Obi-Wan sat bolt upright in his bed. Anakin's voice echoed in his head. He had been calling for help while he had been asleep - he could sense it. The Force was unusually strong between Master and Padawan – more so than any other Jedi partnership in the galaxy. He and Anakin had a special sixth sense between them, both knowing instantly when the other was in trouble.
What on earth could be wrong so late into the night?
He thought to himself. He hurriedly dashed to put his robes on and stalked down the corridor as quietly as he could manage to Anakin's room. He didn't bother with knocking, he knew that something was seriously wrong when Anakin tried to contact him when he was asleep – he would not dare to unless it was urgent. He heaved all of his weight into breaking the door down, and when that failed he swiftly burnt a hole through the door with his lightsaber.
Please let him be okay, Obi-Wan made a silent prayer to himself as he entered the room, not knowing what to expect.
Anakin's pale body lay sprawled across the length of the bed. His eyes were closed and his body covered in a thin layer of sweat. Obi-Wan rushed to his side.
"Anakin, Anakin can you hear me…. It's Obi-Wan!" he shouted desperately looking for a response of some sort. He touched his forehead gently in an attempt to revive him using the Force.
Anakin it's Obi-Wan, come back to me, don't give in.
Obi-Wan waited hopefully for a response, if he couldn't reach Anakin this way then no-one could, no-one more than Anakin was sensitive to the Force.
Master…help me…please…it hurts so much…please.
Obi-Wan once again placed his hand on Anakin's forehead and attempted a technique Qui-Gon had once taught but had never yet had the chance to use. He sent as much energy as he could from his body to Anakin's. Anakin was shaking violently, and Obi-Wan's hand was slipping off his forehead with the sweat congealing on his body. Anakin was wheezing for air, something appeared to be restricting his airway.
Come on Anakin, you can beat this I know you can.
Obi-Wan himself was sweating with exertion, frantically trying any healing method he had been taught to help his padawan. He could feel Anakin slipping away gradually, and realised he alone could not cure him from whatever had attacked him. He raced to get help from the medi-bay, two floors down.
When he arrived back, several minutes later he thought he was already too late. Anakin was no longer shaking or moving at all and he was deadly quiet.
"Help him please! Quickly!" Obi-Wan blurted in an unusual burst of emotion, to the medi-droids who were inspecting Anakin. He felt helpless as they transported Anakin onto a stretcher and wheeled him down the corridors as fast as their little legs could carry them.
Anakin, hold on, we're going to help you, just hold on a little longer.
Obi-Wan again tried to hold onto Anakin's mind, he hoped that if he kept interacting with him he could somehow keep him alive.
They are …coming for me.
They? Who were they? Thought Obi-Wan.
They arrived at the medi-bay, where the droids firmly prevented Obi-Wan from entering. Obi-Wan protested and continued to march down the hallway.
"Leave us to do our job, we will take good care of him", insisted one droids, signalling to two guards, who gently led Obi-Wan away from the bay. Obi-Wan sank to the floor in shock.
I should have taken better care of him, he needed my support and I wasn't there. His mother just died, he was vulnerable and you didn't even realise. He's my family.
"Easy it is to regret things after they have happened, Master Obi-Wan", implied a wise voice. Obi-Wan looked up to see the tiny figure of Jedi Master Yoda sitting next to him.
"Master Yoda!" exclaimed Obi-Wan in surprise.
"Watching a padawan every hour the day brings indeed is not possible, feel sorry for yourself you must not. The Dark Side is clouding Anakin's mind, felt it before have I- worse it has become" admitted the astute Jedi Master.
"But what could possibly have caused him to pass out like that? Anakin is a powerful Jedi, he would have sensed if someone was approaching him" enquired a puzzled Obi-Wan.
"Not physical was the thing that attacked Anakin – he was attacked in the most vulnerable place a Jedi can be. Poisoning his mind at this moment the Dark Lord of the Sith is."
The Sith. I should have known they would have something to do with it. Surely they did not think Anakin's power could be played into their hands. Anakin had to be kept on the straight and narrow, if he strayed from his path as a Jedi that only left one alternative – the Dark side. What would happen if that ever came about was too horrific to even consider.
"We must help him Master, Anakin is more vulnerable than he makes out. If they persist in this attack, he could easily be overwhelmed and taken from us" insisted a defiant Obi-Wan.
"Help him we will Obi-Wan, the best Jedi healers in the galaxy are already in there. Nothing can you do, wait and hope we must" sighed Yoda, who suddenly felt years older than he was.
Obi-Wan nodded grimly. He thought back to the last words his old Master had said to him.
"Train him. He is the Chosen One."
I will not fail you Qui-Gon, I will not let this happen. You risked your Knight-hood for this boy and I will not let your death be in vain.
"Get some rest, need you will he when he wakes up", instructed Yoda placing a reassuring hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. With great effort, he limped down the corridor and disappeared from sight.
If he wakes up thought a weary Obi-Wan. Sitting and attempting to get comfortable on the cold, hard hospital seating he waited.
It's going to be a long night.