The wrong choice
Obi-Wan looked at the serious faces of the masters with a very bad feeling, though he wasn't surprised when Windu was the first to open his mouth to speak. The korun had always been on the lookout for Anakin's training and judged any mistakes by his apprentice rigidly. He was sure that this time would be no exception.
"We were informed by one of the Republic 500 guards about an ... incident last night." Mace began in a solemn tone.
"What kind of incident?" Obi-Wan asked with his heart beating rapidly in his chest. He knew exactly what place was near the exclusive building. And most importantly, who lived there.
Oh Anakin, what trouble have you gotten yourself into this time? he thought nervously.
"A heated argument between what appeared to be a couple in the Naboo senator's apartment" the korun continued and Obi-Wan could hear a note of satisfaction in his voice. Windu was enjoying it.
"Well, it is surely an unfortunate event for those involved. But I don't know what it has to do with my apprentice." Obi-Wan replied seriously, as his mind raced. He had to find a convincing excuse. Anakin had never told him anything about his relationship with Padme, but to Obi-Wan it was more than obvious. Still, he couldn't help wondering how stupid his apprentice was for being so indiscreet. Fight with the senator in the middle of the night? If he could save him from this, Obi-Wan would make sure Anakin didn't do something so stupid again.
"Apparently young Skywalker was identified as one of those involved" Mace replied with a smile. The korun had everything ready, without a doubt, and Obi-Wan hadn't seen it coming. But Kenobi quickly recovered from his surprise. Obi-Wan stood up pretending to be outraged. His performance had to be incredible if he was to save Anakin's skin.
"With all due respect masters, that is a serious and unfair accusation. I am convinced that Anakin has nothing to do with it"
"One of the guards identified him" Plo Koon said in a serious voice, trying to calm the tension that had begun to feel in the room. Again, it was an answer that Obi-Wan hadn't expected and this time it took him a little longer to find a way to refute it.
"Could have been confused. It's not weird in the dark of night." he justified with the greatest certainty that he was able to pretend. But his neck began to drip cold sweat. Obi-Wan knew perfectly well that this time he was walking a tightrope, like never before.
Damn Anakin he cursed his apprentice mentally.
"His ship was also identified in the senator's hangar" Windu said with a triumphant gesture. Obi-Wan was running out of excuses.
"Well ... are you just looking for reasons to blame him, masters?" he said offended. It was his last resort, to pretend he was angry and to come out of there in a burst of anger. He would probably be expelled from the Council and would spend the rest of his life going on missions in nasty places like Hoth, but at least he would have saved the idiot Skywalker.
"No. His guilt is out of the question, we have strong evidence"
This time the blow was too strong and Obi-Wan stayed for a couple of seconds absorbing it. He had lost. Windu took her silence as a sign of surrender and couldn't help but gloat about it.
"No need to feign surprise. We are not stupid, Master Kenobi. We have known the details of this relationship for a long time. And you knew it too."
But his words had an unexpected effect on Obi-Wan. Suddenly he no longer felt defeated, but surprised. How long has the Council known about it? and above all, why had they not said anything?
"And then what is the problem? Why mention it now?" he asked interrupting Windu, who shot him an angry look.
"Skywalker's mind confused is. His relationship with Senator Amidala dangerous has become." replied Master Yoda, who had remained neutral throughout the discussion.
"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan asked again, confused. That only created more and more doubts inside his head that didn't seem to make any sense.
"That this must end right now. We have already allowed your apprentice too long to trample on the rules of the Jedi Order, but no more." Windu said superiorly. Obi-Wan was annoyed and approached the Master Korun's seat, taking advantage of the fact that he was standing up to look intimidating. He was sure that the guards had been nothing more than spies sent by him, in an effort to find Anakin doing something wrong and expel him for it.
"Anakin has done more for this Order than you have, Master Windu" he said in a soft but clearly threatening tone. Windu's hands went to his belt and his fingers caressed the cold metal of his lightsaber. But before he could do anything else, Yoda cleared his throat, drawing their attention.
"Calm down you must. Worthy of a Jedi, anger and hatred are not" he told them seriously. The two Jedi masters looked at each other defiantly, but eventually they both headed to their respective places.
"Skywalker is a great Jedi. But bindings and attachments are forbidden for a reason." Master Koon said as the rest of the Council nodded in agreement.
"I beg you to speak clearly, Masters" Obi-Wan hissed this time on the verge of exploding.
"As the Chosen One, Skywalker has a destiny. Attachment to someone will only weaken him." Master Mundi explained.
