A/N: Hello, happy weekend, and here's the next chapter!
Thursday, 6:02pm; Coruscant's Main Industrial Estate.
Obi-Wan grimaced as he swerved around another chimney. The smoke was so dense in some areas that he couldn't even see them emerge, they just appeared in front of the speeder. He gripped the controls tightly, peering carefully into the impenetrable fog.
"This is why I always let Anakin do the - Blast!" Obi-Wan made a sharp left turn to avoid crashing into a factory. "- flying."
"I do wish they would get someone to moderate the amount of pollution in this area." Mundi said.
"How is anyone meant to fly in this?" Obi-Wan asked incredulously.
"It's not a common route. Most people take the highway."
"Sadly we don't have an extra hour to deal with the traffic."
Mundi gave a quick warning, and Obi-Wan pulled upwards. They shot over the roof of another building. "We're getting closer now." Obi-Wan said. He brought the vehicle to a halt, sitting quietly for a moment. "You know the plan."
"Of course." Mundi said exasperatedly. Obi-Wan had told him the plan multiple times on their ride to the building. "The main objective is find Anakin. If needed I'll go after whoever his captor is, and you stay with your Padawan." Obi-Wan nodded.
"If you're right about the sensors, within the next few minutes they'll know we're coming. We will have to move quickly."
"How close are we?" Mundi asked.
Obi-Wan brought up the map onto the screen. Point in vaguely, he showed Mundi the address.
"That is where the camera is. That means the building is likely in one of those two blocks there." He said. Turning around, he picked up some coms in the back seat. Facing the front again, he passed on to Mundi. "Here. If we get separated we'll need these. They're already tuned into each other to save time." Mundi took it, fixing it onto his belt. Obi-Wan put his hands back onto the wheel. Steeling himself, he turned on the ignition. "Ready?"
"Ready."
Obi-Wan moved the speeder from it's stationary place behind a factory. Glancing at the map, he checked his direction, then sped up slightly when he saw he was facing the right way. The rest of the ride passed in silence, Mundi thinking and Obi-Wan trying not to crash into anything. Eventually the smoke began to clear, as they moved into the less populated area, and they could finally see more than five meters in front of their faces. The sky had darkened into a blue colour, further away from the main city the stars were still barely visible, just noticeable if you looked hard. With no way to turn on the lights, to avoid being noticed, Obi-Wan hoped they would reach the place soon before he had to begin flying blind. Thankfully, three minutes later he spotted the destination.
Lowering the speeder so they were nearer the floor, he carefully moved between the buildings. Seeing a flat roof, he parked the speeder, attempting not to bash into something and so make noise. The building was just across from them, an ugly mass of cracked concrete, windows broken in and the street around it littered with glass. Obi-Wan jumped out of the speeder, landing in a crouch behind a wall. He looked behind him to check with the other Jedi Master, but Mundi was way ahead of him. He had already dismounted from the vehicle, and leapt silently onto the side street below. Obi-Wan peered around the wall. On the street below he could see another speeder, and closer up it was easily identifiable as the one from the footage. That meant that the camera should be just below him on the wall.
Moving away from his cover, he looked over the edge of the building. Locating the camera, he took one more look at building to see if anyone was watching, then ignited his lightsaber. Obi-Wan slowly lowered his hand over the ledge, then took a swipe at the camera. It broke with a spark, Mundi using the Force to stop the debris at the bottom. If the man somehow was using that camera, he wouldn't be able to see which entrance they used. Obi-Wan turned off his lightsaber, holding it in case they ran into trouble. With a last glance around to check there was no hidden surveillance, he sat on the edge of the building, then pushed himself off. For a brief moment he was falling through the air. Then he felt solid ground hit his feet, and he bent his knees to take the brunt of the concrete.
Feeling dwarfed suddenly by the huge industrial buildings that lined the street, Obi-Wan began jogging to a door. Mundi checked along the left side of the building, coming back after half minute. With a whisper, he told Obi-Wan that he'd seen no other entrance.
