Author's Note: Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your patience. I know it's been a long time, but all I can claim is lots of drama here at home. There hasn't been an end to that, but I've been able to escape into the Star Wars world a little, and here are the results: this chapter and another (and the start of another!)
Table of Contents
Five Years (Escape) Pg. 1050
Five Years (Coming Home) Pg. 1079
Five Years (False Recovery) Pg. 1100
Five Years (Before the Abduction) Pg. 1126
Five Years (Abduction) Pg. 1142
Five Years (Dogfight and Rescue) Pg. 1166
Five Years (Dogfight and Rescue)
Padme stood before what she thought was the Council Chamber. She felt an urge to shiver and repressed it. Still, as she lifted her hand to knock, she saw her fingers tremble. She clenched them in a fist and knocked.
There was a brief silence, then the doors parted and she found herself facing a dark-haired, dark-eyed, white-faced being in Jedi robes. He looked almost like a spook. Padme realized the pale, pale skin was natural for this being and breathed again. "Anakin Skywalker sent me here. The Force asked us to-"
"Come in you should," said a soft voice. It came from across the room instead of from the being before her. Then the white-faced Jedi stepped aside and she entered.
The Council Chamber was larger than she'd expected, and yet she sensed it wasn't as large as it seemed, only that it had been designed in such a way to provide the illusion, mixed with much truth, of airiness. Padme pulled her gaze form the room and faced the semicircle of Jedi which waited for her to speak.
She had never been intimidated by a Jedi, but there was, apparently, a first time for everything. And yet, in the midst of her nervousness, something in her responded with joy to all these powerful Jedi sitting around her. She felt a mad urge to bow or curtsy and restrained herself.
She focused on Yoda, whom she had dealt with many times before, and to him she did bow. "Master Yoda. Thank you for admitting me."
"Welcome here you are." He waited.
She sensed his infinite patience and this took away even more of her nervousness. "Anakin sent me here because the Dark Force tried to attack me. It filled my mind with thoughts that weren't my own." She lowered her eyes.
"Right to come here you were. Hmmmph. Disturbing this attack by the Dark Force is. Tell more about it can you?"
"Anakin said he and Obi-Wan were being prevented from talking by the Dark Force." She bit her lip, abandoning a little of her decorum before this noblest Jedi. He wouldn't think less of her. "It- the Dark Force- made me hate Obi-Wan. I don't know how that's possible but I know it's what happened."
"Force-sensitive you are," Yoda said. "Hmmph." He rested his chin atop his folded hands and gazed at her as if he could see every beat of her heart and knew what it meant. "For now-"
There came a knock at the chamber door and the same Jedi opened it, admitting a medic. The man stepped forward and bowed to the room. "Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker have gone to the battle in orbit," he said. "They did so against my recommendation. Master Kenobi has a severe injury in his leg and should not be fighting." He looked, she thought, discomfited, and she thought it was because he was being forced to call a master's logic into question.
"A choice has been made," Yoda said and he was silent.
"Thank you for your information," Mace said. "When they return, we'll make sure his leg's seen to." A ghost of a smile touched his mouth. "And that he sits down a little and lets it heal."
The medic bowed. "Thank you, Master." He was disappointed; she could see that. Maybe he'd even hoped the Council would order Obi-Wan to bed rest immediately. But he understood he'd gotten the best of what the Council was willing (or perhaps able) to offer. He left.
Mace now spoke to Padme. "You are welcome to stay here at Temple as long as you wish."
"With your permission, Masters, I will stay until O- Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker return. Maybe the Dark Force will have…" She floundered.
"Know we do about your children," Yoda said. "Protected you and they will be as long as it is in our power to do so."
"Thank you,Master."
The pale-faced Jedi- she was female, Padme saw- gestured towards the doors. "I will find you a place to rest, Senator."
Padme started to follow out, but then turned back. "Master Yoda, will you let me know when they return?"
He nodded. "I will."
"Thank you."
oOo
Anakin felt time double back on itself. It wasn't that he hadn't been in dogfights at least fifty times in the last two years, which amounted to a thousand battles since he 'accidentally' entered the fight above Naboo's atmosphere; it was only that he felt like that carefree, loves-flying-to-a-fault kid. Yes, he and Obi-Wan were going into a battle against General Grievous's ship, but Anakin couldn't separate the concern for the Chancellor, and the fact that he'd never seen General Grievous, from his desire to rock and roll among the stars.
And so you should embrace your joy, Obi-Wan sent. Just keep your mind searching everywhere. The Dark Side is stronger around that ship than I've ever felt before.
Anakin didn't want to ask, but it was his duty as a Jedi to ask, if only so he understood: Including with Xanatos and with that helmet?
Obi-Wan's answer was completely calm: Yes.
Anakin sensed Obi-Wan had descended to the calm and cool place from which his lover operated best. He asked, needing to know the truth about one more thing before the battle was truly engaged: How's your leg?
IT itches something fierce, but it's strong and will support me. I think I can even manage without a limp.
What about hand-to-hand-?
They're ready for us. Let's get in there.
Obi…
I'll count on your help, Beloved, but I must be here for this. If there's to be any chance of bringing Annie home, it's now.
You'll always try to bring her home.
Obi-Wan sighed. Yes. Then he dove in amidst the cloud of Republic and Separatist fighters, laving Anakin to follow.
This state of affairs didn't last long; Anakin soon led, both because he was more confident about the machine under his control and because his blood ran hotter by nature. In the back of his mind, fury began to grow, but it happened so slowly that when he finally noticed, it was nearly too late.