"But he loves her. And he has become the most powerful Jedi in history thanks to that love." Obi-Wan said raising his voice and causing the room to fill with disgruntled murmurs. But everyone fell silent when Master Yoda made a gesture with his hand.
"Confusing these things are you. Attachments lead to jealousy, jealousy to anger, anger to hatred, and hatred to suffering. And what happened yesterday, a fit of jealousy was"
"What did you call me for?" Obi-Wan asked, getting suspicious. All the masters looked at each other nervously, except for Windu and Yoda who remained impassive at the question.
"A great influence over young Skywalker you have. Convincing him to abandon this path, you must." Yoda condemned seriously. Kenobi looked at him as if he didn't believe what he had just heard.
"You are asking me to betray a partner. And a friend." Obi-Wan rose from his seat again, this time with his blue eyes glowing like flames.
"It is not a request" Windu added coldly
. Obi-Wan walked to the door with anger rising in his throat.
"It's enough. I'm leaving"
"Kenobi" Windu called out to him, but Obi-Wan didn't even look at him as he left the room. Yoda held his shoulder before the Korun master came out behind him.
"Leave him alone we must. Help us by his will, he must." he told to Mace.
"Are you sure he will come back?" Windu asked unconvinced. The rest of the Council was silent, expectant.
Yoda looked at the faces of his companions. It had been a long time since he'd felt the dark side clouding the Order's judgment. They had been walking blind for a long time. And although he would never admit it to anyone, the great master began to feel a strange emotion every night. An emotion very similar to fear.
"Growing the dark side is and if stop it we want, the Chosen One we need"
Ahsoka looked up from Anakin's monitor just as she saw Obi-Wan enter the room. She opened her mouth to say some of her usual jokes, but closed it immediately when she noticed Obi-Wan's shadowy turn. She had never seen Master Kenobi so ... strange.
"Is something bad happening?" she asked curiously. Obi-Wan shook his head.
"Nothing. You know, just the same old talk, the same sermons on the need to unite the generations in the temple and nonsense like that. " he said unconvinced, but clearly denoting that he did not want to talk more about the subject.
"How is he going?" he asked the togruta after a couple of minutes of silence.
"The medical droid said he is recovering well. A few more hours on the serum and sedatives and he will be as good as new." Ahsoka recited repeating everything the med droid had told her after Obi-Wan left. Obi-Wan carefully analyzed his Padawan. Anakin looked much younger when he slept and had that strange peaceful aura around him.
"This can't go on like this. Those dreams are eating him alive." he muttered concerned. Anakin and Ahsoka were like his family and he couldn't bear to have something like this happen to his brother.
"I agree. We should ask the Council for special permission to travel to the place that is calling him ... and find out all about that."
The mention of the Council made Obi-Wan clench his fist until his knuckles turned white.
"The Council will never allow it" he said hoarsely with anger.
"He could die if we don't do anything about it. This is not life." Ahsoka said in a voice choked with anguish. Obi-Wan hugged her, feeling the Padawan tremble in his arms. In fact, he could swear he was shaking too.
"Maybe we should take unofficial solutions" he said in a challenging tone. Ahsoka's eyes were full of tears but she still managed to smile with relief.
"I like how that sounds"
"Me too " a third voice said, making Obi-Wan and Ahsoka almost freaked out. Anakin's blue eyes were fixed on them and an amused smile was beginning to spread across his face.
"What are you doing awake? You were supposed to sleep a couple more hours" Ahsoka scolded him making his smile get even bigger.
"What can I tell you, I'm impatient" Anakin said laughing. But once again the moment of the three friends was interrupted by one of the healers who walked in causing everyone to get serious.
"Master Kenobi, Padawan Makar is waiting for you outside" he informed Obi-Wan who stiffened. Anakin looked into his eyes trying to discern what was happening to his master. But the Jedi's mental barriers made his attempts futile
. "Go with him" he said calmly as he managed to sit up on the bed. Ahsoka helped him to avoid getting hurt. Obi-Wan watched Anakin's signs on the monitor. The Jedi knight seemed stable and probably far from shock, but he probably needed more rest.
"I'll see you again in a bit. Don't even think about getting out of this bed until then"
"Yes, General Kenobi" Anakin said as he put a hand to his forehead in a military gesture. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and left the room with an air of disgust. Anakin saw his master disappear into the corridor and touched Ahsoka's arm to get her attention.
"Something is bothering him, Snips" he said as he ran his hand through his curly hair.
"Yes, I noticed it too" his Padawan supported him as she thought about what she had just felt moments ago. Obi-Wan was adept at hiding his emotions, but even this time Ahdoka had been able to feel the anger in him. And Obi-Wan never got angry.
