A/N: And it is getting closer to the end. Two more chapters left and an epilogue. Wow! I know that you wont be liking the ending of this chapter, but oh well! Anyways, I just started my spring term for collge, so I'll be really really busy. Pluse I have three other stories to keep up with. I promise, that I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can.
Charlie.
"ANAKIN!!!" Shmi screamed frantically. "ANAKIN!!!!!!!!"
A dozen hands grabbed at the frantic woman trying to keep her still but she pulled and scrambled away from them. "ANAKIN!!!!!!" she screamed.
The vision changed to that of Padme laying on a table screaming in agony also crying out for Anakin. She was in pain and there was nothing that he could do to help her. He tried to reach out for her but he was suddenly pulled away from her.
Anakin snapped his eyes open and took a deep ragged breath. Next to him Padme remained sound asleep. He dreaded what his vision could have meant. He dreaded the fact that the future was inevitable. Turning on his side, he faced his sleeping wife. Padme slept in the only comfortable position that she could sleep in due to the pregnancy. He didn't like the fact that she was uncomfortable most of the time and he often blamed himself for this. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't be in this condition. But that was irrational thinking. Gingerly he placed his left hand over her bulging stomach.
"I promise you, the galaxy that you'll grow up in will be a better one," she said to his unborn children.
Gently he felt two little bumps beneath his hand and he smiled as Luke and Leia made contact with him.
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Obi-Wan landed his ship on a platform projecting out of the side of a giant sinkhole. All was quiet. A little two quiet. A local administrator, Tion Medon, came out to greet the ship. Obi-Wan climbed out of his fighter as a short ground crew looked over his ship. On a ledge above the landing platform, Greivous's bodyguards watched as Obi-Wan talked to Tion Medon.
"Greetings, young Jedi. What brings you to our remote sanctuary?" Tion Medon
"Unfortunately, the war," Obi-Wan told him.
"There is no war here unless you've brought it with you," Tion Medon told him.
"With your kind permission, I should like some fuel and to use your city as a base as I search nearby systems for General Grievous," Obi-Wan requested. A ground crew rushed out and refueled Obi-Wan's fighter.
Tion Medon leaned closer to Obi-Wan and spoke quietly. "He is here! We are being held hostage. They are watching us."
"I understand," Obi-Wan said.
"The tenth level . . . thousands of Battle Droids . . ." Tion Medon whispered.
"Tell your people to take shelter. If you have warriors, now is the time," Obi-Wan told him and started back toward his starfighter as Tion Medon left the landing platform. Grievous's bodyguards retreated from the overhead platform. Obi-Wan climbed back into his starfighter. His Astrounit turned to him.
"Geenine, take the Fighter back to the ship. I'm staying here. Tell Captain Angelos that I've made contact," Obi-Wan ordered the astrodroid. The little astrodroid beeped a reply.
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On a high balcony, Tion Medon looked down on the landing platform. A few steps behind him stood one of General Grievous's bodyguards. They watched the canopy lower.
"I told you, all he wanted was fuel," Tion Medon said
"What was his name?" the bodyguard demanded.
"He didn't say," Tion Medon answered truthfully. They watch as the red starfighter took off.
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Obi-Wan also watched his ship take off as he hid in the hallway. He quietly moved farther into the city. He quickly rushed up a stairway cut into the side of the sinkhole. It was hard to see him. In an alcove, he carefully surveyed the city, then quickly moved on.
He made his way through the city, looking up at the tenth level with electro-binoculars from his utility belt. He tried to figure out how he was going to get up there before he heard strange bellowing cries and he investigated coming across a corral filled with about half a dozen dragon like lizards. Several wranglers were standing around. Obi-Wan walked up to the wranglers and used the force with a slight hand movements.
"I need transportation," Obi-Wan said.
"You need transportation," The wrangler repeated.
"Get it for me," Obi-Wan ordered.
"I will get it for you," the wrangler said.
One of the wranglers turned to the others and chattered away in his strange tongue. Obi-Wan walked along the line of lizards, checking out each one. He looked at their teeth, legs, etc. Finally he patted one on the neck. "This one," he decided.
The wrangler brought the chosen one over to him. "Boga. She answers to Boga," he said
"Good girl, Boga," Obi-Wan said swinging onto the back of the lizard. The beast reared up and scurried outside to the edge of the sinkhole.
