Disclaimer: George Lucas is the lucky guy who owns all the characters, settings, etc- basically everything in this story! I just continue to like writing about it, and hope you still bother to read it!
Author's Note: This is the follow up to chapter one- Journey to Coruscant. Read and review please, otherwise I won't get any better!
Chapter Two- Dark Forces Emerge
Anakin cruised in with obvious ease at the Jedi Landing Platform, landing safely after a problem-free and swift flight from Naboo. Obi-Wan strolled out to greet his young apprentice with his usual playful manner.
"Master", said Anakin, acknowledging his presence behind him as he got out of the craft.
"What took you so long?" joked Obi-Wan dryly as his padawan came to greet him.
"Oh you know, those damn speeders simply can't cope with my impressive pilot skills – although those double-barrelled loops might not have helped the situation", Anakin playfully replied with a mischievous grin on his face.
"You know I hate it when you do that", Obi-Wan replied, adopting a rather stern tone at the thought of Anakin's foolhardy piloting. He turned to face his young protégé with an unimpressed look on his face.
"In that case I kindly volunteer that you do all piloting in the future Master", Anakin responded with a satisfied smirk on his face.
"Nice try Anakin – but this old man is not so easily fooled. You should retire to your chamber, get some rest before tomorrow. We leave at dawn – and you can do the piloting" he remarked, patting Anakin on the back rather smugly.
"Yes Master", he replied rather absent-mindedly, not willing to continue their sparring any longer. Anakin sighed heavily under his breath, his figure seeming to deflate before Obi-Wan's eyes. Anakin had been carrying the grief of his mother's death for far too long, thought Obi-Wan. He must learn to forget about her, possession is not a healthy Jedi trait; he needs to realise that he couldn't have prevented it. Or was it just that? It was always hard to tell with his padawan, he kept his feelings so close to his heart.
"Is anything the matter? You look upset; have you anything to tell me?" Obi-Wan enquired detecting his apprentice's sudden change of mood.
"No master! You read far too much into me, I'll be fine once I've had some rest", he replied quickly, trying to get Obi-Wan off the subject. He should have known his Master would detect that something was wrong, he would be more careful to disguise his emotions in the future. If Obi-Wan ever found out that he had married Padme he would be expelled from the Jedi Order, and he couldn't allow that to happen – it would destroy him. He followed Obi-Wan obediently down the corridor to an airy room just inside the entrance.
"I will see you tomorrow morning Anakin" gestured Obi-Wan, again studying Anakin's face carefully, before walking a little further down the hallway to his own room, and shutting the door.
Anakin swiftly entered his room and shut the door. He walked to the huge window on the other side to observe the view. Coruscant was a city that became alive at night. During the day the many skyscrapers were plain and dull, but at night they were covered in coloured lights, giving them an alien-like beauty. Anakin's own face was illuminated with the light of a rather elegant building opposite.
His gaze lowered to the constant stream of traffic passing by his apartment. Flustered businessmen were heading home to their families for the night, eagerly trying to skip traffic by swerving in and out of vehicles and buildings dangerously. A group of young men were desperately trying to impress uninterested girls outside a sports bar by doing various stunts with their battered speeders. Coruscant was a city that thrived in the darkness. Its long, humid nights seemed to bring out a bubbling energy and vibrance in its citizens that made it so unique to all other cities in the galaxy.
Anakin loved Coruscant; it was so full of life, full of busy people getting on with everyday life, busy people who had families to go home to…Anakin stepped back from the window as his thoughts once again drifted back to his mother. He missed her so much; she had been the only family he had until he went with Qui-Gon to become a Jedi. He had worshipped her, and she in turn, had loved him to pieces. He resented the little time he had been given to say goodbye to her, he hadn't been prepared, he knew he could have helped if only he had gotten there quicker. If only he'd listened when Obi-Wan taught him those healing techniques, if only he'd been powerful enough to prevent her death.
Anakin stepped back further away from the window. He shuddered at the thought of the pain his mother must have felt before she died, he had thought he might die after Dooku sliced his own arm off, he could not possibly imagine the torture her body was put through because of those mindless animals. For the second time that day he could feel the anger bubbling inside him, his chest tightened and his breathing became short. He knew he had to control himself and so attempted to meditate.
Anakin sat down on the bed and closed his eyes. His head was aching so much and he had a throbbing pain in his temple. Anakin opened his eyes abruptly; he wiped his brow which was covered in sweat. What's wrong with me? I've never felt this out of control before.
It's only anger, you can control it Anakin, you must try or it will consume everything good in you- Obi-Wan's voice spoke in his head. The pain in his head was now excruciating, his head felt ready to explode under the pressure. I can't control it Master-it's too much-I can't control it… help me. Anakin struggled to reach the bed, using all the energy he had left in his tortured body, and all at once everything went dark.
A.N: What do you think? Better than chapter one or not? Keep the reviews coming in and chapter three will be up as soon as I have time to finish it.