"Guess this is as good a way as any." Obi-Wan whispered back. He reached for the handle of the door, pushing it gently. It moved easily, giving way at the slightest touch. Obi-Wan went in first, igniting his saber to illuminate the way. The room was large, but empty. It seemed to be a disused hall, an eating place maybe. Obi-Wan held his lightsaber up to light the corners. There were two doors, one covered with cobwebs and dust. Obi-Wan thought it highly unlikely that anyone would've gone through there recently. Pointing at the other door, a metal one, he signalled that they should go through there, Mundi nodding.
Sidestepping the one piece of furniture, a rusted metal bench, Obi-Wan led the way again. He tentatively opened the next door, brandishing his lightsaber in front of him. When nothing jumped out from the gloom, he moved forward, flashing a quick thumbs up to show Mundi could proceed. The older Jedi, who had been looking around interestedly, moved to walk behind him, protecting his back. Obi-Wan looked through the darkness at another large room, almost identical to the last. This one, however, had stairs leading downwards, and just one door in the wall. Mundi walked past Obi-Wan and turned the handle on the door. It led right back into the open, and Obi-Wan felt a gust of the freezing night air blow through the room.
Mundi stepped back inside and shut the door, looking around the room. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan made his way towards the stairs leading down. He paused at the top when he saw the glint of his lightsaber on something that didn't look like metal. Bending to a crouch, he angled his lightsaber so it was directly above the substance.
"Blood." Obi-Wan whispered. Mundi walked to him and looked down. The floor had a smear of dried blood on it, standing out against the silver-grey surroundings. Obi-Wan looked closely. "Not recent."
"I think we have the right place." Mundi said quietly back. Obi-Wan nodded. There was a sudden beeping noise, and Obi-Wan stood quickly, raising his lightsaber. Mundi kept his lowered, but moved forward to look closer into the dark. Obi-Wan followed behind him, not wanting to be left alone.
They were a few steps down when they heard it again, an eerie noise which echoed around them. Obi-Wan looked around with a frown. He moved forwards, towards where it was coming from (though it was hard to tell in the echoey building). He was surprised when his way was barred by Mundi putting out his arm. He stopped, knowing that the other Jedi must've realised something he hadn't. Looking at him questioningly, Obi-Wan stayed as silent as he could. Mundi cocked his head to one side, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Do you smell that?" Mundi asked, the sudden volume of his voice making Obi-Wan jump. Obi-Wan inhaled, trying to find anything unnatural that Mundi might have picked up. Then he realised it.
"Gas." He answered. Mundi gave a nod, realisation dawning on both of them. "It's a trap."
Obi-Wan and Mundi both moved at the same time, Obi-Wan taking the lead and Mundi following close behind. Sprinting up the staircase, they both reached the top within moments. Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it into his belt, Mundi pulling ahead in the time it took to do the small action. Obi-Wan was just about to follow when he heard a cry behind him.
"Obi-Wan!"
He stilled, dread flooding through him. Anakin was still in the building. The building which, if they'd guessed rightly, was about to go up in flames. And Anakin was stuck inside. Mundi looked at him, desperately, already knowing what Obi-Wan was going to do. It was an easy decision for the Master. He couldn't leave Anakin behind.
Mundi let out a cry of "No!" behind him as Obi-Wan ran back to the stairs.
"Anakin!" He yelled. He'd barely got a chance to move down the steps before he found himself being wrestled back by the other, much stronger, Master.
"We can't just leave him!" Obi-Wan yelled, feeling himself slowly start to lose ground. All sense of self preservation had disappeared the moment he heard Anakin cry out. Obi-Wan just wanted to make it to his Padawan, even knowing if he did it would mean death. He just wanted to be able to comfort him, instead of leaving him to his fate of dying alone. Mundi span Obi-Wan around to face him.
"Either both of you die, or one of you. And I'm not letting you make that decision." Mundi said back.
Obi-Wan lost most of his lingering composure, struggling against Mundi who forced him backwards. It took him a minute to realise. Realise that if he kept struggling, he might kill all three of them. And Mundi was right, a minimum amount of death was preferred. Gathering his strength, he threw Mundi's arm from his chest, starting to run the direction he'd been dragged. Mundi followed close behind as Obi-Wan opened the door. It was taking all Obi-Wan's effort not to run back inside. Every particle in his body was screaming at him to go save Anakin. But the logical side of his brain, along with Mundi's words, fought back, telling him to keep going forward lest he get them all killed.
