Oct 2002
Disclaimer: I don't own any this, all the characters (Except my original) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 8
Obi-Wan turned from his stance by the council chamber entrance as the lift's doors slid open. Yoda came floating out, Anakin and Padmé no far behind. He inclined his head to Master Yoda before smiling tightly at Anakin. "It's good to see you Anakin."
Anakin shook his old Master's hand, privately wondering what was causing such tension in the normally calm and, let's face it, boring Jedi. "Good to see you, Obi-Wan. Master Yoda tells me the council needs my help, I don't suppose you know what this is all about?"
Obi-Wan swallowed hard, determined to face this with as much dignity as possible. "You and I have a connection from being Master and padawan for ten years. An old... acquaintance of mine has somehow managed to steal or wipe some of my short term memory. I was out with her eight nights ago and have no recollection of what happened. Master Yoda and Master Windu have tried to retrieve what's been lost, but they lack the proper... understanding of my mind to do so."
Anakin swallowed the bark of laughter that Obi-Wan's admission summoned. Obi-Wan and a woman? This serious old man had been on a date? He swallowed again, trying to keep the smile off his face. "How can I help, I didn't understand you then, I don't think I understand you now. Most men rejoice at being unable to remember what happens with a woman, especially when they didn't want to be there in the first place."
"Wait, this must." The three turned to look at Master Yoda as he was keying in the codes to unlock the chamber, "Summon Master Windu, I must."
They were ushered into the Council chamber, Yoda taking his seat while the three stood. Anakin could feel Obi-Wan's trepidation as a tangible thing. They waited in silence, Anakin shifting from foot to foot until Padmé placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He smiled at her. Her presence had always been soothing on his nerves.
The door slid open and Mace Windu stepped into the hall. Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padmé bowed to him. He returned it with an inclination of his head. He stopped, doing a double take as Padmé's presence registered. "Senator Amidala?" His tone betrayed his incredulity, though only barely.
She smiled. "Master Windu. Yes, I assure you, I am alive. Forgive me for not informing you, but secrecy was needed to maintain my safety."
He inclined his head again, acknowledging her apology, "It is good to see you alive, Senator. Your presence has been sorely missed in the senate. I'm afraid your replacement doesn't have your..."
"Fire?" Anakin's lips twisted into a grin.
"Tact."
Padmé smiled. "Thank you, Master Windu."
Mace took his seat next to Yoda and looked at Anakin. "Have they explained why you've been brought here, Anakin?"
"Obi-Wan has said it has something to do with memory loss?"
Mace nodded, "We have need of your familiarity with your Master. That, and you may remember the woman who's taken it from him since you were there when he freed her."
Anakin blinked. "Tasha?" He swung around, pinning his old Master with an disbelieving stare, "You went out with Tasha Jade?"
"I thought I could handle her."
"You underestimated her." Anakin shook his head, sighing, "Master, I think you need to be given lessons on women. Alright, I'll help. What do I do?"
Mace motioned for Obi-Wan and Anakin to kneel as Yoda waved Padmé to a chair next to him. Anakin carefully placed his hands on Obi-Wan's face, the man's beard soft against his palms. He closed his eyes as Obi-Wan hands slid onto his face, stretching out with the Force. The power in the room was invisible, but Padmé could feel the sudden difference.
Anakin opened his mind completely, stretching out to touch Obi-Wan's. He could feel the presence of Masters Yoda and Windu, but ignored them. They were spectators, here to lend help if he needed it. He slipped into the passive memory bank of Obi-Wan's thoughts, looking through the last week's events. He saw the fruitless search for Tasha, felt Obi-Wan's frustration. The morning headache, moved back in his memories to the minute he woke, naked and alone, in unfamiliar chambers.
Anakin paused there, a mental block of Obi-Wan's own making standing in his way. He pushed on it, encouraging him to drop it. Obi-Wan's block didn't fall. Anakin, having long learned how to circumvent the blocks Obi-Wan put up, encouraged Mace and Yoda to push on the block. Free, he slid to the side, using the force to probe the edges of the block. Slipping past, he coaxed Obi-Wan, with difficulty, to drop the wall. The mental block fell after a good hour of probing and coercing. Anakin wasn't sure Obi-Wan had even known he'd been blocking his thoughts.
