WARNING: GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS OF VIOLENCE ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THIS FIC. PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION.
Author's Note: I am so happy to finally be posting this fic, as I just finished writing it today! I never start posting fics unless I've already finished them, as I don't want to be that person that just loses interest. This has been several months in the making, and then my final weeks of school stopped it in it's tracks, but it is finally done!
Please note that there are plot spoilers for Arcane and certain episodes/arcs of The Clone Wars (2008).
Ahsoka watched Master Windu sit forward in his Council chair, elbows resting on his knees, his hands at his mouth. Her breath caught. That's his bad news pose.
"Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker have not made contact in twelve hours."
She winced. Just like she'd predicted, they were in trouble. But just in case– "Is that unusual for an undercover mission?"
Yoda raised an eyebrow. "Know about that, you do?"
Oh, right. She wasn't supposed to know that. "Ani– Master Skywalker only told me that it was undercover, and only so I wouldn't try to contact him." And possibly blow his cover. Now probably wasn't the time to mention that she'd also told Rex.
Yoda simply smiled. Master Windu, however, grimaced.
Windu continued. "Well, I suppose it hardly matters now. What's more important is that, yes, it is unusual. In this case. Skywalker and Kenobi were to have completed their assignment yesterday. We should have heard from them at the moment of its conclusion."
Her heart sank. "But that didn't happen."
The Jedi Master shook his head.
"Please, Masters, let me go search for them! They would do the same for me!"
Ki-Adi-Mundi's hologram form flickered as he said, "The lower levels of Coruscant are a jungle all their own. Quite different than the upper levels we reside on and you are used to, Padawan Tano."
She fought down a flare of frustration. The level of danger didn't matter! Skyguy and Obi-wan would go through– had gone through far more dangerous circumstances to rescue her. It was time she returned the favour.
"I appreciate your concern, Master Mundi, and would gladly listen to any advice you might have regarding the area… but I've been in similar locations before, and, if it comes to it, I do have contacts in the lower levels I can reach out to for assistance."
That last one used to be true; many, many years ago. The contact in question had to have died of old age by now, but the Council didn't know that. And since technically neither did Ahsoka, they would not perceive it as a lie. She hoped.
"Mmmm. Prepared, you believe you are, to search out our missing Jedi in unfamiliar territory."
Unconsciously, she straightened her shoulders. "Yes, Master. I am."
The whole Council looked to Yoda as he rapped his cane sharply on the floor. "Then settled the matter is. Go to the lower levels and seek out your Master and Master Kenobi you will."
She nodded eagerly, trying not to let the surprise show on her face. Usually, it was a far more arduous process to convince the Council of… well, just about anything. Let alone sending a lone Padawan out after whatever had gotten the better of a Knight and a Master.
Master Windu raised a hand. "Padawan. You have shown great leadership and initiative your last few missions, especially those in the Outer Rim. Thus, we trust in your ability to take point on this venture. However, you are still young." He gave her a quick smile. "And as such, it would be remiss of us to send you on such a mission with no oversight at all. You are to remain in frequent contact with Master Plo–" He gestured to the chair a few down from his, where Master Plo sat silently, also in hologram form. "–who has had some experience with the levels you will be looking at. He's currently involved in the Zimmidia campaign, but will be expecting regular updates from you. If you require assistance or advice, do not hesitate to contact him."
Ahsoka took a split second to process the unusually long speech from Master Windu before answering. "Yes, Master."
At his nod, she turned to leave, but was stopped by the voice of Yoda. "Padawan Tano."
Her lekku bounced gently against her shoulders as she turned back around. "Yes, Master Yoda?"
There was a hint of his frequent mischievous smile as he said, "May the Force be with you."
The corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly as she gave him a deep bow. "Thank you, Master. And with you also."
He nodded. "Go now, you may."
This time, she left without stopping.
Outside the doors, she paused to control her rapidly beating heart. Her very own mission. To save her own Master, and his Master to boot!
Her hand fell to her lightsaber as she headed for the elevator. I'd better get going.
Anakin knew he must finally be conscious again because there's no way his head would hurt this much if he were asleep. Right?
He groaned, putting a hand to his head.
"Anakin!" A familiar voice whispered nearby.
Whose voice was that? How did he know them? He tried to call up his last few memories, but his head felt like it was stuffed with Naboo cotton.