But that time was a long way off. Right now, as he dove through space like a dolfain through the depths of the ocean, All he could of was the freedom that was his for the asking. Not even thoughts of his conversation with Obi-Wan, words exchanged in haste while the Master was getting his leg seen to, interfered too deeply. He'd told Obi-Wan; Obi-Wan would know how to help and protect Padme once they had rescued the Chancellor.
And what about Obi-Wan's assertion that they must be the ones to lead this mission? Anakin didn't doubt that they must, and he didn't doubt Obi-Wan knew what he was talking about, but near where his anger grew dwelt a single thought: If she hurts Obi, if she comes within an inch of hurting him, I'll kill her and damn Obi's anger or what should be done or what's Jedi-like. She hurts him, I'll make sure she's dead. He didn't acknowledge this thought, wasn't even consciously aware of it, but it leant him strength and fury, and it made him dangerous.
oOo
When the two of them had talked about protecting Padme, they'd been surrounded by dozens of bustling healers and medical droids. Wounded Jedi lay here and there, along with a few civilians, those who had risked their lives to help the Order (more so than the Republic was the unspoken consensus). Obi-Wan sat in a chair, which wasn't the best position for his leg, but the chair was the most readily-available space. He watched the droid work at his leg for a moment, then turned his eyes to Anakin. "Padme will be safe here for now, but she can't stay here. She's right; she needs to be out there."
"The Force can't accomplish its ends if she's dead." Anakin stood at parade rest.
Obi-Wan recognized this posture as Anakin's way of keeping himself still, not pacing, and not getting in anyone's or anything's way. He wanted to be cleaning Obi-Wan's wound himself, and he wanted to already be in orbit, and he wanted to be standing between Padme and the dangers of the whole galaxy. "We will find a way to protect her," he said to his young lover. "And remember: the Force wants this, the Force chose this, over your better judgment and hers, and certainly over your emotions. If the Force took all that trouble-"
"Hold still, Master Jedi!" the droid snapped.
Obi-Wan realized he'd been unconsciously channeling the tension he sensed in Anakin, not through their bond but just through a lover's intuition. He subsided, murmuring an apology. Then, back to Anakin: "If the Force took all that trouble, It will protect her."
"Even after the… after it gets what it wants?"
"If not, we will."
Anakin relaxed just a little. "You mean it. She's right up there at the top of your priority list."
"She is. Just under following the Force and loving you."
Anakin blinked. "Why is she so-" But he stopped. "Never mind. Tell me later. This isn't the time or place."
The droid backed up. "You shouldn't be dancing on that leg, but it's mended."
"Thank you." Obi-Wan rose, tested the appendage in question and nodded. It would serve. He sensed that it wouldn't be truly healed for several days, but he didn't have days. "Let's get to the ships," he said to Anakin.
The droid squawked a warning to which Obi-Wan paid no attention. Then he was following Anakin out of the medic's circle of influence and his mind was on Annie. This would be their last "easy" chance to save her, he sensed, and he didn't plan to waste it.
oOo
Later Anakin would wonder if he'd done right. He'd recognized the need to be in the middle of things even though it had come from Obi-Wan, an unusual quarter. And later he would understand that being at the center wasn't Obi-Wan's desire, but to rescue Annie at nearly any cost, and maybe that was even more foolhardy and dangerous.
He saw the first weakness in Obi-Wan's leg when the master leapt from his dying ship to engage the droids that wanted to kill the invading Jedi. Though Anakin doubted any of the droids would realize Obi-Wan wasn't moving flawlessly, if anyone else could see them- Siths, maybe, or Annie, who had been a padawan, or even just a being well-trained in military strategy, Obi-Wan's fractionally-slower movements would be noted. Anakin was very much aware that General Grievous might very well be watching them right now.
He fought his way to Obi-Wan's side and warred with himself about whether he should suggest Obi-Wan leave. Would the older man listen? Anakin knew he wouldn't in such a situation but Obi-Wan was more reasonable, right? Maybe not where Annie was concerned.
Pulling himself out of his worries for a moment, he called, "R2, find the Chancellor." Obi? he called through their bond. Things were Dark around them, but their bond was working. For now.
Yes? Obi-Wan beheaded a droid and staggered half a step on his trembling leg.
Maybe you should go back to Temple. My ship still works.
Maybe I should, but I doubt I'll get the chance. The shield you blew out is back up and most of those that followed us up here are gone. Sadness accompanied that thought and Anakin knew 'gone' meant 'dead'.
The last of the droids fell and the two of them moved to escape from the hanger. They stopped long enough to look at R2's floating diagram and Anakin gave his little droid a few instructions. Then they moved on. I didn't know you could touch clones with the Force, he sent to Obi-Wan.
You can touch anything with the Force. He sounded tired, and not just mentally. You're right about my weakness; my leg isn't serving half so well as I thought it would. I'll let you do much of the coming fighting but I need to try and reach Annie here, now. If I don't, there will be worse things to come.
You mean the fight she and I are supposed to have. But you've already changed so much of that vision.
I haven't changed her direction and that's what matters. Obi-Wan gestured at the elevator doors. Let's-
Obi? Anakin blinked. The thought had stayed in his own head. "The bond's been blocked again."
Obi-Wan nodded and touched the elevator's controls. "Let's get going."
oOo
They stood on the observation deck above where the Chancellor was restrained. He looked all right and Anakin nodded. They'd made it in time and his fear that Grievous would kill the symbol of the Republic, or at least give the man a good roughing-up, were unfounded. Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan and saw that the master's eyes were narrowed. What did Obi-Wan see or sense in this Dark-Force-choked environment? Annie? Maybe. Danger? Definitely. Anakin tried to fight back the Darkness so he could feel everything around him. He was the Chosen One and the final battles were coming; he'd be damned if he wouldn't find a way to reach out to the Force and feel it around him like a second skin.
