Chapter 27 - Prison Break

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: In which Anakin and the others break into the prison of the Imperial Palace to try and free Obi-Wan and run into... complications. ;)

~ Amina Gila

It's at times like this when Ahsoka really doesn't want to know where Anakin got his information. She knows for a fact that the schematics of this part of the former Temple were not readily available. Did he really explore the Temple on his own as a child? Obi-Wan would never have brought him here. Well, this is her former master she's talking about. Of course, he would do something like that.

She doesn't know how Han can even see where he's going, though she's not surprised about Chewie. Wookies can likely see better than humans – and Togrutas even – in the dark. Initially, she tried to keep track of all the turns they've been making, but eventually, she gives up. Anakin must be taking a route through ancient corridors which are least likely to have stormtroopers. She stops behind Han as Anakin leans around the corner before looking back at them.

"Alright, listen." His voice is barely audible. "We have to take the stairs from here up two levels. That should bring us to the dungeon level. I could probably hack a security panel and shut down the cameras to cover our presences, but it'll give us ten minutes at most to get Obi-Wan to safety."

Ahsoka nods. "We'll cover you," she promises.

"Once we get him, how do we get out?" Han whisper-hisses.

"Take the stairs down to the main corridor and go straight all the way to the end," Anakin instructs. "Take a right, then a left, and you'll be back at the exit point. We didn't come in this way, because, just as I suspected, there are patrols down here. Droids. I'll have to deactivate them."

"Got it," Han assures him while Chewie nods his furry head.

Ahsoka sends a pulse of confirmation through their bond, and Anakin exhales, turning his back on them again and raising his right hand. She can hear a screeching noise – which echoes terribly off the walls – and two thuds which sound like metal hitting the stone beneath their feet.

Anakin waves them forward as he darts around the corner towards the doorway. He hits the button to open it, and just as he'd told them, it leads to a staircase. Ahsoka hardly dares to breath as they race up the stairs as quickly and quietly as they can. Obviously, this part of the former Temple was built before turbolifts became common. It's not that she hasn't seen staircases in the Temple – she has – but they're not commonly used.

Two floors later, Anakin opens the door, and they exit the stairwell into a brightly lit hall. It takes a moment for Ahsoka's eyes to adjust to the light, and she shivers slightly. The darkness here is heavier, more palpable, and she hopes and prays that there's no one down here except Obi-Wan and some stormtroopers. Anakin strides down the hallway to a security terminal on the other side, motioning for them to wait. She can't see what he's doing, but she can see the tension in his body.

Looking around, she realizes that the door they entered through is supposed to be a concealed door since there's no panel to open it on this side. How Anakin knows about it is anyone's guess. Maybe he was exploring…? Honestly, she hopes not. This detention level is obviously meant for Force sensitive prisoners based on the layout and design of the holding cells. It's not the kind of place he should have seen as a child or teen, but when has that ever stopped Anakin?

"Cameras are on loop," Anakin says in a low voice, "But we might have been seen."

"Where's Obi-Wan?" queries Ahsoka, stepping forward soundlessly. Han and Chewie stand next to the door, waiting silently.

Anakin narrows his eyes, turning as he scans the area. "That way," he decides finally, looking around the corner before disappearing from sight. She sprints after him as he glances on either side of the hall. She's never been down here before, and it looks like it was partially renovated. The cells in the hall they entered were completely deactivated.

"Halt!" yells one of the two stormtroopers outside a cell. Ah. Found Obi-Wan then.

Anakin clenches his hands, effortlessly snapping their necks and dropping the bodies. Ahsoka can't help but flinch, even though she knows why he did it. They can't afford to get into a fight and draw more attention to themselves.

She moves forward as Anakin reaches out to the control panel and enters an access code, probably the one belonging to the Grand Inquisitor. If she just reaches out, she can feel Obi-Wan on the other side of the door. Maybe this plan will go without a hitch after all. Doubtful, but still possible.

**w**

Obi-Wan can't hold back the groan which escapes him as he shifts painfully. He doubts it's been weeks, even though it feels like it. Though his internal clock isn't the best, he suspects that only a day or two have passed. He lost track of all the injuries he's sustained, and his connection to the Force is muted enough that it makes healing excessively challenging. He's bleeding also, but not badly. Most of his external wounds are from Sidious's lightsaber.