"Do you think he tells us?" asked his master as he tried to adjust the pillow. The infirmary bed was hardly the most comfortable. Ahsoka looked away from the corridor and let out a long breath. Even though they were very close, she knew Obi-Wan would never tell them his secrets. It didn't matter how much they worried him.
"No"
Obi-Wan wiped his sweaty face with the back of his hand, as his legs began to feel heavy. How long had it been? One, two hours? the Jedi master wondered as he tried to discern it through the position of the Sun. By that time, Anakin would surely have left the medical bay despite the droids' recommendations and Ahsoka's efforts. Obi-Wan was the only one who used to make him see reason, but this time it had been impossible.
It doesn't matter. After all I know where to find him he thought with a touch of satisfaction. Obi-Wan planned to go to the senator's apartment, knowing that he would find his apprentice with her and then speak seriously with both of them. They couldn't go on like this unless they wanted to become a scandal to Coruscant. And besides, he would be sure to highlight his efforts to help Anakin in front of the Council. Maybe that way his Padawan would be more understanding.
"Feel the force surrounding you. Let it guide your movements." he said to Makar absently as he thought of the exact words he would say to Anakin. Maybe starting with a "Kriff Anakin" wouldn't be so bad in this situation.
Meanwhile, the young Padawan tried to balance himself with one hand. It was a tough task, but he was putting all his effort into it.
"This is very difficult" he gasped, his face flushed with effort. Obi-Wan nodded his approval.
"Enough. We are done." he indicated in a robotic voice. Makar fell to the ground, but immediately rose to his feet to hide his embarrassment. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow but made no comment. This coldness between master and apprentice was becoming more and more noticeable and young Galen Makar did not want it to continue like this.
"Master Kenobi ..." he called him making his master look at him curiously.
"Yes?"
Makar wiped his sweaty hands on his tunic.
"I ... I am very sorry. I know that after training the Chosen One I must seem pathetic to you and that I was not even your choice. But I promise you that I will do my best to make you proud."
Obi-Wan was silent, impressed. He hadn't realized that his grudge against the Council had led him to be rude to someone who was not at fault. The young Padawan was talented, he couldn't deny it, as well as kind and polite. And it was so much more than he deserved.
"You are not pathetic. You have a lot of skill and strength, Galen Makar." he told him, speaking to him for the first time as his student and not as a stranger. Galen bowed respectfully to his master, as Obi-Wan grabbed his lightsaber and headed for the hangars. But before he left, he took one last look at his apprentice. He was about to say something that would not be amusing to Skywalker. But it didn't matter, Anakin didn't have to know.
"And I must tell you that Anakin didn't make it the first time either." Obi-Wan said smiling to himself.
Cass Naya was not used to being worried. In fact, many had said that she was one of the calmest and most serene Jedi in the entire Order, and that almost no problem managed to disturb her. But this time it was the exception. She was worried. She would never have thought, in all her years serving in the Jedi Order that her peace would be disturbed. Much less would she have imagined the reason. When Master Kenobi had brought a boy to the temple so many years ago, she had not been impressed. At the time, Cass was more busy impressing her master than caring for him. It had been almost eight years before she saw him again and then she was impressed. Anakin had not only grown into a handsome teenager, but had become the most powerful Jedi of his generation. Perhaps of all generations. Cass had been made a Jedi knight and had gone on a dangerous mission to Cato Neimoidia along with Obi-Wan, who had brought his Padawan. After a bad landing and being near death, Anakin had managed to save both his master and her. From that moment, she had been completely in love with him.
But again, things had not gone according to plan. She had spent hours meditating, traveling farther and farther regions, taking on increasingly dangerous missions ... But nothing had served to get him out of her mind. Once she realized that all the effort had been in vain, she had chosen to try another tactic. Perhaps approaching him instead of moving away would make her realize that the young Jedi was nothing extraordinary. Oh, how she was wrong. Anakin was unique. Funny, funny, skillful and powerful. Cass had to accept that she had never seen someone like him. And that had only made her sink further.
But it hadn't all been good news for her. In fact, she had recently found out about something that had broken her heart. They had been sent to guard the Senate after a late-night meeting ended too late. Anakin, as funny and witty as ever, had brought food and a HoloPad to distract himself while they waited outside for the boring session to end. More than four hours had passed and the Jedi knight had been telling jokes and anecdotes to distract them both. This seemed more and more like a date than a routine guard, but they were both enjoying it. Suddenly Anakin was silent and Cass noticed his gaze fixed too long on her and blushed furiously. Only then did she realize that his blue eyes were actually fixed a little further to the right and her smile faded. She slowly turned her head and then she saw her. It was only a thousandth of a second, but Cass could see Senator Amidala's smiling face before she realized it and regained her serious expression.