Obi-Wan started down the stairs to the lower level of the observation deck and Anakin jogged behind him. They crossed together to the Chancellor's chair.
"Chancellor Palpatine," Obi-Wan said and gave the man a slight, respectful bow.
"Are you all right?" Anakin asked. He could see Obi-Wan's diplomat's mask drop out of the corner of his eye and knew Obi-Wan was ready to face not just Palpatine, whom he didn't trust, but anyone else who might be on this ship. Why hadn't he let the mask drop before now? Anakin thought that Obi-Wan had sensed something more than he had and he felt a flash of frustration. He was connected to the Force so much more naturally than Obi-Wan… And this so wasn't the time for jealousy.
The Chancellor said, "General Grievous sends a child to fight you? What's he playing at?"
Anakin turned and saw Annie standing above them. She was flanked by twenty or thirty droids and he thought these would do most of the fighting. That would be fine; he'd take care of the droids and let Obi-Wan talk to Annie. She'd attacked Obi-Wan before- twice before- and he didn't trust her just to talk, but looking at her folded hands and her calm, pale face, he thought she might still be vulnerable to Obi-Wan's powers of persuasion.
She leapt over the railing and the droids above didn't move. Anakin saw Obi-Wan's lightsaber flicker to life and activated his own. Obi didn't want to talk? He was confused but still under the influence of that shock of jealousy and he refusal to give in to such a stupid, baseless emotion.
oOo
She had wrapped herself in a deceptive blanket of the Dark Force. She looked innocent and chlld-like and timid. He couldn't see beyond the impression; the concentration of Darkness was too high. But he knew she was no longer child-like and even as his heart broke he ignited his lightsaber. Force help him, he didn't want to kill her but he was afraid he'd have to use all his skill to stay alive. He was relieved when Anakin ignited his lightsaber and moved to stand behind him. The two of them shed their outer robes in tandem.
"Give me your lightsabers, please. We don't want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor."
'She sounds older.' His blood chilled and he fought to keep his mask in place. If he was going to slip and let something show, it wasn't going to be now. "Come back, Annie. Let us help you."
"When did you ever help anyone? You weren't even there to save Reeft." She was dressed in black Jedi robes and her eyes and bright red hair shone against the ebony cloth even as her face looked paler than he'd ever seen it.
"Come home," he said and stepped towards the upper deck. She most likely wouldn't let him join her on the upper deck but the closer he got the better chance he could keep her from hurting the Chancellor. "Why are you here?"
She leapt over the railing and landed before him.
The Dark Force around her was so dense Obi-Wan could feel it against his skin.
She ignited her lightsaber. "I'm going to kill you, then your padawan." Her smile was chilling. "Then the woman he cares for. I'll find her and cut her in half."
Anakin bristled but Obi-Wan laughed. "You don't even know her name and you've fallen into a child's trap of being overly dramatic. Who do you think you're fooling?" Taking a sarcastic and abrasive tone with her was going to push her away; he was closing a door. But he saw in her eyes- so much like his and he could read his own eyes very well- that she wouldn't come back to the Jedi unless she was captured. Once she was back at Temple maybe she could be saved, but he had to get her there first. And if he embarrassed or angered her enough he might get the edge he needed.
She lunged.
Both he and Anakin met her blade with their own in a two-to-one cross that should have thrown her off-balance. Instead, she shoved hard against them before retreating several steps and coming at them again. Her face was twisted and her eyes promised painful, lingering death.
She couldn't deliver. Obi-Wan knew this surely as he knew the weapon in his hand. But still he made sure that the next time she attacked he was a little ahead of Anakin. He sensed his lover was distracted by something- Obi-Wan's injury, more than likely- and he didn't dare let Anakin face her when he was less than absolutely focused. In that first moment when their blades had crossed, he sensed she might be more dangerous than Xanatos ever thought of being.
Then she lifted her hand and Obi-Wan staggered back as a wave of Force hit him full in the chest. Annie followed after, leaping up and trying to decapitate him.
Anakin intervened, catching her blade on his own. His face, lit by the glow of blue and red blades, was tense and surprised.
Anakin, calm yourself. But the thought stayed within his mind as Obi-Wan rolled and came up on his feet. He watched Anakin shove Annie back and Obi-Wan joined his lover. "Anakin, calm yourself," he said, sotto voce. "If-"
The rest of his warning went unheard because the droids began shooting and he had to fend off the energy bolts they fired. He deflected several and destroyed the fired that had fired them, but the droids were only firing at him, leaving Anakin free to engage Annie. How had she commanded them so? She had voiced no command and seemed to have no communicator on her. Maybe she had issued the order before entering the observation deck.
The droids advanced and Obi-Wan judged the distance. He wasn't in any condition to go leaping anywhere but it was imperative that he reunite with Anakin. She couldn't kill Anakin or even injure him. Logic said she couldn't. But there was more here at work than logic. He gathered the Force about him, asked for the strength to come down cleanly at the other end of his jump, and leapt.
His robes swirled around him as he soared and he felt the Force buoy him up. None of the droids fired until he was at the peak of his jump- they were still surprised by Jedi tricks. If they were all the Separatists had, the Jedi would find a way to end this war. He deflected bolts as he descended among the droids and when his feet touched down, he only staggered half a step before he was able to catch himself and decapitate the nearest droid. He pushed through that thrust and created more scrap metal. All the while he tried to find a hole in the Darkness that permeated the room. He could feel Anakin distantly, like seeing a candle a mile off, impossible to see but made strangely visible by the intervening night. He couldn't sense anything about Anakin, only that he was alive.