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Anakin walked into his mother's room with a tray in his hands bearing a plate of food and a glass of juice. Shmi Skywalker laid on her bed staring out the window. "Mom?" Anakin said walking further into the room. Shmi looked at him briefly before turning away.
Anakin set the tray down on the bedside table. "Mom, you need to eat something," he told her. Shmi didn't say anything, she kept staring out the window.
Anakin didn't know what to do. He had never known his mother to break down this way. Even when they were both slaves. She had always been strong. He sat down on the edge of the bed. "Please say something," he begged.
"How many are out there?" Shmi questioned.
"How many of what?" Anakin asked.
"How many enemies do you have?" Shmi asked him.
Anakin didn't say anything, he looked over to where his mother was staring, seeing the sky line of Coruscant. "I'm not sure," he said. "I never kept count," he confessed.
"How do you live this way?" She asked him. "How can you live knowing that at any time someone would try to kill you?" she asked.
"I'm used to it," Anakin told her simply. "The life of a jedi is a dangerous one," he then smiled bitterly. "But I'm a special case I suppose. I'm supposed to be the chosen one of some ancient jedi prophecy, the one who is said to destroy the sith and bring balance to the force, how ever that goes. That alone makes me a target," he answered. "It's what has Darth Sidious coveting for my soul," He told her.
"I don't know how to feel about that," Shmi told him.
"I didn't choose this life, the force chose it for me. Sometimes we have to trust that the force knows what it's doing," Anakin told her. He was thoughtful for moment. "I can't promise that nothing will ever happen to me. I can't promise that Someone else will come out of the woodworks claiming to be my enemy and wants to destroy me in any way shape or form," he told her.
"I want to go home, Ani. I don't want to be here anymore," Shmi told him.
Anakin looked at her sharply. "You're scared. It's safer here amongst the jedi rather on Tatooine amongst the Hutts and the Tuskans," he told her.
Shmi looked at him. "Why are you so afraid of my going back to Tatooine?" she asked.
"Because if you return to Tatooine, you'll die again," Anakin told her.
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The lizard Boga reared up on her hind legs again, then climbed the wall of the sheer cliff and started moving up toward the tenth level. The city appeared to be deserted. Obi-Wan was alert to any movement. He reached out with his senses and figured out where Grievous was.
General Grievous stood before the council of separatists, including Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, Pooggle The Lesser, Shu Mai, San Hill Po Nudo, Wat Tambor, and Passel Argente. Obi-Wan hid above the assembly and watched intently.
"It won't be long before the armies of the Republic track us here. I am sending you to the Mustafar system in the Outer Rim. It is a volcanic planet which generates a great deal of scanning interference. You will be safe there," General Grievous said.
"Safe? Chancellor Palpatine managed to escape your grip, General. Without Count Dooku, I have doubts about your ability to keep us safe," Nute Gunray said in outburst.
"Be thankful, Viceroy, you have not found yourself in my grip . . . Your ship is waiting," Grievous told him.
Obi-Wan removed his cloak and jumped down to face Grievous. "Hello, there!"
"General Kenobi, you are a bold one. I find your behavior bewildering . . . Surely you realize you're doomed,"Grievous said and turned to the droids. "Kill him!"
About a hundred battle droids surrounded Obi-Wan, Grievous, and his bodyguards. Obi-Wan calmly looked around, then walked right up to Grievous and stared him down.
"Enough of this!" Grievous bellowed
The bodyguards raised their power staffs to knock Obi-Wan away, but Obi-Wan ducked as the deadly staffs whistled over his head. The Jedi's lightsaber ignited, and Obi-Wan deftly cut one bodyguard in two. His staff flew into the air and was caught by General Grievous. The other three bodyguards attacked Obi-Wan with an intense fury.
Obi-Wan used the force to release apiece of equipment from the ceiling. It dropped on the bodyguards, smashing them. Obi-Wan walked toward Grievous, slashing the last bodyguard to pieces. Battle droids moved toward Obi-Wan.
"Back away. I will deal with this Jedi slime myself," Grievous ordered.
"Your move," Obi-Wan told him.
"You fool. I have been trained in your Jedi arts by Count Dooku himself. Attack, Kenobi," Grievous said. His arms separated and grabbed all four lightsabers on his belt. His four arms created a flashing display of swordsmanship.
