalized body of the assassin for a moment. The body was scorched with black cauterization marks, and in a few days, it would look downright hellish as it was brutalized by the animals on Korriban. What a fool. To believe that she could influence him in any way, possibly even control it. He felt a great deal of satisfaction at having finally put one of his long-term enemies to rest. This was what he should have done months ago, when Anakin and he were still a team fighting in the war. He went back to where the comm. array was, and entered a familiar frequency.
The image of Lord Sidious appeared out of the holoprojector moments later.
"Is she dead?" the Sith Lord asked without preamble.
"Yes," Vader answered him. "I disposed of her within a few minutes, quite easily in fact."
"Good. Ventress was a liability. She would have betrayed us eventually," Sidious said, teeth bared ever so slightly with satisfaction. "She was so obsessed with claiming power for herself, that she would have struck out at us if she believed she could eliminate us from the galactic map. You have done well to destroy her, Lord Vader. Now we have but one loose end to tie up before we move into the main act of our plan," he said.
Vader watched expectantly, knowing the orders that awaited him.
"Go to the Mustafar system and wipe out Lord Tyranus and his Separatists leaders. I'm afraid Lord Tyranus has outlived his usefulness," Sidious said with distaste. Vader could understand his loathing of the other man – Count Dooku had much to answer for.
"The time has come to end this war, Lord Vader. Do this for me, and you will strike a deathblow against the Separatists. The movement will collapse entirely without the foresight of its leaders. The war will at last be over, and once you return to Coruscant, the galaxy will once again know the true meaning of justice," Sidious promised him.
Vader bowed in reverence. "As you wish, my Master."
The transmission cut out.
Vader walked away from the comm. station. As he arrived at the landing platform where they kept their ships, he hopped into his starfighter. It was time to dispose of Lord Tyranus and his pitiful Separatists followers. The 'great' Count Dooku would regret his betrayal of the galaxy, and Vader would see to it personally that he got the painful ending he deserved. With nothing to keep him on Korriban any longer, the small fighter lifted off from the atmosphere into the area above the planet, before vanishing into hyperspace.
~*~
The sunlight shone on the large patch of grass with the bright rays of the planet's morning to mid-day sun. The air was a nice temperature, and in the field a man stood taking full advantage of the nice day outside. He swung a brilliant, azure colored shaft of light in whirling movements in front of him, slicing through the air and leaving elegant trails of light seemingly dancing around him. To an outside unfamiliar with the device, it would have looked like the man was practicing magic, but this was no mere trick of light and shadow. The device was one of the deadliest in the galaxy, and the man wielded it expertly. He swung the weapon with immense concentration, calling forth every bit of skill he could muster to train without the advantage of another person helping him, until his muscles were burning from the insanely fast exercises he was performing. Satisfied he had done enough katas for the day, he lowered his blade and took a deep breath to calm his adrenaline filled body.
"I see you've been keeping up with your training," a deep, masculine voice remarked.
Anakin turned towards the right to see the spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn hovering nearby. He gave an acknowledging nod at the older man.
"I have, for the most part. But you already knew that, didn't you?" Anakin said knowingly.
The ghost nodded. "I did," Qui-Gon said. "But it's still remarkable. You've done an excellent job of growing up to be a powerful Force user. Your potential is truly unlimited," he said, with a hint of awe.
"I'm just a Jedi," Anakin shook his head. He wasn't comfortable with these displays of praise from anyone about his so-called 'incredible' powers. "Nothing more, nothing less. It's not like I'm a god or anything." His brow furrowed; it was ironic how he had done a complete turnaround with regards to his attitude about his power, he thought to himself.
"You are the Chosen One," Qui-Gon said simply. He mused quietly on how humbled he was that Anakin had changed so drastically in the past year. Once, he desired nothing more than to have the praise of every Knight and Master on the Council, and to be acknowledged as the best in the Order. Now, he only desired to live in peace with his beloved.
"That prophecy is probably invalid, considering I'm not a Jedi in the Order," Anakin remarked, somewhat distastefully. He hated that particular tenet. "I don't see how I can 'balance the Force' when I'm no longer a Jedi, serving the Order and the Republic."
"Don't rule anything out, young one," Qui-Gon remarked. "You never know what the future might bring."