He risked a glance to his right as he deflected more bolts and saw that Anakin had driven Annie halfway up the stairs that led to the upper platform. He couldn't see Anakin's face but hers showed her rage and exertion. She was tiring and that was good, but Obi-Wan couldn't shake the feeling that something was wr-
He staggered as an energy bolt grazed his injured leg. It was like being burned by Fef'n.
"Obi!" Anakin shouted as Obi-Wan killed the droid that had shot him before falling to one knee.
"Keep your focus!" he shouted back as he Force-pushed six droids against a nearby wall hard enough to damage five out of the six. Three of them were unable to walk now and two had lost their arms. They tried to shoot but Obi-Wan wasn't there to be shot. He'd Force-leapt to the right, turned the leap into a roll, and came up on his sure leg and his trembling other. He'd be all right if he could just keep them from shooting him there again. And the best way to do that was to stop dividing his attention between his own predicament and Anakin's. His lover was going to have to be on his own. Force be with him.
oOo
Anakin threw himself at Annie, driving her further away from the Chancellor and Obi-Wan. She staggered and he caught the upswing of her red lightsaber easily on his own blade. He grinned at her shock and pressed his advantage. "You're not as good as you think you are." His jealousy was disappearing and he was glad to let it go. Why had he been jealous anyway? Obi-Wan had studied the Force longer than he had. And he could out-fight Obi-Wan; at times like these, with his lightsaber humming in his hand, he thought maybe he didn't need all the depth upon which Obi-Wan relied.
And that way led to arrogance. He worked to re-center himself and came at her again.
Her fighting style was fierce but undeveloped. It was closer to Form I, that near-fury state of attack and defense favored by Kit Fisto and those Jedi who were able to draw a distinct line between combat-emotion and true feelings. Anakin had played with the form from time to time but he'd settled into Form Six, the form a step closer to emotion than the one Obi-Wan used (seven). He liked the balance of Form VI because it gave him more room for improvisation. Hypothetically, it would leave him more open to blaster-fire, but he'd incorporated enough of Form VII, which was designed for defense against blasters, to be an expert when facing blasters or lightsabers. In truth, he'd invented his own Form, but no one had told him this and except for a moment of pride, he wouldn't have cared. It suited him fine and had saved both his life and Obi-Wan's many times over.
Behind him, the Chancellor made an inarticulate noise.
Anakin wanted to face him but Annie charged, snarling and plunging her blade in towards his heart. This stroke he parried and the next and the next.
A wave of Force hit Anakin full in the face, snapping his head back, and he staggered, lost his balance and fell down the stairs. He didn't fall far, catching himself on the fourth step down, and he was on his feet in an instant, but he was distracted for a moment and that was all Annie needed to cut the number of her attackers by half.
While Anakin had been engaged with her, Obi-Wan had finished off the droids. He was headed up the other flight of stairs to outflank Annie. As Anakin fell, she whirled and hit Obi-Wan off the stairs and to the floor below. He collapsed there and she broke the ties on a huge piece of equipment so that it tumbled on top of him, crushing him. For an instant, the Force was alive with a flash of shocking light: he felt Obi-Wan lose consciousness.
Anakin leapt up and took a swing at her head. She avoided him easily, jumping over him and to the lower deck. She advanced on the Chancellor. "And now-"
He shoved her off-balance with the Force and came after her. His blood was up and before he reached her, he glanced at Obi-Wan again. His lover hadn't moved and when Anakin reached for him in the Force, he sensed nothing but a guttering flame. Then he was close enough to strike at Annie with his lightsaber and he put his worries to one side. If he got hurt because of his distraction he couldn't help Obi-Wan. But it was so hard not to be anxious for his lover.
He engaged her blade to blade again and kept up his attack, forcing her to be on the defensive every moment. He came at her from all directions with a limited amount of footwork. He didn't think he would need to outlast her but he was thinking that he might have to carry Obi-Wan out and he wanted to keep his strength.
She tried to feint once but almost lost her hand in the attempt. Anakin was even a little glad that Obi-Wan was unconscious because Anakin thought he might kill her. He came after her again, trying to place himself between her and Obi-Wan in case she tried some other distraction technique. Memories of his nightmares- of Obi-Wan dying before his eyes- rose to blind him. He pushed them from his mind. It wouldn't happen this way. Obi-Wan would be there when Padme had the twins and he would have to take one of them away from her. He wasn't meant to die here.
She spun away from him suddenly and ran towards the chancellor, her lightsaber raised.
Anakin followed. He brought his hand up, thinking to yank her back before she could kill Chancellor Palpatine.
Before he could call the Force to him, she stopped a couple of meters from him, took something from her pocket, and blew it in his face.
Anakin reached and caught the dust- he sensed it was a deadly, airborne poison- with the Force. He didn't try to stop Annie as she turned and fled; he pulled all the dust into a small ball, yanked a piece of cloth off the chair in which the chancellor sat and wrapped the dust in it. Then he set the ball, tightly sealed and even a little melted together so it wouldn't dispense the dust, far from the chancellor and Obi-Wan. Then he sheathed his 'saber and crossed to the confining chair.
"She was more than a child," Palpatine said. "But nothing you couldn't handle. Were you ready to kill her?"