They were making good progress when Obi-Wan felt himself flung forward, intense heat searing his back. He was tossed away from the building like a ragdoll, a bright flash making him shut his eyes tight. His body hit something hard and he felt a crack as his ribs broke under the pressure. Crumpling to the ground, he hit his head hard on the stone floor, his vision going black and white for a moment. He started coughing, choking on smoke, the harsh movement shaking his injured body. The heat persisted, he was dimly aware of flickering flames engulfing the building.
Suddenly he was hit with another round of anguish, the pain in Anakin's presence mingling with his own until it reached almost unbearable levels. He would realise later that the explosion must've destroyed the force inhibitors. Now, though, he reached for Anakin's Force presence, oblivious to all else. Knowing it might be the last time he was ever able to do so. Ignoring the pain emitted from the teenager, he tried to convey as much as he could wordlessly. His admiration for Anakin, his pride. His love. And he wished he'd told him sooner, in person. Not through a pain filled haze of a Force connection. Face to face. He felt Anakin reach out back, felt him try to give an answer.
Then the building collapsed on itself, Obi-Wan covering his ears to block the noise out. Anakin's reply was lost in the sudden pain, both of them hearing the deafening thunder, trying to breath through the seemingly endless rubble that rained down. Obi-Wan, with shaky legs, got to his feet, waiting for the dust to clear. Still adrenalin fueled, he knew the full pain would hit him eventually. But at the moment, though his head was spinning, and black spots flashed in front of his eyes, he pushed himself into a run. Scrambling over the rubble on the street, he stumbled towards the flaming building. He wanted to find Anakin. He needed to find Anakin. Somewhere, buried under the collapsed ceiling, he had to be there. Obi-Wan refused to believe the alternative option. Though it rang clear in his mind, he threw the thought to the side. Anakin was fine. They just had to get to him.
His knees buckled under him and he fell down onto the ground. His head was spinning, there was a ringing in his ears. Still he made himself get up, clambering to his feet and making his way forward. He had little strength left to fight when he felt an arm on his chest. Mundi dragged him away from the wreckage, blood trickling down the man's arm.
"Obi-Wan. We can't help him." He said. Obi-Wan didn't register the resignation in the other Jedi's voice, all he heard was someone trying to hold him back.
"No - We can still help. We have to get him out!" Obi-Wan murmured. He struggled to get away, but Mundi kept a firm grip on him.
"Obi-Wan... You're not thinking clearly. We need to go. It's too -"
There was a rumbling noise as the last wall holding crumbled to the ground, a wave of dust and smoke rolling towards them. Mundi forced Obi-Wan around, and both covered their faces with their tunics to avoid choking again. When Obi-Wan turned back, the building was barely recognisable.
"No... We can still help him. Use the Force, lift the rocks off of him. Something." Obi-Wan said, his voice trailing off to a hoarse whisper. Mundi was silent, but kept dragging him further and further away from the building. Once they'd reached a point where the heat was bearable, they both collapsed behind a particularly large slab of concrete from the building. Mundi, when he realised Obi-Wan had no strength left to run, released his grip on Obi-Wan's shoulder. Taking the com from his belt, the one Obi-Wan had given him earlier, he changed the frequency.
"Mundi and Kenobi, requesting immediate assistance. Explosion in the lower industrial estate. Kenobi is badly injured, no sign of Skywalker." Mundi said. It clicked off, and Obi-Wan watched through half-closed eyes as Mundi sat back. "Obi-Wan, I need you to stay awake."