Anakin stared at Qui-Gon, and though he tried not to show it, he couldn't help but look annoyed.
"With all due respect, Master, I certainly hope that anything like that never comes to pass," Anakin said, sounding a bit sourer than he wanted. "I don't want to 'balance the Force', or bring justice to the universe. All I want is to live peacefully with Padmé, and raise our children. If I decide to help people, then fine, but I don't want it to be because of some 'greater destiny' that I just have to fulfill," he spat out. For a moment he breathed deeply, realizing how he just sounded. He expected the older man to be a bit stunned, but to his surprise, the Jedi Master was simply looking contemplative at what Anakin was saying.
"Fair enough," Qui-Gon nodded. He looked a bit apologetic. "I'm sorry, Ani, I don't mean to put any pressure on you. I suppose I merely see these things differently, from my perspective. Heh, it's not easy being dead, you know," he said wryly. The humor worked as intended – Anakin cracked a smile, albeit a small one.
"I hope my afterlife isn't that complicated," he remarked. He turned his back on the late Jedi Master as he went back to his training.
They went into a comfortable silence, with Qui-Gon watching Anakin train. It was a few moments before the former spoke.
"You should talk to Master Shaak Ti about what happened, Anakin," Qui-Gon said.
Anakin sighed in frustration. "I am not going to involve her in this," he said, with an air of finality.
"Anakin, you have to claim justice for yourself. You cannot allow Obi-Wan to get away with what he did to you," Qui-Gon argued vehemently. He sounded upset, and though Anakin could certainly understand why, he was starting to get tired of this.
"I don' have to do anything. It's in the past. I've moved on from that. I just want to forget it ever happened," Anakin spat, sounding a bit more harsh than he intended. "Obi-Wan's on Coruscant. He can't do anything to me now. If he comes here to go after me, then I'll deal with that when the time comes, but I won't go chasing after any more trouble."
"Waiting for the enemy to strike is not a wise decision, Ani," Qui-Gon said. "It was such a method of waiting for the Sith to reappear that got the current Jedi into the current mess in the first place."
"Yeah, well, I'm not going to act rashly. That cost me too much through the war, and only now I'm beginning to see how foolish I was." Anakin held a hint of self-loathing in his expression, though he was still calm in appearance. "I've changed, Qui-Gon," he said honestly. He knew that would sound like a joke to the Council members, but it was true.
Qui-Gon stared at the young man he had brought to Coruscant as a boy, the one he had hoped to train and never gotten that chance. "Yes, you have," he said, rather regretfully.
Anakin stopped for a moment. Was this man actually being condescending to him? He wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't heard it with his own ears, but that was almost what appeared to be the case here.
"Wait a minute," he interjected. "All my life, I've been told by the Council and the Jedi that I was too rash – too impetuous and thick-headed. Now I've changed, and suddenly that's a bad thing?" Anakin demanded in disbelief. "It's a bad thing that I don't go to Coruscant and confront Obi-Wan, regardless that I would be putting Padmé, Shaak Ti, and countless other people in danger? Do you seriously want me to jeopardize the safety of all those people just for the sake of having the satisfaction of knowing Obi-Wan has been exposed for what he did?"
"It's not about satisfaction," Qui-Gon said in frustration. How could he make Anakin understand? There was more at stake here than just the satisfaction of one man claiming victory over his tormentor. He struggled to find the words, but they proved elusive, leaving him gasping at straws as he tried to make Anakin understand just how important it was that he stand up for himself.
"Then tell me," Anakin demanded. He had run out of patience for Qui-Gon's ideas today. It was clear to him that they were going to come to no common agreement today. "What is it about? 'Justice'?" The question was posed to Qui-Gon, and now it was up to him to answer it.
"Anakin," Qui-Gon began, "can you seriously live with yourself knowing that you've let this man get away with what he's done to you? Do you not want to be validated for what happened to you?"
The younger man scoffed. "I thought he was your former apprentice," Anakin remarked snidely. "I never thought I'd hear you refer to him as just some 'man'."
"Not anymore," Qui-Gon admitted solemnly. "That is in the past. I can no longer recognize what he's become. He's changed. Obi-Wan has not been the boy I raised for a very long time," he said with a sigh.
Something snapped inside Anakin. And before he could stop himself, all the doubts he had about Qui-Gon came bursting to the surface.