Anakin worked at the cuffs binding the older man to the chair. And didn't meet his gaze. Now that she was gone, his thoughts were with Obi-Wan almost completely. He tried to center himself. The chancellor was waiting for an answer. He felt the urge to say that of course he wouldn't have killed a child. He said, "Only if I had no other options." The cuffs gave way and he stepped back, ready to offer the chancellor a hand if he needed it. "She'll stay away from this for awhile, I think." He spared a glance at the fight still going on outside the ship. There still seemed to be enough fighters doing their jobs. He hoped they hadn't lost too many.
The chancellor strode away from the windows; Anakin followed. "Now we must leave. Before more security droids arrive."
The knight went to Obi-Wan. He could feel his lover's life-force more strongly now and he hoped that wasn't just because Annie was gone. He dropped to one knee at Obi-Wan's side and turned him gently over. The thing that had fallen on top of him- Anakin thought it might be some form of half-portable shield generator, possibly to keep the Jedi from reaching the chancellor, had it been activated- wasn't that heavy and he thought maybe no more damage had been done to Obi-Wan's leg.
"Anakin, there's no time. We must get off the ship before it's too late."
Anakin glanced up, then back down. Obi-Wan's pulse was strong once he found it. And he was almost positive his lover's life-force was stronger now. He might even been near consciousness. "He seems to be all right."
"Leave him or we'll never make it."
Anakin raised his head once more. Thoughts about how Obi-Wan didn't trust his man flashed across his mind like lightning and for once he thought Obi-Wan was wrong. Chancellor Palpatine wasn't dangerous; he was just a coward. "His fate will be the same as ours." He lifted the thing that could have been a shield generator and let it crash harmlessly off to one side. At least the chancellor was staying well back so Anakin didn't have to worry about hitting him. Anakin checked for broken bones, found none, saw that the quick job the medical droid had done on Obi-Wan's leg still held, noted the place where his lover had been burned, and nodded to himself. At least the droid that had shot Obi had been destroyed. He got a good hold on his lover and lifted him over his shoulder. It wasn't ideal; he could get to his lightsaber quickly but would have trouble using it. Still, it was all they had. He couldn't imagine asking the elderly politician to even help him carry Obi-Wan by slinging one of the unconscious master's arms over his shoulders.
"Ready?" he asked as he started for the stairs.
Palpatine fell into step beside him. "Is this wise? I think Master Kenobi would recommend a different course of action."
"Most likely." Unless it was me, of course, he thought. Then he'd be doing the exact same thing. Thinking of how much taller than Obi-Wan he was now, Anakin tried to picture himself slung over Obi-Wan's back and decided his lover would probably either being carrying him in another way, maybe even by using the Force. He grinned, picturing his lover tugging him through the air like a small ship hauling a space barge into port.
They topped the stairs and Anakin led the way to the elevator. He didn't even need to touch the pad by the doors to know they had a problem. When Palpatine stepped forward, he glanced at the older man and said, "Elevator's not working." He dug for and found his communicator. "R2, activate elevator three-two-two-four." He shifted Obi-Wan a little until he was more firmly seated on his back. And he thought about those attacking General Grievous's ship. They'd done some damage. That was good. But if they did too much…
The Force will decide the things you can't control, he seemed to hear in Obi-Wan's driest tone. It always does.
That was when the ship decided to point nose-down. Anakin caught a bit of metal near the elevator and felt the chancellor catch hold of him. The elevator doors opened. Well, at least that was one good thing in their favor. He pulled himself forward. Of course, there was no elevator car but as long as the ship was nose-down, he and the chancellor could run along the now-horizontal shaft. He dragged himself all the way in, helping the chancellor, and they started to jog. He sensed- the information coming more from his back and shoulder muscles than from the Force- that Obi-Wan would be awake soon. Good. He hoped only that Obi-Wan would wake up- and that they'd reach the flight deck- before the ship decided to right itself.
oOo
When Obi-Wan regained consciousness, he knew he was upside down and he knew Anakin held him. He swung up, loosing an un-Jedi-like grunt of surprise and pain as his leg decided to inform him how abused it was feeling. He put his arms loosely around Anakin's neck.
"Easy. We're in a bit of a situation."
He could hear the amusement in Anakin's voice and felt an urge to kiss his lover's ear. If he'd come to and they hadn't been a situation, that would have been something. He sensed someone else in the 'situation' with them and knew it was the chancellor without having to look down.
He thought of Annie; she had most likely escaped. He sensed she was still alive and she wasn't with them. And no other Jedi had shown up or they wouldn't be dangling in… Was this the elevator shaft? And where was the silver car Anakin had cut his way out of not so long ago?
Teasing, not wanting to think of how he'd los his chance to reach her, he asked, "Did I miss something?"
Against his chest, he felt Anakin shake with silent laughter. "Hold on," his lover said. Then, almost in the same breath, "Oops."
"Uh," Obi-Wan grunted. There was the car; he could hear it coming down upon them.
Anakin got on the communicator. "R2, R2, shut down the elevator."
"Too late. Jump." Obi-Wan let go of Anakin, sensing the chancellor letting go just below him. They couldn't outrace the thing but maybe, if there was another open door along the shaft-
Anakin took out his liquid cable.
Obi-Wan reached down and grabbed the chancellor's robe and felt Anakin seize his arm. This was going to be painful. He watched Anakin shoot the cable and braced himself for the sudden jarring that would come when the cable caught. He thought to warn the politician who was now clinging to his hand with both of his own,.