And then she knew. She knew that that smile and that look of adoration hadn't been for her. And that they never would be.
It had been weeks after that incident when she began to see the Jedi knight restless and upset and like the rest of the Order, he began to worry. It wasn't until after seeing Anakin extremely upset after leaving a Senate meeting that she had come to the conclusion that it was precisely this senator who was causing his bad mood. And after thinking about it a lot and although she didn't want to look like a snitch, Cass ended up going with the Council to inform them. It didn't matter if Anakin was mocking her or even hating her. All Cass wanted was for him to stay well, unaware that her decision had started a dangerous countdown whose ending would bring bitterness and pain to all those she loved.
Anakin had never had a reputation for being patient. But that especially had been one of his greatest recklessness. As soon as he felt recovered, Anakin took his things, a ship, and went to the place where he had left the night before. He landed the ship in the hangar and took a few minutes deciding whether to enter or not, but in the end he knew that he could not delay the inevitable any longer.
Seeing her again made his heart pound so fast inside his chest that he thought it was going to explode at any moment. Maybe I'll go back to the medical bay after all he thought nervously.
She looked at him with a mixture of anger, sadness and guilt, making Anakin's regret grow even more. What had he done?
The apologies came out of his mouth like a cascade of words and after that everything had been blurry. There had been screams and tears, then kisses, hugs, and words of comfort. It had been difficult, but Padme had forgiven him although as she had said "by very little".
From a moment to other they were both on the couch, with Anakin lying on his knees as she stroked his golden hair.
"The Jedi Order must do something for you" she told him in a soft whisper. Anakin remained composed, soothed by the senator's gentle caresses.
"I don't know what to think anymore. I just know that I don't want to keep doing this to you ... I don't want to keep exploding every time for the slightest incident" he said in a tone of voice laden with fear. Padme looked into his deep blue eyes. Five years younger than her, he was still the young rebel she knew, powerful and untamed, but at the same time sensitive and sometimes even defenseless against his own power. And she loved him for it.
"I know it is not your fault. We will find a solution" she told him determined. And Anakin knew that she would truly seek the way, that it was a promise. That made him feel so ... bad. Why couldn't he do something for her? Why did she have the feeling that it would hurt her?
"All I want is to make you happy, Padme. And I don't think I'll make it if I continue like this." he said with a broken voice. Padme looked at him confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Anakin broke out of his embrace and stood up, circling the room with his eyes on the floor. He wasn't sure about telling her what was eating him inside.
Sometimes in the darkest of the night he would wake up with a horrible revelation. Perhaps the voices he was hearing did not exist, or rather, they came from himself. Perhaps in his very interior there was that power-hungry monster that longed for the day when he would control it.
The cold dragon of his fear.
Because Anakin had sought absolute power for a long time, exactly since his mother's death. And perhaps it was his own ambition that had dragged him to this hell in life. Perhaps he had caused this himself. It was terrifying to think that the darkness that he had worked so hard to eradicate as a Jedi lived within him. But that was something too difficult to explain.
"I feel lost" he said only, clenching his fists.
"Lost?" Padme asked getting up and forcing him to look at her. The senator was intuitive and she could feel that Anakin wasn't telling her everything. And the Jedi knight knew how determined she could be. He had to give her a satisfactory answer.
"I'm not the Jedi I should be. I want more ... and I know I shouldn't." he confessed lowering his gaze again. He was ashamed of feeling like this. Padme caressed her face with infinite tenderness.
"You are a great Jedi Knight, Ani. The best in the entire galaxy." praised him to make him feel better.
Anakin looked at her with adoration and admiration. She was his world and he was willing to do anything for her.
"You know that I would leave everything for you, right? I would leave the Jedi Order if you asked me to." he said with a smile. She looked at him strangely.
"I would never ask you to do something like that for me" she said carefully wondering what she meant by that. Did Anakin want to leave the Order that was like his life?
The Jedi Knight hid a sigh as he looked around the apartment. He could live there without fear of hiding. He could propose to Padme and tell the whole galaxy. But despite the benefits, he still hadn't made up his mind to leave the Order. What about Ahsoka? Could he endure a simple life, without adventure or danger? Perhaps he was too early. So he just smiled like it was a joke.
"I'm just saying it so you realize how much I love you" she said ironically making Padme smile in relief as well. For a moment the senator had thought Anakin was serious.