"And now you concern yourself with our well being?" Anakin scoffed. "Where were you all those years when I was training under him?" the young man screamed. "Where was your guidance for us during all that time? I'm supposed to be your Chosen One, and yet you abandoned me for twelve years even though you obviously could have come back from that!" Anakin shouted angrily at the older man. "Have you considered that maybe it was your treatment of him that is responsible for him turning out like this!?"
"I was in the Council chamber," Anakin went on, eyes smoldering. "I remember how you treated him that day. You wanted to train me, but you dismissed him callously instead. Instead of saying recommending him for Knighthood and saying how proud you were of him, and then telling the Council to train me, you dismissed him away like he was nothing. For a long time I thought the blame was on him, that was he being immature for not realizing what you were trying to do. But now I see, it's you who started all this! You were the one who set him on the path to resenting me! Obi-Wan is a monster and he deserves to die, but it was your casting him aside that prompted him to start slipping!"
Qui-Gon stood in utter shock, horrified. He looked as though he had been struck physically, from the crestfallen expression he wore. The Force ghost put a non-corporeal hand to his chest, almost like he was reacting to some deep physical pain. He could sense the anger coming from Anakin, and it was almost overpowering in its intensity.
Anakin's eyes were smoldering with rage, and for a moment he was almost tempted to strike out at specter with all his anger and resentment. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Looking back at the Jedi Master, he could see that Qui-Gon was deeply scarred by what he'd just stated. He knew he had hurt the old man's feelings, but he wasn't going to dance around what he knew was the truth. The older Jedi stood motionless in his shimmering aura, as though he didn't know what, if anything, to do next.
There was nothing more to be said.
The Force spirit faded out of existence, disappearing back into the ether. Anakin turned his back on where the ghost had been standing, lost deep within his own thoughts.
He was trying to clear his head when someone stepped into the area, managing to avoid his normally acute senses. She approached quietly through the grassy plain, clearly somewhat hesitant to disturb him.
"Who were you talking to?" Padmé questioned.
Anakin looked back at her. "Qui-Gon," he answered. Padmé approached tentatively, wearing her flowery yellow sundress that was suitable for this environment. He wondered how long she had been listening.
Padmé's face showed disbelief, but she quickly assumed a neutral expression. "Okay…" she answered, seemingly nonchalant.
Anakin stared curiously. "What, you're not even going to question how that's possible?" he asked her.
"Not really. Anakin, you're a Jedi. If you say that you were talking to Master Qui-Gon, then I believe you," Padmé said.
"You're a very understanding wife," Anakin said, shaking his head.
"Well, I am a senator," Padmé smiled, even though she was technically retired. She paused curiously. "How did he do it?"
Anakin shook his head. "Who knows? Probably some thing about the Force the Jedi didn't teach me," he answered bitterly. Padmé frowned at that line of thought. There were many things the Jedi didn't tell Anakin about the Force, apparently, and it was hard to get past the fact they that didn't trust him that much.
"I see," she said slowly. She paused with another curious expression. "What did he want?"
"He wants me to tell the Council about Obi-Wan," Anakin said bitterly.
Padmé looked surprised, but she quickly adapted. This was too good an opportunity for the politician in her to pass up. "Well, I agree with him," she said.
Her husband stared at her in disbelief.
"Oh, not you too!" Anakin exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. "When will you get it through your heads I don't want to tell anyone about what happened, I just want to forget about it!"
Padmé looked at him curiously.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you," Anakin said sheepishly, realizing how he sounded.
"It's okay. Darling, I don't want to upset you," Padmé began quietly. "I just want to figure out the best way to help you with this."
"I don't need help with this, Padmé." Anakin turned away. Padmé frowned, realizing this wasn't going to be easy.
"Are you upset?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Anakin took her forearms in his hands. He loved it when she held him usually, but he wasn't feeling in the mood to be comforted. He was too conflicted. The peacefulness and serenity he had experienced while training was gone, thanks to Qui-Gon's meddling. His concentration was broken, and he knew he wasn't going to get it back for today.
"No, I'm alright," Anakin said. Nonetheless he pried her hands away, albeit gently, and walked away from his angel. Padmé's face showed the hurt, but Anakin didn't notice it.
He stared at her with a mixture of weariness and reassurance.