It was too late. The cable caught and flung them through a set of open doors and onto the seemingly-stable deck. Obi-Wan lost his grip on the chancellor's robes as all three of them hit the floor, but that was all right. The elevator went screaming past, snapping the cable as it did so, and it didn't matter because they were alive. He pushed himself to his feet. When he saw where they were, he tried not to grin, but it was hard. They were on what R2D2's blueprint of the ship had shown to be another deck with a hangar. Had Anakin timed his shot so perfectly? Had he memorized the blueprint so completely? Both answers were almost surely yes. "Let's see if we can find something in the hanger bay that's still fly-able."
oOo
They were going to hit the atmosphere; Anakin tried to make the cruiser level. Grinning, he glanced back at Chancellor Palpatine, saw he was strapped in, and nodded. He didn't need to glance at Obi-Wan to know he was already in place.
His blood was still up from the fight with Grievous and his grin widened. The thing- was it considered alive? Probably, though he thought R2 was more alive than the creature calling itself a general- had mocked both him and Obi in an attempt to put them off-guard. Didn't it/he know anything about Jedi? Considering he'd taken so many lightsaber, it/he should know something. It had hurt Anakin's heart to see those lightsabers kept in the general's robe like trophies and he knew there were many more weren't being carried. He refused to let that fact distract him. Everyone at Temple knew the general liked to keep his little trophies; it made him feel powerful in the midst of a battle he could never win.
He and Obi-Wan had proved that, hadn't they? The general had been forced to retreat, leaving them a few more droids to dispatch and this falling-apart shit-heap to pilot.
He glanced through the canopy and nodded. They could do this. He'd already found the platform he wanted; it wasn't too far from Temple. Now he just had to shed a little heat if he could. The chances of this thing exploding weren't huge, but-
The whole ship shuddered; he was thrown forward against his own restraint. He heard R2 make a noise that sounded so much like "Uh-oh" that he had to struggle to repress a snicker. Not that he had anyone to impress but he thought the amused sound would show more of his enjoyment than he liked. Obi already knew he loved daring flight; he didn't need the chancellor spreading that fact all over the Republic. The Jedi were still seen as restrained individuals: it seemed right to keep that appearance as long as possible. If the Order was going to go out, let it do so with dignity. "We lost something."
Obi-Wan glanced at a miraculously still-working readout. "Not to worry. We are still flying half a ship."
They were losing more and bits of the ship but nothing as huge as that first chunk. Anakin only hoped most of it burned up in the atmosphere. And speaking of atmosphere… "Now we're really picking up speed." He didn't glance up through the canopy; his senses told him where they were. Obi-Wan confirmed it.
"Eight plus sixteen… We're in the atmosphere."
"Grab that." Anakin jabbed a finger at a nearby control that looked like a joystick, "Keep us level."
They descended but slower now. Anakin felt the engines shaking under him and he tried to put his will on them; they'd hold together until the ship landed and everyone was safely off; he wouldn't let it be any other way. As always when he was flying, he began to feel like an extension of the ship, so that everything around him and under him was like his own heartbeat.
"Steady," Obi-Wan muttered, as if he, too, was reaching out to the ship.
More likely the air currents outside the ship, Anakin thought, but that was just fine. Anything that kept they level until they could burn off some of the heat that had built up on the hull.
Behind him, R2 chittered a nervous speech; the droid probably felt a lot of what Anakin did.
"Easy, R2," he said. They were going to make it; they were. There was just no other option. He read one of the still-functioning screens. "Five thousand," he said, trusting Obi-Wan to interpret that correctly: they were five thousand meters up.
"Five ships on the left and on the right," Obi-Wan said.
Fire-prevention ships. They'd be spraying the hull of General Grievous's destroyed tub with coolant.
He heard, "We'll take you in," over the radio and ignored it. His thoughts were on the hull temperature.
"Landing strip straight ahead," Obi-Wan said and Anakin glanced up for a moment, then back to the readouts.
He said, "We're coming in too hot." Hoping the fire-prevention ships would give them a little more cover. Hoping Obi-Wan could keep them level for another few minutes. Hoping he could land this thing and not crash it. If he could just keep the engine together, the ship wouldn't explode.
He breathed in, felt the ship's final bottoming-out, and then they hit, full-force (well, maybe a little less than that, he conceded) and they were all thrown against their restraints. Anakin braced himself on the console in front of him, hoping it wouldn't blow up in his face. The scream of the ship's belly against the duracrete was enough to set his teeth on edge. Then he heard R2 expressing what they all felt: please let this work none of them wanted to die please let the ship stop before the landing strip did. And he wanted to laugh again.
The ship began to slow; he saw they still had a little bit of the strip left.
The hulk- not really a ship anymore; he allowed that now- slowed, slowed, and finally came to a shuddering halt.
As it settled, he glanced at Obi-Wan and breathed out. Had he really been holding his breath all that time? Apparently so. And he didn't even feel light-headed. The miracles of the Force.
Obi-Wan brushed back a lock of his hair and grinned. "Another happy landing."
Anakin lost it. Forget composure: Obi was letting go and only now did Anakin allow himself to realize how close they'd actually come to not having another night in bed. He snickered, snorted, undid the belt keeping him in his seat, and stood. He didn't offer Obi-Wan a hand, though he wanted to, but smiled at his lover. They were walking away from yet another one; life was good.
oOo
Obi-Wan and Anakin left the medics to their work and made their own way towards Temple rooms that had been set aside for Padme. Obi-Wan didn't like the chair to which he'd been confined, but he'd had no choice but accept it. And use it. He'd given his word that he would use it and he didn't want to be so vulnerable during his next mission.
Anakin walked with his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. He knew all these things, had been there when the medic gave his orders and Obi-Wan had acquiesced because there was, in the end, no other choice.