Slipping into the night Obi-Wan couldn't remember, Anakin felt darkness. A blank spot. He frowned, seeing bits and pieces of that night filtering in and out of his thoughts. Obi-Wan's memories has been erased. Anakin's lips flattened as he submerged himself in the Force, digging deeper, following the Force signature of the woman who'd stolen his friend's memories.
Tasha's signature was dark, tainted with Darkside energy he couldn't remember ever feeling in her. Having been where she was, Anakin knew how to undo what she'd done. Without destroying Obi-Wan's sense of self and mind; the wipe was only temporary. He would have eventually regained the memories but it would have been some day in the far future.
Anakin began pulling pieces from Obi-Wan's mind, starting with their entrance into the club, and leading up to the first drink. Obi-Wan's attention wasn't on his companion for most of the time as he kept an eye out for possible dangers. Typical, Anakin found himself thinking, even on a night out the Jedi can't relax! He focused his attention on the portion of Obi-Wan's memory that held Tasha's actions. He frowned, seeing her palm some kind of packet from her sleeve. That was never good. As if watching a holo-vid, Anakin saw Tasha turn towards the bartender and take Obi-Wan's drink, the hand with the hidden packet remaining at her side.
Obi-Wan accepted the drink, taking a sip before placing it back on the counter top. Tasha's hand suddenly slid along his neck, exactly on the pulse point, the packet in her hand rubbing against his skin. Anakin's eyes widened as he felt the sudden shift in Obi-Wan's blood stream. It wasn't a toxin.
Obi-Wan's memories began to deteriorate as the natural aphrodisiac began working on his body. Tasha stood on the bar to dance and the memory winked out. Anakin fought it, concentrating on Tasha's gown as a way of calling up the elusive memories. The fabric swaying with her movements, sliding across Obi-Wan's skin. A flash of Tasha straddling Obi-Wan's lap, her mouth pliant and receptive under his had Anakin tearing his mind away.
Grasping for breath, he broke the connection and fell away from his old Master. "You kissed her!"
Obi-Wan was breathing hard, his face betraying little of the shock he was feeling. "I suspected as much," he gasped, closing his eyes and fighting for composure.
Their breathing echoed in the quiet room for several minutes before they found enough calm to talk.
Anakin spoke first. "I think I can guess where the night went from there. Why would Tasha want to seduce you?"
Obi-Wan couldn't raise his head. The embarrassment was too great. "I don't know."
Anakin looked up, stopping when he saw the lights outside had been dimmed, night settling over the planet. They must have been locked in Obi-Wan's thoughts for most of the day. His gaze went to Padmé, curled up on the seat nearest him, her breathing deep and even. The silent by-play would have been boring to someone who wasn't Force sensitive. A tender smile curved his lips. At least she was sleeping peacefully.
He turned to look back to Obi-Wan, "I can't continue tonight."
Master Windu stood, "I'll assign you new quarters in the temple, Anakin. Palpatine knows you're here by now. We'll keep your wife safe."
"It's appreciated, Master Windu, but where I go while I am here, Padmé will come with me. We have some news of our own."
The three Jedi gave him their attention as Padmé murmured in her sleep. Anakin took a deep breath and sought calm, "Supreme Chancellor Palpatine knows Padmé is alive. He's threatened her life if I don't return to him as an apprentice. Obi-Wan said he would deliver my message..."
"We received it."
He inclined his head to Mace. "Then you know that I was secretly his apprentice after you granted me knighthood. In killing Count Dooku on Geonosis, I not only gained his attention, but he demanded I take the place of the apprentice I'd lost him. I felt obligated to try and turn him to the light side and in doing so almost lost myself to him." He looked at Padmé, "The fight with the woman on Dagobah, whom I now assume was Tasha Jade, and the Sith creature almost pushed me over the edge. Obi-Wan and my wife pulled me back. Now I must face Palpatine if Padmé and I have any hope of raising our children together."
"You could both be killed, Anakin."