"I'm just tired from all the argument," he said, pleading with her to understand. He couldn't do this; he couldn't deal with her in this way after dealing with Qui-Gon. He wanted her to understand his position and accept it, not repeat the same thing Qui-Gon had been telling him about. The same thing he had been wondering about for the past few weeks…
The former Naboo senator pursed her lips. It was obvious something was biting at Anakin's spirit. The happiness he had shown throughout the past few weeks over their pregnancy was gone, replaced by weariness and anger. There was a barrier between them, a weariness and conflicting swirl of emotions, and she realized that this must have been something he was already thinking about, if only at the back of his subconscious. This wasn't going away. This wasn't going to go away until they dealt with what had happened. She knew what was bothering him. It was all too obvious, and there was only one cure for it.
Padmé knew she was treading on slippery ground, but she had to proceed. She wouldn't be a very loving wife if she didn't. "My love, you have to tell someone. You cannot continue to let this fester. Obi-Wan has to be brought to justice for what he's done," she argued vehemently.
"Padmé, I don't want to talk about this," Anakin turned away. He focused on his saber, swinging the weapon experimentally.
"Why are you so reluctant to talk about this? Is it really that you're afraid of putting us in danger?" Padmé questioned. "Or is there another reason? Are you ashamed of what happened?"
Anakin stared at her incredulously. Was she questioning his devotion to her?
Anakin bit back a curse. Why did everyone have to push on him this idea of confronting Obi-Wan?
It was frustrating to the extreme, that they felt that everyone except him knew what was best for him. They weren't in the position that he was; they hadn't suffered what he had. What right did they have to tell him what course of action to pursue? Why couldn't they just leave him alone?
"I'm not ashamed, Padmé," he said, a bit more harshly than he'd intended. "What do I have to be ashamed of? It wasn't my fault that this happened to me," Anakin answered tersely, looking as if he had been struck. He sounded as though he was trying to convince himself of that statement, and it broke Padmé's heart, to see what Obi-Wan had done to this man, her beloved. She couldn't help but look at him with sympathy.
"Because you're a man. It must be difficult being a powerful Jedi Knight and being expected to be invincible all the time," Padmé said quietly, with sudden understanding into what her husband was thinking. She thought they had gotten over this, but apparently she was wrong. And now she knew what was troubling him – it wasn't just the decision of whether to tell someone about Obi-Wan or not. She knew what was bothering her husband. It was the same thing that had been bothering him since the beginning when he confessed his horrible secret to her. "But Anakin, this isn't your fault. You did what you could. You tried to protect me, and for that I will always be grateful. But Anakin, this is something that should never have happened to you. You have to face up to that," she told him, gently but firmly.
Anakin looked at her incredulously. "How can you stay with me, knowing what happened?" he asked her.
"Because it wasn't your fault. And because you seriously underestimate how much I care for you. I don't want you to live this way, my love. I want you to be happy again," Padmé said.
Anakin still wasn't convinced. "Other women wouldn't think that way. They wouldn't stay with a man who can't protect himself from another guy, never mind her."
"Other women are fools," Padmé said harshly. "You shouldn't base your love on someone on how tough they are, or how well they fight, or whether they are 'above' certain things merely because they aren't a female, or the 'type' that should have them happen to them," Padmé said pointedly, visibly sardonic over that old preconception. "I love you, Anakin. That's all there is to it."
Anakin was overwhelmed. The depths of her devotion were staggering, especially considering how much she had lost for his sake. He had always been grateful to have Padmé's love, but a part of him was always uncertain. How could this intelligent, royally beautiful woman fall for a guy like him, even though that was what he wanted? As much as he hated to admit him, a part of him believed that maybe he loved her more than she loved him. Yet this proved a shadow of a doubt. She loved him, more than he would ever know, and she would never leave him, even if he sank into his lowest, darkest depths.
"I now you're only trying to help me, Padmé, but if you love me, you will respect my decision," Anakin said, as carefully as possible. "I'm all right, my love. I know it may seem otherwise, but I'm not avoiding the issue. I'm just being a realist. If I take that course of action you're all suggesting, things aren't going to turn out alright. I've put it behind me. I'm simply trying to avoid further trouble," he stated.