The two of them had been briefly separated as Obi-Wan went to make his report to the Council and Anakin stood by while the chancellor heaped praise on the Jedi and then spoke of the war continuing until General Grievous was captured. He'd listened to Mace speak for the Council, saying that finding the general would be the Jedi's highest priority. It hadn't been that way until now because there had just been too much killing and too many needs. But the Jedi had been given a sure way to stop the war. (Or so the chancellor said; he might renege as he had on other promises. Force, he was starting to think like Obi-Wan!)
By the time he arrived at Temple, Obi-Wan was being seen to (and lectured) by two medics and a droid. He'd stood in the doorway watching and listening until Obi-Wan, situated in a hover-chair, was released. Then the two of them started for Padme's temporary quarters. They hadn't talked about Annie yet, though Anakin knew that had to come. Nor had they talked about the mounting danger to Padme and the sure fact that she wouldn't retreat from public life. They'd learned that truth when first meeting her.
He squeezed Obi-Wan's shoulder as they entered the lift and the doors closed. "are you al right?"
"Are you asking about my leg?"
Anakin raised an eyebrow. "You're going to play mind-games with me? After the day we've had?"
Obi-Wan reached up, caught Anakin's hand, and drew it to his lips. "Maybe."
Anakin felt Obi-Wan smile against his hand and he dropped to one knee, touched his lover's face and turned him until their lips met. "You're not in the mood for romance; I knw you're not. But I like when you give just this little bit."
"I have the feeling our lives are going to be too busy for more than little moments like these." Obi-Wan kissed him softly. "But these moments can be enough."
Anakin nodded. Stood. "What's our next move as far as Annie's concerned? You're sure she got off the ship?"
"Yes. Like Grievous. But I don't think they escaped on the same pod. So there's still some hope."
"Not as much as before." He squeezed Obi-Wan's shoulder again.
"No. That would be too much to ask for." He sighed.
"You did everything you could for her."
"I know. But thank you for saying it."
And if that wasn't a drop-it hint, Anakin didn't know what was. He'd have to bring it up again if Obi-Wan didn't. But they could afford a few minues not meditating on her.
The lift was slowing. He removed his hand in preparation to step forward and hold the door for his lover. The car stopped; the doors opened.
Gareth bowed to them. "Welcome back," he said. "Excuse me." He stepped aside so they could exit. "Are you well?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "Where is Arnen?"
"He's on his own mission."
That was happening to many Jedi: teams being split up. Anakin knew one of the only reasons he and Obi-Wan hadn't suffered that fate today was because of Obi-Wan's injury. The knight said, "When will he be back?"
"No way to tell." Gareth smiled at them both. "There's nothing to be gained by worry." He touched Obi-Wan's shoulder. "You're going to rest before going back out there?"
"I have little choice. It was either this-" Obi-Wan patted the arm of the hover-chair- "or be confined to a bed." He met Gareth's gaze. "All our thoughts go with Arnen. The Force is with him."
Gareth's false geniality fled and he nodded. His eyes were haunted. "Thank you, Obi-Wan." He gave them a half-bow before disappearing into the lift.
'And there goes some of the small toll that leads to unending pain among us," Obi-Wan said. "To lose a loved one or friend in battle is hard; to be away from them and know they're in harm's way is hard, too." He got the chair moving. "I promised the doctors I'd be back in our quarters before sunset. That's only two hours away."
Anakin walked beside him with his head down. "Do you think you'll want to talk to her that long?"
"I don't know. But I have Bant to talk with still, and Nela and Ferus. So many others." But he halted the chair and swung it around so that he faced Anakin. He made it rise and Anakin saw his eyes burn with an intensity that could have been mistaken for fever. "Our job among ourselves is to keep morale high. We've become an army, like it or not. Woe to all Jedi who have lived to see these days."
"But once General Grievous is captured, this war will end."
"Perhaps."
Anakin winced. It had been a long time since he'd seen Obi-Wan looking so tired.
"Whatever happens with the war, the Darkness will continue to rise. Nothing- or nothing I can see- can prevent the breaking of the Jedi." He turned his head. "And it's the truth, Padme, so you can come out." His smile softened his words and when she came around the corner, she smiled back, though she looked a little embarrassed to be caught.
"I didn't want to interrupt." She stood before him (Anakin caught her eye for a moment then it was Obi-Wan who commanded her attention) and bowed slightly. "Are you all right?"
She looked more nervous now. Anakin moved to her side and touched her arm.
She glanced at him, blushing a little, then back at Obi-Wan.
"I'll be well soon enough," the master said. "But you need to talk. Let's go to your quarters."
She nodded and started that way. Anakin walked beside her, leaving Obi-Wan to bring up the rear.
Anakin glanced back his lover once, but Obi-Wan made a shooing gesture- go! I'm fine- and he turned back. He took Padme's hand and though they'd promised not to be seen as 'together', she held on with surprising strength. He murmured, "Did something new happen?"
"Yes." Her grip tightened.
When they were in her rooms, she locked the door before going to the couch and sinking down onto it. Her hands were shaking a little and when Anakin sat beside her, she took his hand again.
Obi-Wan used the Force to push the coffee table that stood in front of the couch out of the way and he took her other hand. "Padme, talk to us."
She looked from him back to Anakin. "I can feel them kicking. The minute the Dark Force left me alone, they stirred and I think…" She blushed. "It feels as if they've done four months' of growth in a few hours." She rested her hand against her stomach. When she pressed her dress down in that way, it was easy to see that she was pregnant. "And yet four months' growth isn't enough for me to feel them kicking." She laughed and some of her self-consciousness fled. "This must seem normal to both of you: unexplained things happening because of the Force. But it's not normal to me. Not yet."
"It's only normal to us because we grew up with it," Anakin said. "Having that much 'time' pass in a few minutes can't be comfortable. Are you in pain?"