"You forget, I trained the Jedi that defeated Count Dooku!" Obi-Wan told him and calmly waited for the perfect moment to strike as Grievous got closer, striking when the force guided him. They fought across the control room as the battle droid sharpshooters tried to pick off the Jedi. Obi-Wan mounted a ferocious counterattack and cut off one of Greivous's hands. A loud explosion was heard echoing throughout the sinkhole. Grievous and Obi-Wan glanced to the entrance of the control center and see clone troops and republican army officials in the distance, attacking droids in the sinkhole. On the far wall of the sinkhole, they could be seen rappelling onto balconies.
"I may not defeat your droids, but my troops certainly will," Obi-Wan said to Grievous
"Army or not, you must realize you are doomed," Grievous said.
Obi-Wan smiled, "I don't think so," he said.
twenty army officers and clones suddenly rappelled into the entrance of the control center, blasters blazing. Chaos. Laser bolts flew everywhere as the droids returned fire. Obi-Wan attacked Grievous, who defended himself rigorously with one of his bodyguard's electro-staffs. Obi-Wan used the Force to hurl Grievous backwards. He fell onto a lower platform and Obi-Wan jumped down after him.
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Jedi Master Mace Windu sat in his mediation chamber when his senses alerted him to a presence outside the door. "Enter!" he called out. The door slid open and Mace was surprised to see Anakin Skywalker come in. "Skywalker," Mace greeted. "What can I do for you?" he asked suspiciously.
Anakin's face betrayed nothing as he stared at the jedi master. "I just came here to talk," he said.
This raised Mace's interest and suspicions. He could tell that Skywalker had an agenda, whether or not it had to do with him, Mace did not know. But whatever it was it had Mace curious. "About?" he asked.
"I think that it is time that you get filled in on what is truly going on," Anakin told him.
Mace raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He would let Skywalker do the talking.
Anakin sighed. "I know that you do not trust me and I admit, you have good reasons, but I can assure you, I have nothing but the most honorable intentions regarding the order," he began. "I didn't ask to be put on the council and if it wasn't for my business with the chancellor, I would step down right now," he told him.
"The council does not approve of you relationship with Chancellor Palpatine," Mace told him.
Anakin's jaw tightened. "There is no relationship. There never was. Palpatine has been using me all along, he had his eyes set of my soul since he met me," he told him.
This bit of information disturbed Mace some. If Skywalker became Vader, then the galaxy would surely suffer. "Then maybe you should sever ties irreversibly," he said.
"I'm afraid that I can't do that or I would. Sidious would get suspicious and the plan to stop him would cease to work," Anakin told him.
"What plan?" Mace demanded.
"This plan is not on record, the council is not supposed to know about it. It is critical that barely anyone knows about it," Anakin told him.
"There is more to your story, I suggest that you start from the beginning," Mace told him.
"My story is unbelievable," Anakin told him.
"Take a seat," Mace ordered.
Anakin complied and took a seat opposite from the jedi master. "We both know how mystical the force is, sometimes it does things that are unexplainable. The force has always shown me things that are to come. But this time it wasn't a dream, I lived it," he told him.
"Go on," Mace told him.
Anakin took a deep breath, "Two years ago I traveled to the future," he told him bluntly and upon Mace's raised eyebrows he told him of the incredible dark future and how he had learned that the chancellor was the sith lord that they were looking for. He left out the details that Luke and Leia were his children but told him of the future nonetheless.
Mace sat and listened to Skywalker's incredible tale, hardly believing it, yet something in the force told him that he spoke the truth. If what Skywalker had seen was true then they were in a lot of trouble.
At the end of the tale, Anakin took a deep breath. "You have suspected something all along and here it is before you. You no longer have reason to mistrust me," he told him and stood up.
"The council will not believe you," Mace told him.
"I know," Anakin told him. "I never expected them to," he said. He walked over to the window and watched the city of Coruscant. "I've always been aware that I was not to be trusted. I could feel the mistrust and fear rolling off of you in waves since I first came here. Being a jedi means everything to me, it was what I was meant for," he said. "But it was your mistrust that had me running to Palpatine, looking for a friend in a place that didn't feel friendly," he smiled sadly. "I admired you, Master. I admired your skill with the lightsaber but most importantly I admired your wisdom and how you were always able to keep yourself at peace. I often times considered asking you for advise. But every time I worked up enough courage, I would feel the mistrust and I would loose confidence," he told him.
Mace looked at him. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked.