Oh, my love, it's because I love you that I'm doing this. It's because we care about you that were trying to help you, Padmé thought. But Anakin had cast his lot with the camp of denial. If he refused to speak to anyone else about this, there was no way she could help him, only be there for him when he needed her. And for Padmé, that was more than enough.
She didn't want to alienate Anakin again, as he had become back when she and her sister were arguing. Those few moments in which Anakin contemplated leaving her were the most terrifying of Padmé's life. It was Padmé's fondest wish that her husband would seek out help for this, but if Anakin found it too difficult, she wasn't going to push him.
Perhaps that was why he trained so hard, Padmé thought. It wasn't just to protect her: he found solace in his training. Padmé could only hope that it would be enough.
"I'm sorry, Anakin. I didn't mean to sound like that. I just couldn't stand the thought of him getting away with what he did to you," she said.
"That's understandable. It bothers me too, sometimes," Anakin admitted. "But there's nothing I can do about it. You know what the Council's like. If I come forward with any claims against Obi-Wan, they won't believe me, and I'll probably get Shaak Ti kicked out of the Order for her supporting me. Obi-Wan's on Coruscant, far away from us. He can't act unless he wishes to reveal himself to the Council, and risk Master Windu or someone else killing him. Let's just leave it in the past, where it belongs," he said to her.
Padmé stared soulfully into his eyes. "I love you."
"I love you," Anakin replied.
There was a moment where they gazed lovingly at each other, and then they met in a kiss that was full of affection and acceptance. Anakin led her in the kiss, claiming her mouth with his own, until they broke apart, brimming with intense emotions.
Padmé shuddered at the look of sheer longing. He was entirely and utterly devoted to her, and despite their differences, Padmé never felt more loved or wanted than when she was with him. They met in a second kiss, this one more electrifying than the first.
"I need you, Padmé," Anakin said, his voice husky with desire.
Padmé shuddered at his lustful words. She felt overwhelmed by the level of desire running through him, like she was the most desirable person in the galaxy. He wanted her, right now – that much was clear. He had such a way of making her feel like the most incredible woman in the galaxy, like she could do anything and best anyone in anything. She knew Senator Amidala had a reputation of being a cold, harsh woman who had no ability to have a relationship, but the reality of the person behind the senator mask was quite different.
She wasn't planning on doing anything when she came out here, but she allowed herself to be drawn into Anakin's advances with no protest.
He kissed her again, capturing her in a deep, passionate kiss. He held her by the shoulder as he claimed her lips in this passionate display of affection. Anakin began to move downward, ravishing the flawless skin of her chest with his lips. Right here? She thought, almost incredulous at the suggestion, but she quickly overrode it. There was nobody around and Anakin would sense if there was someone in the area. He wouldn't be doing this if there was any chance of them being caught.
Anakin laid some of her clothing on the ground, namely the light colored cloaks she had brought. Padmé sat on the makeshift blanket, waiting with anticipation for Anakin. She didn't have to wait long. Anakin lowered himself onto the coverings and immediately resumed their kiss. They gradually slipped into a lover's embrace, hands roaming over their backs as they shared this example of their love. Anakin lowered Padmé onto the coverings and began undoing the straps on her delicately thin blouse. He pulled the garment over her head and wasted little time in diving into what she had to offer.
Padmé gasped as he began to work his mouth over her chest, kissing the center and the sides of her breasts. He absolutely ravished her chest, kissing every inch of the sensitive skin, before going on to her areola. Padmé felt a shudder as he took a nipple into his mouth and began sucking on the rosy peak. His tongue licked over the engorged pebble, sending streams of electricity right down to her sex. Padmé loved it when he sucked on her breasts. She had always been self-conscious of her small breasts, but Anakin devoured her as though she were a goddess, putting all his effort into stimulating these exquisite parts of her body. He could drive her to the point of near-orgasm just by ravishing her breasts, but Padmé always stopped, or rather, let him stop, just before the point of orgasm, lest she be too tired to proceed with their next activities if she came early on. Anakin worked on the other with just as much fervor as the right, and Padmé has to resist touching herself below her waist just to get off on this incredibly seductive feeling.