"I love you more, my brave knight" Padme replied bringing her lips to his.
Anakin and Padme kissed deeply, being so focused on each other that they didn't even hear the sound of hurried footsteps. Maybe if they had been more attentive they would have seen the shadow that slipped through the window after seeing the whole scene.
Obi-Wan was adept at hiding. He was quiet, agile. But this time even he was about to fall off the balcony when he heard Anakin's statement. Abandon the Order? He was mad? He wanted to believe that it had only been an arrogant response to seduce the senator, but Obi-Wan knew there was much more to it. Anakin wouldn't say a thing like that if he hadn't thought about it before. Well, he had no lack of reasons for wanting to do so. The Council had humiliated him to death and made him feel worthless. Was it wrong to want to leave that place? Wanting to live in peace with the person he loved? In his heart, Obi-Wan knew that Anakin was right. And he would support him if that was his decision. So he took his ship and headed back to the Jedi temple, assuming that Anakin would not sleep there that night.
"I would leave the Jedi Order if you asked me to."
His apprentice's words echoed in his mind. Obi-Wan felt his body being drawn to a place he knew well ... the Jedi temple. He peeked outside and could see the bright moon illuminating the hallways of the place where he had grown up and for a moment he felt calm ... until the screaming began.
Obi-Wan ran inside looking for the source of the terrifying sounds, but saw nothing. It wasn't until he got to the center of the temple that the noises became so loud that he could feel them above him. It was as if an invisible battle was unfolding in that place: The screams of terror, the voices, the cries, the invisible lightsabers colliding with each other and the noise of gunfire ... it all made one horrible sound.
"Anakin" yelled his own voice in a muffled echo.
"This is the end for you, my master" the voice of his Padawan replied.
Then Obi-Wan could feel himself being dragged away again. His knees and face hit the cold ground and the Jedi Master had to strain to get down on his knees. The darkness was so thick that this time the Jedi master could not decipher where he was, although that concern escaped his head when he realized something.
Obi-Wan couldn't feel his hands.
And when he looked down, he knew why. Instead of his hands, only two smoldering stumps remained, no doubt from a lightsaber cut. The pain he began to feel was nothing with the terror of not knowing what was going on. And then he finally saw him. A shadow was standing before him and Obi-Wan could see the conflict within him in his eyes that were the only thing that could be seen in that darkness.
Obi-Wan didn't understand what was happening until he heard the voices.
"Kill him"
"Kill him now"
"It is the way of the sith"
"He is too dangerous to be left alive "
"It is the only way"
"Do it!"
"Please ..." Obi-Wan begged as he saw the golden glow in the shadows eyes. A tear fell down the mans face, his gaze darkened and it seemed to Obi-Wan that he grasped the lightsabers more tightly.
"I'm so sorry" a familiar voice said in a broken but dark voice.
And the last thing Obi-Wan could feel was the blazing heat of the lightsabers closing on his neck.
Grandmaster Yoda was meditating on that particularly dark night. His concentration did not prevent him from noticing the hurried footsteps in the corridor and when he heard them stop behind him, he could guess who it was without even opening his eyes.
"Resting, you should be, Master Kenobi" he said in a peaceful voice. Obi-Wan's tired gasps broke the night's silence.
"Master Yoda ... I need your advice" he said in a desperate tone. Yoda's silence urged him to continue.
"I had a vision. The future of the Jedi Order depends on Anakin." Yoda turned and could see him straight in the eye. He didn't even have to ask, the traces of the vision were still in Obi-Wan's mind so strong that he didn't even have to concentrate hard to see the same thing that he had dreamed of. And when he finished, his gold-green eyes had a gleam of concern.
"Misinterpreted the visions can be. Advance to the designs of the force you should not or there is a risk that what you seek to avoid fulfilled will be" he warned him seriously. Obi-Wan's face paled even more as the Jedi master turned to return to his meditation.
"Then what should I do?" he asked in a shaky voice.
"With caution, you must act. Be guided by a vision, dangerous could be," said the grandmaster wisely.
Obi-Wan left the room shocked and scared. One thing had been clear in his head, if Anakin left the Order the dark side would devour the entire galaxy. And although he wanted to follow Yoda's orders, he was not the kind of man to wait around. Obi-Wan knew how to avoid his vision. Now, the order the Council had given him that morning seemed like the most sensible way to go. He loved Anakin, but his happiness seemed to stand in the way of his destiny as the Chosen One. And Obi-Wan was willing to do whatever it took to keep that horrible nightmare from coming true.