All in all, he's extremely sore and weak. He's been electrocuted more times than he cares to count, and he now suspects that at least one of his ribs is broken; it hurts if he inhales too deeply or coughs. The left side of his face is swollen, courtesy of hitting it one too many times on the floor or wall… or maybe Sidious's foot? He's not exactly sure anymore. But despite it all, he's resisted. He hasn't said a word to Sidious about Anakin's location. He's resisted the mind probes and drugs and everything.

The Sith is careful; he knows when to push and when to wait. He wants the information more than he wants Obi-Wan to be dead. He suspects that it's only a matter of time before they – Sidious and his Inquisitors – begin to use more nefarious methods such as amputation. It doesn't matter. He'll willingly give up his life before he betrays Anakin or Ahsoka or the twins.

The door slides open, and he lifts his head, ready to make a quip when it registers who's there. Anakin – wearing his black Jedi robes – flanked by Ahsoka. When Anakin's gaze lands on Obi-Wan, he curses, scrambling forward to land on his knees by Obi-Wan's prone form.

"Obi-Wan, can you hear me?" Anakin asks frantically, fingers checking for any major injuries. Obi-Wan hisses in pain when Anakin's fingers glide over his right side, where he has at least one broken rib.

"Yes," he manages to say, struggling to move.

"Hold on," Anakin insists, undoing the restraints and pulling Obi-Wan into a sitting position. "Can you stand?"

He nods, too exhausted to try and speak. Anakin lifts him up, letting Obi-Wan lean on him for support as he limps out of the cell, shivering when the full extent of the Force floods back. They slowly and laboriously move down the hall. Obi-Wan is focused on moving, so he doesn't even bother asking how they got inside without being seen. It hardly matters anyways.

They make it around the corner, and Obi-Wan immediately notices the tense young man and Wookie standing there, both shifting nervously. At the sight of them, the man relaxes. "Come on!" he hisses. "Let's get him out of here!"

"One moment," orders Anakin, raising a hand. Obi-Wan can feel him reaching out with the Force. There's a click, and a door he didn't realize existed slides open behind the duo at the end of the hall. They take one step, when Obi-Wan feels a cold dark presence wash over him.

"It's too late." Ahsoka sounds both wary and determined at once.

"Solo, take Obi-Wan out of here. We have an Emperor to destroy," Anakin declares grimly.

"No, you're not doing it alone," Obi-Wan protests, pulling away from Anakin. He draws on the Force to keep him standing upright. Already, he can feel the worst of his injuries mending, taking the edge off the pain. He can fight, even if it wouldn't be easy right now.

The door to the prison – which they can no longer see from their position – slides open, and an evil cackle echoes down the hallway. "Lord Vader, welcome home, my wayward apprentice," sneers Sidious.

Anakin narrows his eyes, before seeming to decide on something. He unclips a lightsaber – Obi-Wan's lightsaber – from the side of his belt and shoves it into Obi-Wan's hands. "Go, Master," he says quietly. "Ahsoka and I will be right behind you once Sidious is dead."

Footsteps slowly and leisurely approach, and Anakin gives Obi-Wan one last fleeting, desperate look before he turns, moving to flank Ahsoka. Obi-Wan wants to stay with them – running is cowardly – but he knows that he'll probably never last in a duel against Sidious. Maybe Anakin is right this once. Maybe it will be best for him to leave. Slowly, he begins moving away, down the hall towards where the man and Wookie are impatiently waiting.

The snap-hiss of lightsabers draws his attention, and he glances back to see Anakin standing there, a red and blue blade in each hand, while Ahsoka has ignited her white ones. Sidious steps into view, a sinister smile on his face.

"Well, well, I can't say that I'm surprised," he taunts. "I knew you would bring your little apprentice with you." A red blade hisses to life in the Sith Master's hand, and Obi-Wan draws on his last reserve of energy to dash down the hallway and through the door. If he stays, he'll be a liability. It's best to leave. He has to trust in the Force to protect them.