Anakin moved lower down her body. He absolutely loved to worship her breasts, but that was just one of the many wonderful parts of her body that made her such a beauty, and he wanted to get to the others. Her smooth stomach now had the rounded curve of a woman several months into pregnancy, but that had not made it any less beautiful. She was even more beautiful now that she was the mother of his children. He kissed his way down her body, leaving no corner of skin untouched, as continued his oral ministrations, soon bringing her to a beautiful climax. Anakin was supremely satisfied as Padmé burst into an orgasm, arching her back as she trembled and writhed in his grasp. Padmé lay on the coverings motionless. She was exhausted. She felt like she could sleep here all day if left here. She couldn't even manage to say Anakin's name, despite wanting to give something, any, indication of what he had done for her. She was grateful they weren't far enough in her pregnancy that they could still do this without endangering her and the babies.
For a moment they simply stayed there, Anakin sitting next to his prone angel. Anakin began to take off his shirt, followed by his trousers, and Padmé knew they weren't done here. Not by a long shot. "Can you go again, angel?" she heard his voice in her head. The reply was almost automatic. "Do you even have to ask, my love?" she replied with the mental equivalent of a wink. Tired she may have been, but there was no way she was going to deny herself the opportunity of enjoying her husband's body. Not by a long shot.
Anakin climbed over Padmé's relaxed form. He was painfully hard, aching to be touched in a way that would grant him release. With the moisture she had built up from his oral ministrations, he entered her easily. He took a moment to get adjusted as the warm feeling of being inside her hit him instantly. He began to thrust slowly, gently, both for her sake and so as not to finish things too quickly. It was difficult – her warm walls called to him to go faster, to find his release as easily as she had found hers, but he managed. He wanted her to find her release again, to see her face scrunched in pleasure as she was overwhelmed by sensations she couldn't possibly hope to control. Padmé held him in her arms, gliding her hands down her back, cupping the sides of his rear as she guided him in making sweet, gentle love to her. Anakin changed positions and lay down on the ground, indicating what he wanted. Padmé easily agreed, and crawled onto his lap. The angel on his body initiated the rhythm, rocking her hips against his form, with Anakin content to sit back and let her find her own pace. Having her atop him put significant weight on his lap, the kind that was absolutely pleasurable as his cock was being gripped tightly by her walls. Their hands intertwined as they joined in this ultimate expression of their love, the kind Obi-Wan had tried to diminish and failed so miserably. Padmé continued to ride his body patiently as she built them up to an eventual climax, sighing in pleasure as she felt the growing sensations in her core.
Her breasts looked tantalizing, and Anakin reached up to cup them. He caressed the supple mounds, feeling their soft, velvety texture, and staring hungrily at her erect nipples. It was a tantalizing sight, one that only ensured he remained rock hard inside his beloved. Padmé settled her hands on the ground and leaned forward as she pressed herself closer against him. Padmé immersed herself in their lovemaking, letting Anakin's hand and her own determination drive her. She was visibly sweating now, tiny beads of sweat gathering on her forehead, covering her with a fine sheen; her face was visibly flushed red from the exertion and the sheer pleasure growing in her core. Padmé cried out in lust and yearning for release, until the release she sought overtook her.
It took all of Anakin's willpower not to come inside his angel, as Padmé's walls clenched so enticingly around his cock, gripping him tightly as Padmé clenched her eyes shut and shook uncontrollably with pleasure spasms. She mewed and gasped in overpowering joy. Anakin tried to resist the growing sensations, in order to let her ride out her orgasm, but the contractions of her orgasm were too powerful. Anakin thrust upwards into her opening at a rapid pace, holding her tightly by the waist while one hand lingered above her rear. He took her hard in his grasp, the friction unbearable, pumping his hips until at last he exploded in release. Anakin cried out in pleasure as he spilled himself inside her, gripping her tightly, one arm slung over her back, the other hand placed over her rear, as he released his white hot fluid inside her.
Had anyone intruded on them in that moment, they would have been in no position to preserve their modesty. Fortunately Anakin's senses remained alert in assuring him that there was nobody nearby. The wind blew lightly across their naked bodies, showering them with a nice breeze. It was not at all chilly, instead serving to cool them down from the heated passion that had left their bodies warmed and sweaty.
Padmé pushed herself up on her arms, staring at him with a deep love and devotion. She lowered her mouth to his lips, kissing him passionately while she ran her fingers through his hair. Anakin responded to the kiss, holding the sides of her chest just below her breasts. Padmé pulled away and exhaled, taking a refreshing deep breath. She brushed some idle locks of hair away from his eyes.