She shook her head. "None at all." She smiled. "I might not have even noticed as soon as I did if I hadn't decided to take a bath. I'm not usually that unaware of my body, but I was filled with so much peace once I came into these rooms that at first I had a little trouble thinking about the Dark Force's attack."
"That's a combination of the Force's work and being surrounded by so many Jedi," Obi-Wan said. He released her hand. "Padme, can I touch you?"
She blinked, blushed, and then nodded. Her grip had relaxed on Anakin's hand while she spoke; now it tightened once more. "You're not going to hurt me, Master Kenobi." Her voice lifted up at the end, making it almost a question.
"Never," he said and his gaze was unfailingly gentle. He touched her abdomen with first the tips of his fingers, then his whole hand. "Anakin," he said, and he caught Anakin's hand in his. "Do you feel it?"
If he meant the low, pleasant hum that was almost a vibration and almost a song, Anakin felt it. His body began to hum on the same frequency and he closed his eyes. Padme's hand in his began to hum, too, and he heard her gasp.
"What is it?" she whispered.
"What you're feeling is the Force as it is felt by your babies. The medi-chlorians feel it. Breathe it. And you're consciously feeling the Force for the first time- the whole Force." He was smiling; hat much was obvious in his voice. When Anakin peeked at him, he saw more: Obi-Wan's eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"They are the salvation of the Light, part of what will strike the balance," Obi-Wan continued. "They are the hope for the future and all the promise we need." He squeezed Anakin's hand. "You are still the Chosen One, Anakin; that's never going to change. Bu these younglings are going to help you."
"Do you see how?" Padme asked.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "Not yet. But what they do will seem to many to be no less than a miracle." He took her hand again and for a moment the humming continued just as strongly. Then, by degrees, it faded until all was stillness between them. "They are beautiful, your Luke and Leia. So beautiful." He pulled his hand from Anakin's and wiped his eyes. "Forgive me."
Padme smiled. "You're allowed." She let go of Anakin's hand and took both of Obi-Wan's in hers.
For an instant, he was jealous. It was like she was having the babies with Obi-Wan instead of with him. Then he called himself an idiot and the worst kind of fool. The jealousy went. Only then was he able to see how afraid she still was. He said, "There's nothing to be afraid of. You'll be safe. I promise. We won't let anything happen to you or to the babies."
"I know. Carrying babies is still new to me. And to have them grow so fast…It's a little frightening. Have either of you-? Of course you haven't."
"Experienced quick growth?" Obi-Wan asked. "No, but-"
"I did," Anakin said and he told her all that Yoda had told him. "I don't remember it," he finished, "but I think you're feeling nothing different than my papa did."
She was gaping at him and when he glanced at Obi-Wan, he saw a wry smile playing about the older man's mouth. "You didn't know Yoda was my papa," he said.
"Or that you're born of the Force just like Annie."
"I was born of the whole Force," Anakin said. "That's why the Force could choose what gender to make me."
"So you're stronger than she is."
"That would be the assumption but no assumption's safe," Obi-Wan said. "Anakin is the Chosen One, bringing balance to the Force his destined task, but few other things are so pre-destined or sure." He bore down gently on her hands. "Anakin is strong; never doubt it. But strength has little to do with it. He's wiser, better trained, and more focused."
The praise made Anakin glow but he kept his feelings to himself as well as he could. "Annie's still only a child. But she's growing faster than is natural. The Dark Force can help her do that. So she'll soon be my age." What he didn't say was that it would be easier to fight her without having to think of her as a child. And maybe it would be easier for Obi-Wan to let her go if she looked less like a little doll.
"We've talked enough about her for now. Padme, would you like us to escort you back to your senatorial suite? I think the Dark Force has abandoned the idea of attacking you for now. We can plant a sensor in your apartment that will monitor levels of Dark Force so that you- and we- will know if another attack is tried. It's not my intention to send you back before you're ready but if you are…"
"I am." She stood, releasing his hands. "I've never felt so much…life in me. The Force was singing."
"Sometimes it does that." Obi-Wan chuckled and backed his chair away from the couch. He moved the table into place. "If you concentrate, you'll be able to feel and hear the Force without our help."
As if I did anything, Anakin thought. Obi-Wan glanced at him and the younger man blushed. He'd been overheard.
"I need to visit a few Jedi before retiring for the night," the master said. "Anakin, will you accompany Padme back to her apartment?"
Anakin went to Obi-Wan, knelt, and met his gaze. How long has the bond been back? And why, when I can sense so many other things, didn't I sense it?
I think you can answer the second question. As to the first, for only about three minutes. Whoever was interfering with us finally gave up. He touched Anakin's arm. Don't be hard on yourself. And remember: I love you. After the Force, my devotion is to you. Please don't be jealous.
Anakin stared down at Obi-Wan's hand. I keep taking steps back.
You've been doused in the Dark Force for nearly six hours. Not only did you not lose your temper but you caught your jealousy and released it, time and again. I'm proud of you. Please stop being so hard on yourself.
I can't afford mistakes. Not this close to the end.
Neither can you afford to beat yourself up.
Anakin snorted; he couldn't help it. "I love you, Obi."
"And I you." Obi-Wan drew back. "Now that we've been exceedingly rude by holding our own private conversation, I suggest that you and Padme get going and I'll do the same." He smiled up at Padme. "Forgive us. Some things just can't wait."
She smiled. "It's all right." She came to him. "Can I touch you?"
He nodded.
She bent and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for all you do." She straightened and turned to Anakin. Before he could stop her- or have an instant to feel jealous- she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you both."