Anakin turned to face him and Mace didn't like what he saw in his eyes. A mixture of determination and fear.
"I just felt that you should know, that's all," Anakin told him before bowing and taking his leave.
When he was gone, Mace pondered his words. It was as if Skywalker was not only making peace but giving his last words. That alone disturbed Mace. He folded his hands and rested his forehead against them. If Skywalker failed then that would mean that he, as a master, had failed him. Could his mistrust of a youngling aid in the dark future that was to come? For the first time in his life, Mace felt that he had been wrong.
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Obi-Wan gave Boga a swift kick with the heel of his boot, and they took off down the vertical side of the sheer cliff. As Grievous reached the landing platform where his shuttle was waiting. Obi-Wan dropped onto the top of the starship with Boga. Grievous spun his round scooter around and took off up the vertical cliff face with Obi-Wan and Boga in hot pursuit. The sinkhole was engulfed in a great battle between the republican army and and the separatists droid army. The people of Utapau cowered in whatever shelter they could find.
Obi-Wan and Grievous raced through the city at breakneck speed. Passing through battle zones, narrowly escaping explosions, laser bolts, and troops from both sides.
Grievous laid the scooter down as he went around sharp turns. Boga breathed hard as she tried to keep up. They destroyed droids, equipment, and clone troops as the jedi and the general cut a swath of destruction through the city.
Grievous worked his way out onto the rim of the sinkhole, passing some wind blades. The evil droid general released the brakes on the lethal blades, and they begun to spin, cutting off Obi-Wan's access to the General. Boga pulled up short in front of the blades.
Grievous laughed and talked into a comlink. "Prepare to move out of orbit. I will be up in a few moments," he ordered and accelerated off the edge, activating his claws, dropped, and clung to another nearby grouping of windmills. Boga attempted to jump to follow and barely made it, almost falling into the precipice below.
Grievous roared through the stone block tunnel system, riding up on the curved walls as he went around corners or passed oncoming traffic. Obi-Wan raced after the him, Boga moving onto the ceiling as they passed traffic. Obi-Wan caught up with Grievous, and they charged through the tunnel, side by side. Obi-Wan grabbed the droid's electronic staff.
Extending from the wall of a small sinkhole was a secret landing platform with a small Federation Fighter sitting in the middle of it. Obi-Wan and Grievous raced out of the tunnel system and onto the landing platform.
Obi-Wan yanked on the staff, then jumped off of Boga onto the Grievous's scooter, knocking both warriors to the ground. Grievous pulled out a blaster and fired at Obi-Wan. The jedi reached out his hand, grabbed the General's electro-staff and spun the staff, blocking the laser bolts.
Obi-Wan charged Grievous, swinging the staff and hitting the Droid in the stomach, knocking the gun away. Grievous pulled Obi-Wan closer to him, and they engaged in a furious fight. The electro-staff was knocked away. The two engage in hand-to-hand combat. Obi-Wan struggled to avoid the deadly blows of the brutal, unstoppable droid.
Grievous's stomach plate was loose from where he was hit with the electro-staff. Obi-Wan grabbed it and ripped it off, revealing the alien life form's guts encased in a bag in the droid's chest. Grievous grabbed Obi-Wan, hoisted him over his head, and tossed him across the platform. Obi-Wan dangled off the edge of the platform. He clutched the rim, trying to hold on. The droid then grabbed the staff and charged at Obi-Wan. At the last second, Obi-Wan reached out his hand and used the force to retrieve the droid's blaster. He fired several blasts in the stomach area of the alien droid, and the droid general exploded from the inside out. The smoldering droid fell to the ground dead. Obi-Wan pulled himself up onto the platform and walked by the destroyed carcass.
"So uncivilized . . ." Obi-Wan said tossing the blaster aside. As he brushed himself off he heard Qui-Gon's voice yelling at him to return to Coruscant. "Anakin," he deducted and jumped back on Boga racing to get to his star fighter.
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Anakin raced through the senate chambers. Just a bit ago they had received word that Obi-Wan had destroyed General Grievous and he was to bring the news to Palpatine. The war was still far from over even if the word gets out that Grievous was now spare parts. Anakin was slightly happy that Obi-Wan had succeeded. But the battle of Utapau wasn't even over. Obi-Wan wouldn't return for days now. He only prayed that he would return in time.
