The transmission from Padme ended, and Mace Windu went back to his chair. He leaned into it and pressed a finger to his lips, thoughtful and silent. Ani didn't mind. He had his own thoughts to occupy him. He wandered back to the window and stood looking out at the sunset. He had seen many sunsets on Coruscant, but somehow this one seemed different. It seemed darker in a way he couldn't explain--a way that went beyond the physical. Darkness pulsed through Coruscant, choking the throng of life.
He felt fear, but that fear was not for himself. Oddly, it was not for his father, though he knew that Obi Wan was at this very moment engaged in a duel with General Grievous. His father wouldn't die on Utapau. He wouldn't die at the hands of a mechanical monster. He closed his eyes, reaching inward, searching. Yoda's quiet statement echoed deep within him.
Named, your fear must be before it can be banished.
The Dark Man is coming, he thought, and as tears began to slip down his cheeks, he saw the face of the killer who had haunted his dreams.
"Not yet, Ani," Qui-Gon's voice beside him was softly reassuring. "There is still another way."
He was still watching the darkness when Commander Cody sent word that Grievous was dead. The war would be over. Yet he felt no elation. Master Windu put in a call to Yoda on Kashyyyk, and he wandered back over, sitting quietly on the floor to listen.
"Minutes ago, we received confirmation from Utapau: Kenobi was successful. Grievous is dead," Mace reported.
"Time it is to execute our plan," decided Yoda.
"I will personally deliver the news of Grievous's death," Mace agreed. "It will be up to the Chancellor to cede his emergency powers back over to the Senate."
"Forget not the existence of Sidious. Anticipate your action, he may. Masters will be necessary, if the Lord of the Sith you must face," Yoda warned
"I have chosen four of our best. Master Tiin, Master Kolar, and Master Fisto are all here in the Temple. They are prepared to go as soon as Skywalker returns with his report." Mace informed him.
"Take him, will you? With you on this night, perhaps the Chosen One should be," Yoda suggested.
"Too much of a risk," Mace replied. "I am the fourth."
Ani cringed at the statement. So, Master Windu knew, as well. He held his breath, hoping that Yoda might disagree. If Yoda still believed that Anakin was strong enough, it had to be all right. Slowly, though, Yoda pursed his lips, and gave a reluctant nod of agreement.
Then he said, "On watch you have been too long, my Padawan. Rest you must."
Blinking, Ani thought for a moment that the Master was talking to him. Then he realized that Yoda must have had the same relationship with Master Windu that he had with Obi Wan. His eyebrows rose in surprise at this idea--Mace Windu as someone's Padawan. Somehow it seemed even stranger to him than the concept of his father as a Padawan learner. After all, his parents had met when Obi Wan was still Qui-Gon's apprentice. Windu had always seemed to be something eternal and constant--unchanging, like the Jedi Temple which had stood here for thousands of years.
"I will, Master. When the Republic is safe once more," Mace promised, straightening in his chair. "We are waiting only for your vote."
"Very well, then. Have my vote, you do. May the Force be with you," Yoda murmured.
"And with you, Master," replied Mace as the hologram faded, leaving emptiness and silence behind it.
And waiting.
The young boy and the Jedi Master waited there until the door cracked open, but Ani was already on his feet by the time his uncle staggered in. Mace pushed himself out of his chair, and they reached Anakin at the same time, Ani looking on worriedly while Mace gripped the Knight by the shoulders.
"Master…?" Anakin's voice was hoarse and choked. His head hung down, but Ani didn't think he was even seeing the floor. Tentatively, he reached for his uncle's hand and found it shaking. Fear rolled off the Jedi Knight in waves, crashing against the boy. Reflexively, he reached into the Force in search of comfort, but even there, all he felt was turmoil. Without meaning to, he took a step back.
Mother…
Mace Windu's voice was steady. "What's wrong? Anakin, are you hurt?"
"Obi Wan," he pleaded faintly, "I need to talk to Obi Wan--"
"Obi Wan is operational on Utapau. He has destroyed General Grievous. We were waiting for your report before we went to the Chancellor ourselves to be sure that he steps down as he has promised--"
"Steps--steps down--" Anakin bitterly spit the words. "You have no idea..."
"Anakin, what's wrong?" Mace asked again, urgently this time.
"Listen to me--you have to listen to me--" Anakin slumped against his Master's chest. Mace wrapped his arms around the Knight and guided him to slowly and carefully toward the nearest chair. "You can't--please, Master, give me your word, promise me it'll be an arrest, promise you're not going to hurt him--"
Mace said nothing until his former Padawan was safely in the chair. Anakin sagged forward, burying his face in his hands. Worriedly, Ani crept toward them again, halting beside the chair. Mace knelt on the other side of it, and Ani bit his lip.
"Anakin. You must try to answer. Have you been attacked? Are you injured? You have to tell me what's wrong!" Windu commanded, and it was the concern in his voice which finally spurred Anakin Kenobi to action. Surrendering his own fear, he reached out and gripped his uncle's shoulder.
The Knight jerked back as though the contact burned him. As his head came up, Ani gasped, but he did not let go. Anakin's eyes were raw and red, and his face looked swollen. He was pasty white, and Ani could still feel him trembling. He felt Mace reach into the Force, cautiously, as though one misstep could cause an avalanche--one that could kill not only them but everything around them, everything they were struggling so hard to protect. He held his breath, hoping that the Master would find an answer in the current of the Force--some antidote for the terrible fear he felt in his uncle. That fear was like nothing he had ever experienced--nothing he had even imagined. It was a living thing-- a squealing, screeching, squelching monster that was feeding on Anakin Skywalker. Its name, Anakin Kenobi heard whispered through the rustling of its slithering journey through the Jedi's mind, was Padme.
