Chapter 18 – A Conflict Within

The nervousness slowly started to get to him. Anakin was unfocused, not quite knowing what to do. He still couldn't grasp that he was to be a father soon. A million questions swirled through his head and he didn't manage to properly answer even one. And the only person who might be able to help him with that still laid comatose before him. The jedi knight couldn't expect a verbal answer from his friend now, but somehow it soothed him to get his worries off his mind.

Since Satine had left for Mandalore a week ago, Anakin had taken it up for himself to keep his master company. Still it was the first time he actually intended to speak about more personal matters. Talking to Padme or Ahsoka was out off option for him, as he didn't want to burden either of them. He had thought about going to meet the chancellor, but something in his presence was setting Anakin off lately. The man almost seemed delighted about the news that Obi-Wan was out off the picture for now, despite expressing his deepest sympathy. Which had led Anakin back to the halls of healing in the end. The plastoid chair in the room was as uncomfortable as he remembered from the times one of them had landed themselves inside the healer's wing. Master Che had threatened them once to set up a personal room for them as they were her most frequent visitors. Both of them were known to slip away from the healer's wrath. Obi-Wan even more than him. The head healer had to hunt down his master herself to get him to see a medic many times before. The padawans she sent to retrieve him were simply outmatched by his negotiating skills. Anakin smirked to himself, his master was able to talk down anybody, even the stern Master Windu, yet when it came to Master Che, his silver tongue simply failed him.

He leaned back in his seat and studied his friend. Somehow, he looked even worse than before as the bruises on his head were now blooming in full colors. Master Che had told him that they were thinking about finally replacing his ear in order to prevent a disorientation problem if Obi-Wan wakes up. The brain would probably be overwhelmed already without the issue so it would make things easier for him if at least his hearing was correct.

'Just promise me, no more secrets between us.' The words still echoed in Anakin's head and he really wanted to uphold them. Yet it was never easy for him to reveal his secrets. There was still that one thing in the back of his mind he still didn't dare to tell. It happened so many years before, but Anakin would never forget the anger he felt then. Still felt now, while thinking about it. He decided that was a conversation for a later time. The knight pushed the memory back down.

"Remember when you made me promise to be honest with you, master?", Anakin started fidgeting with his wedding band while he spoke, "I know I didn't tell you about Padme and me, and this was a big mistake. I should have trusted you, I guess I learned that the hard way." The jedi huffed and smiled a little. "You always read me like an open book, knowing all my flaws. Nevertheless, you kept your silence, even as you found out about my marriage. I still don't know how to properly thank you for everything you did for me."

A part of him was glad that he didn't have to look Obi-Wan in the eye right now. It was still hard to look at his master after he had hurt him so much. He still wasn't completely upright with his friend. Anakin knew that. The images of the Tusken raiders and his mother popped up in his head again. He pushed them away again quickly, sealing them within. Not now, he mused to himself.

"Padme's pregnant, Obi-Wan", he mumbled, "I'm going to be a father… and I don't know what to do. The council's going to expel me when they find out. Jedi aren't allowed to have attachment or even a family… that's what you taught me since I was a youngling. And I always thought you believed in that. But seeing you with Satine… you seem like a different man, Obi-Wan. I don't even remember when was the last time I saw you that happy. How does being an uncle sound to you, master?", he laughed shortly, "even I have to admit that you're too young for being a grandfather. Oh, and Satine told us that you can play the guitar. Ahsoka and I really want to hear you now." He began to drift off in his thoughts. "Maybe… only if you want to, of course… you could teach me?"

Naturally, there was no answer. Anakin sighed and leaned forward to prop himself up on his elbows. "I'm thinking about leaving the order. My child deserves to have a father… and Padme wouldn't have to worry about me anymore. But on the other hand, … I would have to leave Ahsoka… and you. I don't know if I have the heart to do that." He started chewing on his lips, a habit he didn't manage to get rid of since his childhood. When he was young, the only thing he ever wanted was to become a jedi knight and travel the stars. Now that wish seemed so small in consider of his new options. A normal life. No war. A loving family.

"I could really use your advice, old man, now more than ever ", the knight murmured. He put his head in hands and rubbed his temples. Ahsoka was probably waiting for him in the training salles, he had promised to spar with her and he couldn't neglect his duty as a master just because he doesn't feel well.

Then a thought crossed his mind.

Anakin looked up again and set his eyes on Obi-Wan. He hadn't tried to reach out to him since he was admitted to the healing halls. Right after the fight he was only met with terror and pain from his friend's side. Making up his mind, he took his master's hand and gently stretched his presence through their bond.