Anakin stopped short in front of the chancellor office but didn't bother with the proper way to enter the chancellor's office. He waved a hand in front of the guards who instantly let him pass and he walked inside.
"Chancellor, we have just received a report from Master Kenobi. He has engaged General Grievous," Anakin said as he entered the chancellor's office. He left out the part that Obi-Wan had won.
"We can only hope that Master Kenobi is up to the challenge," Palpatine said sincerely.
Anakin paced around the room. "I should be there with him," he said showing his worry and anxiety.
"It is upsetting to me to see that the council doesn't seem to fully appreciate your talents. Don't you wonder why they won't make you a jedi master?" Palpatine said getting up from his seat in a move of concern.
Anakin knew why but he couldn't voice it. "I wish I knew. More and more I get the feeling that I am being excluded from the Council. I know there are things about the force that they are not telling me," he said looking out the window. He added the last part for show only.
"They don't trust you, Anakin. They see your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. Anakin, you must break through the fog of lies the jedi have created around you. Let me help you to know the subtleties of the Force," Palpatine said
Anakin looked at him briefly before looking out the window. Master Yoda knew his future, surly he hasn't talked to the other council members about it. He trusted Master Yoda and he hoped that Master Yoda trusted him. And now he had revealed it to Master Windu who would surely tell the rest of the council earning more mistrust. The council didn't trust him. They had a reason to now more than ever. Sure they pretty much did everything that Master Yoda said, but most of them usually sided with Master Windu. Master Windu defenantly didn't trust him, even after his revelation. That was the key. Finally Anakin spoke keeping his mask of ignorance. "How do you know the ways of the Force?" he asked.
"My mentor taught me everything about the Force . . . even the nature of the dark side," Palpatine told him. Anakin could feel his eyes on him.
"You know the dark side?!?" Anakin said turning to face him.
Palpatine continued to look at him like a father would to his child as he explained things and said, "Anakin, if one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic, narrow view of the jedi. If you wish to become a complete and wise leader, you must embrace a larger view of the Force. Be careful of the jedi, Anakin," he paused, "They fear you. In time they will destroy you. Let me train you."
Anakin turned away from him then. "I won't be a pawn in your political game. The jedi are my family," he told him.
"Only through me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn to know the dark side of the Force, Anakin, and you will be able to save your wife from certain death," Palpatine said doing his best to draw him in.
Anakin turned to face him sharply. "What did you say?" he hissed
"Use my knowledge, I beg you . . ." Palpatine began before Anakin interrupted him.
"You're a Sith Lord!" Anakin said igniting his lightsaber.
"You act surprised, but we both know that you have known for quite some time," Palpatine said patiently and then continued. "I know what has been troubling you . . . Listen to me. Don't continue to be a pawn of the Jedi Council! Ever since I've known you, you've been searching for a life greater than that of an ordinary Jedi . . . a life of significance, of conscience," he said.
"You're wrong!" Anakin told him. It wasn't true...was it? Wasn't his reasons for wanting to become a jedi so that he could help people, to free the slaves. To make his mother proud. A life greater than that of a slave.
"Are you going to kill me?" Palpatine asked.
"I would certainly like to," Anakin told him truthfully.
Palpatine smiled savoring the taste of his anger. "I know you would. I can feel your anger. It gives you focus, makes you stronger," he said
Anakin raised his lightsaber to Palpatine's throat. It was a tense moment. He had his chance, he had the moment he had been waiting for staring him in the face. He had to do it. Without a conscious thought he relaxed, and then turned off his lightsaber. He lost it. He couldn't do it.
"I'm going to turn you over to the Jedi Council," he lied.
"Of course you should. But you're not sure of their intentions, are you? What if I am right and they are plotting to take over the Republic?" Palpatine said.
Anakin looked away from the chancellor and down at his lightsaber in his hand. He knew that Palpatine was lying. He was a sith. It was his destiny to destroy him...wasn't it?
"You have great wisdom, Anakin. Know the power of the dark side. The power to save Padme," Palpatine said in his silence.
Anakin stared at him for a moment. So this was how it began. This was what allowed Vader to take control. He had feared this. This was destiny. Maybe it wasn't supposed to change. Finally he came to a decision. He could hear Qui-Gon screaming at him not to do it but he ignored him. Without a word, Anakin dropped to his knees. "I will do whatever you ask.," he said "I pledge myself to your teachings. To the ways of the Sith," he said finally, looking Palpatine in the eye.