"Master," Anakin fought to utter the word, as if in the very act of doing so, he was committing her execution. "Palpatine--Palpatine is the Sith Lord we've been looking for."
Mace Windu closed his eyes.
Ani frowned, looking from his uncle to the Master still kneeling beside the chair. "It's the Sith doing this to him, isn't it, Master?"
Windu's eyes opened, and he gave a sharp nod. Rising, he said, "He's in no condition to take you anywhere now, Anakin. The Jedi must act quickly if the Republic is to survive. Stay with him until I return."
"Yes, Master," the boy bowed his head.
"Wha--What? Master, you'll need my help--" attempted Anakin.
"No," Mace said firmly. "For your own good, my Padawan, stay out of this affair. Wait with the boy in the Council Chamber until we get back."
"But--but--but the Chancellor--" Anakin cried desperately, clutching at the Master's hand. "What are you going to do?"
"Only as much as I have to," said Mace. "Neither of you are to leave the temple."
He pulled his hand free and spun, striding from the room. Anakin stared blankly after him, completely unresponsive to the soothing motions of his nephew's hand on his shoulder. "I have to go with him…"
"Uncle," Ani slipped his hand down to cover the Knight's. "Stay with me."
------
Mother…
Padme Amidala Kenobi was waiting. For her husband, who was fighting for his life on Utapau. For her son, who was keeping his own vigil at the Jedi Temple. She raised her head at the sound of his voice. She heard it as clearly as if he had been in the room with her. Yet it wasn't a sound at all. A feeling--more a than mother's intuition.
She pushed herself off the couch and moved toward the window behind it. From there, she could see the Jedi Temple in the glow of the setting sun. And she could feel his fear.
"Ani?" she cried aloud. Then again, in her mind, Ani!
There was no answer. No answer except fear as palpable as the force that choked her in her dreams.
She spun, calling over her shoulder for Threepio and Artoo, but as she did, a sharp pain stabbed through her abdomen. Gasping, Padme staggered forward, her hands outstretched to clutch the back of the couch.
Artoo shrilled in alarm.
"Mistress--Oh, Mistress Padme!" exclaimed Threepio.
She straightened quickly. "I'm all right, thank you, Threepio. Thank you, Artoo."
Threepio was already moving to take her arm. "Please, Mistress Padme, sit down," he said, escorting her back to the couch. Artoo rolled up beside her, and her hand drifted unconsciously to the top of the little astromech's domed head.
"I can't. I have to get Ani from the temple. Things are happening tonight--he shouldn't be there," she shook her head.
"Oh, no, I beg of you, m'lady!" pleaded Threepio. "You must stay here and rest. Think of your health--think of…the twins…"
"Little Anakin is my son, too, Threepio. I have to go to him!" insisted Padme.
"There must be someone else who can go. Senator Organa, perhaps…?"
-----
Anakin sat in a chair in the Council Chamber, cradling his nephew in his lap. His breathing had started to slow now, and the shaking had stopped. He thought--he thought--if he could just stay here this way, holding the boy, he might be able to quiet his mind enough. He might be able to stop hearing her scream.
He wasn't entirely sure how they had gotten up here. He wasn't sure of anything beyond the innocent warmth of the child in his arms. Ani's head rested against his shoulder, much as it had rested the night before. His eyes were closed, but he wasn't sleeping.
How could he be so calm? Didn't he hear it? Didn't he feel it?
He stirred, and his hand moved comfortingly against Anakin's cheek. "Don't center on your fears," he murmured.
"There's nothing else left," he heard himself say bitterly. He laughed--a short, desperate, hysterical sound.
"I love you," the boy replied.
Anakin closed his eyes. He inhaled slowly and deeply, beginning to feel clarity return to him. The nightmare was fading. Ani nestled deeper against him, drawing comfort from him in a way that he couldn't even fathom. How could the boy feel anything for him now--anything but contempt? He had all but condemned Padme to death. How could her son find anything to love? Yet somewhere through his fear and self-loathing, Anakin Skywalker could sense that love--constant and unchanging as it had always been.
You do know, don't you, if the Jedi destroy me, any chance of saving her will be lost.
He stiffened. Ani jerked up as well, and Anakin set the boy on his feet, pulling himself up out of the chair. He staggered toward the window, staring out toward 500 Republica and Padme's apartment. He heard his nephew run up beside him, felt the boy's hand slip into his.
"You don't need anymore power, Uncle Anakin. You can save her from anything, all by yourself," Ani said.
Except what if he couldn't? Desolate tears began to slip down Anakin Skywalker's cheeks.
"You saved me," Ani said plaintively.
"I can't take that chance. I can't let her die, Ani. You know I can't," he said.
"Master Windu told us both to stay here!" his nephew cried.
"I know," Anakin sighed. He knelt, running his hand over the boy's hair.
"Please stay with me, Uncle Anakin. I'm scared…" Ani told him tearfully.
He smiled. "Many things may change before this night is over, Ani. My caring for you will not be one of them."
…The Dark Man is coming…
Not yet. There is still another way.
The Chosen One must find balance within himself before he can bring it to the Force. His path to that balance is not yet determined.
…The Dark Man is Coming…