"Anakin, can you hear me?" The voice tried again.
Was that… "Obi-wan?"
"Yes! Yes, it's me."
He finally opened his eyes to a dimly lit room he'd never seen before. He swept his gaze across the dark, plastocrete walls, trying to clear the spots from his vision. His eyes finally came to rest on his old Master, who sat on the floor. He looked down at himself, surprised to discover he was also on the floor. He squinted, vision still rather fuzzy. What was that on his-
"Anakin, how's your head?"
"Mm, what?" He glanced up quickly… and gave a bark of laughter that set his dry throat burning. "You've looked better."
His Master gave a relieved smile. "If you're talking like that, I suspect you'll make a full recovery. Regardless, now is not the time for joking."
"Who said I was joking?" He winced as his head gave a particularly painful throb. "What happened?"
Obi-wan gave a sigh, shifting so he wasn't in direct contact with the mold-covered wall. "I'm not quite sure myself."
Anakin frowned. "We were going to meet the contact- "
"We did meet the contact," Obi-wan interrupted. "But something wasn't right. I thought he was going to take us to this Boss fellow– "
"The man behind all the cartel activity down here. And the Force-sensitive slave auction the Council was tipped off about." It was all coming back to him now. He raised a hand to his head– and paused, eyes narrowing in confusion as an odd jangling sound reached his ears. "But wha– " He stopped as his eyes finally came into focus. "Oh."
Obi-wan gave a rueful smile. "Indeed."
Clamped to Anakin's wrist was a manacle. Following the attached chain to the wall, he saw more restraints leading to his other hand and both ankles, as well as several that currently remained unused. He glanced over at Obi-wan to see him similarly constrained.
Seeing his gaze, the Master raised his hands, giving the chains a jangle as if to say, me too!
"Well," Anakin began. "I wasn't expecting this."
"And what exactly do you expect when seeking out the lord of the underworld?"
Both Jedi's heads swung around to the door as it opened to an, unfortunately, familiar voice.
Obi-wan spoke first. "Maul."
The Dathomirian strode into the room, his proud bearing eminently announcing that he and he alone of the room's occupants had any power whatsoever. The grin he turned on the Jedi Master would've chilled a lesser man. "Kenobi. In my clutches at last." His head turned to Anakin, who'd surged to his feet at the dramatic entrance. "And, as an unexpected pleasure, the so-called Chosen One." He sneered. "Or, more importantly for our purposes, Obi-wan's former Padawan. Obi-wan's weakness."
He strained against his bonds, chains rattling as his arms stopped short at his hips. No matter how he pulled, fists clenched, muscles taut, he couldn't reach farther or higher.
"Anakin." Obi-wan's tone was a warning, eyes darting worriedly between him and Maul.
Who chuckled. "Don't waste your strength, Skywalker. I made sure your chains were reinforced, the better to guard against your…" He paused, gesturing to the Knight's right arm. "... specialty."
Anakin's jaw clenched tight as he matched the ex-Sith's smile. "Doesn't matter. I'll just– " He unclenched a fist, reaching for the Force to wipe that evil grin off Maul's smug face– and staggered. Dropping to the ground like a stone, his limbs tangled painfully with the chains as his vision went white and pain in his head like he'd never felt ripped through him.
His lungs stuttered for air as he vaguely heard Obi-wan shouting his name, and a red-and-black blur appeared in the white.
"Ah yes," came through clearly enough. "I wondered which of you would be the first to discover that. You didn't think I would take Jedi prisoners without taking precautions, did you?"
Dazed and disoriented, Anakin simply followed his instincts - he reached for the Force to clear his mind.
And this time couldn't help the yelp that left his lips as the pain doubled.
"Anakin! Anakin!" Obi-wan felt helpless watching his friend writhe on the ground, gasping like a blopfish out of water. What had happened? "What have you done to him?"
His usual nonchalant attitude and willingness for a witty back-and-forth were nowhere to be found in the face of Anakin's pain as he glared daggers at Maul, the man stepping forward with pride. Though objectively he knew that should mean he doubled down on it, that he shouldn't let Maul know how much this was getting to him, how much his Padawan had managed to wrap himself around his heart… he couldn't seem to drudge it up.
He could tell Maul enjoyed every minute of his distress.