He was plunged in absolute nothingness. Anakin could feel Obi-Wan somewhere in the distance. His presence seemed… withdrawn, as if he was closing himself off in an attempt to protect himself. The once so bright light was flickering, still fighting the darkness that tried to drown it. Anakin frowned. He had thought that Dooku had stopped his attack as Obi-Wan had pushed him out of his mind. It was concerning that the Sith still had his grasp on his master. The knight tried to reach further inside to help but didn't get near enough. Despite this, he got a feeling on the dark presence. This wasn't Dooku. The darkness was more oppressing, stronger and extremely aggressive. He had never felt anything like this before. The attacker was oblivious of him and only concentrated on trying to crush his master's defense.

Anakin retraced and gasped as he left their bond again. How came that nobody noticed that until now? He needed to do something. Who knows how long Obi-Wan could hold up. He scanned his friend's face again but found no trace of the inner battle. His heart sped up with upbuilding panic.

Swiftly standing up from his seat, he decided to get Master Yoda. Hopefully the order's grandmaster was able to do something.

Anakin sprinted down the halls, dodging the knights and padawans on his way. As he reached the old troll's quarters, he didn't even need to knock. The grandmaster was already out in the doorway, leaning on his gimer stick with both hands. His big ears were flattened and his eyes closed.

"Felt a disturbance from you I did, young Skywalker", he hummed.

Forgetting his manners for a second, Anakin came straight to the point. "Master Yoda, it's Obi-Wan. I think a Sith lord is attacking him. But it's not Dooku. I've never felt such a strong presence before", he blurted out, almost getting caught on his own words.

The wrinkles on the old man's forehead deepened. "Concerning this is. Take me to him, you will. See for myself this presence I must."

Yoda reached up with his hand and Anakin realized that he was supposed to let the troll up his back. Not thinking about it further, he pulled the diminutive master up and settled him on his shoulders.

They began their journey back to the healing halls, ignoring the looks trespassers were throwing them. Anakin burst into Obi-Wan's room and set Yoda down on the chair next to the bed.

"What are you going to do, master?", he asked with a concerned voice.

"Probe your master's mind I must", the grandmaster said and swiftly climbed up on the bed, next to Obi-Wan's head. Gently, he pressed three fingers to his master's forehead, just beneath the bandages. He then closed his eyes in concentration.

Anakin could do nothing but watch as the grandmaster dived into the Force. It felt like an eternity until something happened. Obi-Wan's heartrate began to pick up slightly and Yoda's expression turned into a frown.

It was at that moment that Master Che entered the room, apparently alarmed from the heart monitor. "What's going on here?", she hissed, throwing Master Yoda who was completely oblivious of her, then Anakin a dark look.

Not tearing his eyes from the scene in front of him, he simply mumbled disconnected: "The Sith are attacking Obi-Wan again. Master Yoda is trying to drive them back."

"What?", the healer gasped out shocked, her eyes growing wide, before turning her attention to the machines. The heart rate was rising further alarmingly. "If this goes on any longer, he's going into cardiac arrest. Whatever Master Yoda is doing, he must end it fast."

Anakin whipped his head around to meet Master Che's eyes. The healer's expression was serious and it didn't help at all with his attempt to keep calm. He was about to support the grandmaster in a desperate attempt as Yoda jerked back with a jolt and opened his eyes. The jedi master was clearly exhausted and slowly climbed back onto the chair. To his relief, the heart rate returned to normal.

Master Che stepped over to the small master, kneeling down next to him and gently laying a hand on his shoulder. "What happened, Master Yoda?", she asked worried. It wasn't often that the order's grandmaster was near to Force exhaustion.

The green troll closed his eyes before answering. "Strong the dark side has become. Targeted by a Sith lord, Master Kenobi has been."

"Were you able to stop him?", Anakin queried.

"Yes, shielding I am your master. Rest he can now. Still find this dark presence we must, powerful it is. Here on Coruscant it is."

"A Sith lord on Coruscant?" Both healer and knight were completely flabbergasted by that revelation.

"A search party we will arrange." Anakin was about to volunteer but was stopped as the jedi master lifted his hand in a halting manner. "Stay here you will, Skywalker. A steadying presence your master will need." All three of them had longed for a leave from the war for a long time now, but Anakin hadn't imagined it that way. He didn't protest anyway as it meant that he could spend some time with his friends and family. Maybe even plan how to proceed.

He shot a look at his master, who was still out like a light. Hopefully the man would wake soon. Anakin wouldn't want a repeat of today. The knight really needed a distraction.

The spar with his padawan suddenly seemed really enticing.