Obi-Wan barely heard him. His head was throbbing, body aching. It was through a dreamlike haze in which Obi-Wan watched Mundi wrap some torn fabric around his own wound, before turning to look at Obi-Wan's. Mundi had been just ahead when the explosion happened, far enough away that he must've avoided too bad injuries. Obi-Wan had a feeling that he'd suffered the worst of the blast. His ribs were screaming at him every time he moved. When he'd been thrown forward he'd crashed into something hard. Mundi was saying something, but to Obi-Wan it sounded like it was coming from underwater. A muffled, indiscernible noise. He shut his eyes tightly, blocking out the bright lights. When he shut his eyes however, it was as if they'd doubled. He felt himself engulfed by a blinding white, a distant sound of yelling in his ear, then it all went black.
Thursday, 9:48pm; Jedi Halls Of Healing.
Obi-Wan opened his eyes groggily. Beside him the whispers that had woken him quietened. Opening his eyes, he winced at the bright lights, the clean white panels of the medbay ceiling. Moving his arms, he slowly raised himself up onto his elbows, groaning when the world tilted and he found himself falling sideways. Hands supported him, and, blinking he saw a healer running towards the them. Windu lowered him gently back onto the bed, being the one who had caught him.
"Master Kenobi, please refrain from moving. Your injuries are still healing." Said the healer, pushing past Windu. Confused, Obi-Wan glanced at the party around his bed. Mundi sat to the side, a bacta patch visible under the ripped fabric of his sleeve. Beside him was Master Yoda, talking quietly into a holocom. Windu stood behind the healer, a concerned expression on his face.
"Wha- What happened?" Obi-Wan asked. Windu glanced sharply at the healer, who didn't look immediately concerned.
"Do you not remember, Master?" He asked. Obi-Wan's first answer was no. He didn't have any idea why he might be hurt. But then memories started flashing through his mind, too vivid to be dreams. Collecting clues. The speeder ride. A flash of heat, followed by searing pain. Anakin, Anakin's cry, his pain flowing through the Force. And then...
No. No. Not Anakin. It's not true.
They must've both seen the reality dawning on his face. Or perhaps it was the silent tears which were suddenly trailing down his face. Windu looked relieved at the fact Obi-Wan's memory was still intact, whereas Yoda, who had finished his call when he saw Obi-Wan was awake, looked at him with pity. Obi-Wan wasn't even ashamed to be crying in front of the leaders of the Jedi Order. He was too focused on what Anakin's sudden cutoff from the Force meant. It couldn't have been a coincidence, that the last time he'd felt Anakin was right before the building collapsed. His mind screamed truth at him, though his heart hoped otherwise.
"Anakin?" He whispered. Windu glanced at Yoda.
"We haven't seen any sign. I think... I think if Master Mundi's report is anything to go by, we shouldn't be too expectant. I'm sorry, Master Kenobi." Windu said. Yoda glared at him.
"Give up hope, we should not. Skywalker is strong." He said. Obi-Wan ignored Yoda. He knew what he believed. Turning his head away from their conversation, he gathered his thoughts. Squeezed his eyes shut tightly. When he spoke again, it took more effort then he could've ever imagined to say it aloud.
"I felt him. The Force inhibitors must've gone down." Obi-Wan said. "I felt his presence." He choked back a sob. "For a moment we could sense each other. Then... Then it disappeared."
Looking up at the three uncomfortable Jedi, and the one healer, he felt anger start to unfurl from where he had buried it deep down. He wiped the tears from his face, sitting up. The healer made a weak noise of protest. Obi-Wan ignored him, hit with a sudden, burning hatred.
"He killed Anakin. And I'm going to kill him."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'm slightly behind on the next one so it might be a day late, but hopefully not. Feel free to leave a review.
Edit: I have that thing where I can't read the reviews again. So, thanks in advance to everyone who reviews this chapter, but I won't be able to answer for a while. I'm going to go ahead and presume your reaction was good. *Crosses fingers*
Edit 2: So my phone broke. Along with the next chapter, which also happened to be my longest chapter yet. I am currently in the process of trying to fix it, but I have a feeling it might be gone. So, I'm gonna have to request that you bear with me, as I'm probably going to have to rewrite the entire thing, and the worst thing in the world for me is rewriting things. If anyone has any idea how to get files off of a black-screen broken phone, please give me an idea. Thanks, and hopefully you will be reading the chapter at some point soon.