"Well, that was amazing, as usual," Padmé said, smiling at him with a devious smirk. Anakin raised his eyebrows suggestively, fully in agreement there. He knew full well just how much she enjoyed letting herself go like that, with no care in the world other than indulging in their pleasure.
"I think much of the credit belongs to you, angel. You were incredible," Anakin said, offering a smile that was equally devious, though his eyes displayed the love and fondness underneath. He was already used to their incredible lovemaking sessions, but it was still hard to believe sometimes that this incredible woman was his.
He went quiet for a moment, as a particular thought struck him. "I wish we'd done this back when we were in the meadow those two years ago."
The statement had the expectedly fun reaction. "Anakin! We were only together for three days!" Padmé smacked him on the shoulder, mouth slightly open in disbelief and amusement at his boldness.
"Hey, some people haven't let that stop them," Anakin said suggestively giving her a roguish smile that he had most certainly not picked up from the Jedi.
"You're incorrigible," Padmé said, shaking her head in mild amusement. That was her Anakin, she thought fondly: a salacious rebel until the end.
She bent her head down to kiss him again. Their hands roamed over their forms as their mouths traded a long, gentle kiss. Anakin rolled them over into the opposite position, careful not to put too much weight on her. He smiled playfully before leaning in to kiss Padmé again, their hips pressed closely together. They were fully at ease in the intimate embrace, with Anakin kissing her passionately while her legs hooked around his thighs.
They stayed there for a great while, enjoying their closeness while the wind swept coolly over their bodies, caressing and holding each other lazily. There were no intruding relatives to bother them here, no concerns over enemies who might come after them; only their love and the unbreakable connection they shared with each other. As far as they were both concerned, anything else could wait.
~*~
The meditation chamber almost gave the appearance of twilight setting in. The sunlight streamed in through the windows, but the blinds were almost fully closed, blocking most of it. Overall, it was a soothing, quiet environment for meditating and gathering one's thoughts.
Yoda was deep in meditation, sitting cross-legged on one of the cushions used by him and the other Council members. He sat motionless while he immersed himself deep in the Force, pondering over the disturbing events that recently taken up all of their attention. Their investigations had reached a standstill, with everyone involved yet to discover any significant information. Shaak Ti had still not relented from her theory about what occurred during their unfortunate recent circumstances. She made snide remarks whenever someone brought up the subject, making it clear just exactly who she thought was responsible for this. Shaak Ti certainly wasn't timid in her demeanor. Yoda tried to ignore her claims, but the more he heard them repeated, the more it bothered him.
That was why he was now deep in the knowledge of the Force. He meditated every day when the opportunity presented itself, probing deep into the recesses of the Force for the answers to some very troublesome questions. Could it be true? Had their greatest Knight made a drastic shift in character to the extent that he would murder someone in cold blood? Yoda had faced many unsettling situations during his 800 years in the Jedi Order, but the idea that one of his favorite pupils, one of the Jedi who understood the value of the Code the most, could be responsible for this atrocity, was something the aged Master didn't even want to contemplate.
Yet the thought persisted, much as he wanted to forget about it. It was something that he couldn't ignore, now that the situation
It was a disturbing possibility, one that shook Yoda to the core. And now it was looking like it might be true. There was something unsettling in his thoughts. Yoda sensed a dark presence in the Force; it was barely there, but it was present. The Sith Lord was already elusive, so if he were suddenly to show up in the Force, Yoda would expect a burning presence shining with rage amidst the endless void of the dark side. For a moment, he thought it might be Count Dooku, but he dismissed that thought – he would know his former pupil's presence anywhere. No, this was someone new; someone different. Was Shaak Ti right? Had Obi-Wan turned to the dark side right under their very senses, and then murdered his own Padawan?
But no, Obi-Wan deserved the benefit of the doubt – until they had some hard evidence that he had turned, Yoda couldn't contemplate such thoughts; no matter how disturbing they were to his aged spirit.
Yoda opened his eyes. He was through with his meditation. But the old Master's expression was now troubled with the hints of concern from ideas he had never once considered contemplating – and ones that found him questioning everything he thought he knew about the Jedi under him.
He suspected he would remain so for a very long time to come.