"Your former Padawan has just discovered the result of the Force inhibitor drug currently flowing through your bloodstream. Reach for your precious Light Side and…" Maul gestured at Anakin before clenching his fist.
Obi-wan just managed to hold back a gulp.
"... you end up like that."
"But– " His voice was raspy even to his own ears. "The Force-sensitives… that were to be sold… surely, not even you– "
"Obi-wan," Maul interrupted, contempt filling his voice. "There never were any Force-sensitives. I circulated that rumour knowing you would be the one sent to the rescue."
A trap. Of course it was a trap.
He raised a hand to his own head as his growing headache threatened to become a full-blown migraine. There was still something he didn't understand. "You say there are Force-inhibitors in our systems. If that is true, then why– "
"Can you still feel the living things around you, feel it flowing through you?"
He didn't deign to answer.
Maul turned slightly to glance at Anakin, who had just sat up, slumping dejectedly against the wall. And if Anakin was allowing himself to show such "weakness" in front of an enemy… That must be one hell of a drug. "It's a rather ingenious little chemical. You see– " He turned back to Obi-wan. "It cannot cut you off completely. Such devices as can attain that are rare indeed, and I no longer have sufficient connections to acquire them. No, instead I have this." Another wave at Anakin. "A drug that can cause immeasurable pain if one injected with it reaches for the Force. Or at least for the Light side. I must say, I do believe that is my favourite part." Maul flashed him a grin. "It won't stop you from sensing others around you. Their joy…" He raised one eyebrow suggestively. "Or their pain."
His heart quailed in his chest. Attachments are forbidden be damned. This was not his fight. "Maul, please. Anakin has done nothing to warrant your anger. This is between you and I- "
But the Dathomirian's face had turned shockingly thoughtful. "Begging already, Kenobi? Clearly, the boy is more important to you than I thought."
Quick as a snake, a red hand latched around his throat, and he spluttered, choking as his feet left the floor.
"Obi-wan!" His former apprentice yelled, lurching forward on his knees, stopped in his tracks once again.
With sudden vehemence, Maul snarled, "You will die by my hand, begging for mercy. Or you will turn to the Dark side as your only possible means of escape. For I promise you, you will feel no ill effects from the drug for that."
Obi-wan's strength was deserting him, his vision going dark, his grip on Maul's hands growing weak. Just when he thought he couldn't take anymore, his body hit the floor, and he was coughing and retching like he never had in his life.
Dimly he heard Anakin calling to him, just like he had called to the Knight mere moments before.
Finally, enough air in his lungs, he looked up at their captor, defiance locked into his very bones. "I would rather die than turn to the Dark Side. For anything, ever."
Maul merely smiled like a teacher indulging their student. "Yes, I thought you might say that." His eyes slowly turned back toward Anakin, who was still caught in his strain toward his Master. His voice became low and soft, a fearful contrast to the previous raging snarl. "But would you let him die? Yourself, certainly. Death, or even torture, to avoid the taint of the Dark Side – as you think of it – is an acceptable price. But, when it comes to others… other's death. Other's torture. That's where every last one of you crumbles."
Obi-wan's heart wasn't quailing anymore. Now? Now it had completely stopped.
Maul's mood switched violently yet again as he pointed an accusing finger first at Obi-wan, then at Anakin. "If you do not succumb to the pull of the Dark, then you will watch him die, in agony, before I leave you to rot in this cell. Stewing in your pain and failure before I finally come and claim your life with my bare hands."
With that, the ex-Sith turned toward the door, his steps producing only muffled thumps from the hard-packed earth. He stopped in the open doorway, back to his prisoners. Apparently dramatic to the last. "I'll leave you to think on it."
The door shut.
Obi-wan's eyes immediately found those of his apprentice, the sound of their harsh, ragged breathing filling the small room as they stared at each other.
Both with the same stricken look as the other.
Author's Note: What did you guys think? I would be forever grateful if you dropped a comment to let me know, us writers LIVE on comments
So this entire fic is already written, so never fear that you won't find out the end! I will posting 1-2 chapters a week though, so as to give myself time to type and edit (I do not have a beta, sadly). Next posting dates, and What I'm Currently Working On are available on my profile, so you'll be able to check if there's been a bonus chapter posted, when I next expect to post an update, and if there will be delays (I haven't had any yet).
Thank you for reading!