He swallowed, pushing himself to his feet and walking to where Padmé slept. "I know." He bent down, picking her up in his arms and turning back to look at Mace, "We have to do this, Master Windu. I'll help Obi-Wan regain his memories, but in return you have to step aside and allow me, allow us, to deal with the Sith Lord. Agreed?"
"Anakin."
He turned to look at Obi-Wan.
"Hadn't you decided that staying hidden was the best way?"
"What future is there in always being on the run? I want my children to have a semblance of a normal life. They're strong in the Force and I'll train them myself if I must, but I refuse to raise them on the run. They deserve better than that. Master Windu, I'd like to put my wife to bed. Today has been exhausting."
Mace opened his mouth to speak when Padmé suddenly cried out.
"NO!"
Anakin's eyes widened as a wave of fear nearly knocked him from his feet. Shaking, he sank down into the chair nearest him, and cradled her on his lap. "Padmé!" he called, gently stroking her cheek. "Padmé!"
Her eyes fluttered and she sat straight up in his lap, her hands raised as if in protection of herself... or in seeking. "Leia! Luke!"
Anakin's blood ran cold. "Padmé! Wake up, you're dreaming, Angel!"
Her eyes suddenly opened and she collapsed back into his arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Anakin!" she wrapped her arms around his neck, her whole body shaking in his embrace.
He stroked her back, holding her close, rocking her back and forth like a child. He forgot they weren't alone and began to murmur to her; soft words of reassurance and love that always helped calm her down. He'd not had to comfort her after a nightmare for a while. Slowly, she stopped shaking, but her grip on him didn't loosen. "He knows, Anakin."
He froze. "He can't know."
Padmé lifted her head, her brown eyes swimming with tears, "Obi-Wan told his agent."
Anakin's gaze flew to Obi-Wan, his eyes widening in shock and sudden understanding. "You told Tasha about my children?"
"I..."
Anakin held up one hand to stop him, "You don't remember, I know. If Luke and Leia are in danger because of you, I'll never forgive you, Obi-Wan." He dropped his gaze back to his wife, "How do you know, Angel?"
She shivered, "He told me."
Anakin's eyes hardened. "He contacted you while you were sleeping?"
She nodded, taking a fortifying breath before pushing off his lap and standing, "He said that if you don't turn, he'd make sure one of them did. Which ever one would be the prefect consort for Obi-Wan's child."
Silence descended upon the room at her soft words. Obi-Wan pushed himself to his feet, "My child? I have no children."
She looked at him, "Not yet. She's carrying your child."
Obi-Wan shook his head, "She couldn't possibly... we'd have to have... I think I would remember..." He thrust his hands into his hair before taking a long, calming breath and regaining his composure. "There is no way to know, except to regain my memory, if Pearl and I... copulated." He swallowed hard, "Just over a week isn't enough time to tell if she's carrying my child if we did."
She nodded once, "Indeed. Anakin."
He stood next to her.
"Take me to the medical lab please."
He inclined his head to the masters and silently led her from the chamber. The doors slid shut behind them before she allowed her shoulders to sag and wrapped her arms about her middle. "If he hurts them, Anakin, I'll never forgive myself."
Anakin slid his arms around her, leading her to the lift, "He won't have the chance. I promise."
Obi-Wan lifted his head to look at his Masters. "I have failed you."
"How so, Obi-Wan?" Master Windu's question was asked calmly, rationally.
"If I fell prey to Pearl's charms, and from the sound of it I did, anything that could happen to the twins or Pearl is my responsibility."
"How does that make you a failure?"
He bowed his head, "I'm the reason why they're in danger."
Mace stood and walked to the window, looking out over the glittering landscape below. "I wouldn't say it makes you a failure, Obi-Wan. I would say it makes you more human."
"But less of a Jedi."
"Too hard on yourself, you are," Yoda watched as Obi-Wan mulled over Mace's words. "Mistakes, everyone makes. Help rectify them, you can."
"How?"
Mace turned, "Helping Anakin in his fight against Palpatine. He will be tempted as never before to turn. Perhaps your presence will be a deterrent."
Obi-Wan bowed and quickly departed the chamber, accepting the Master's decision. Determined to help set things right, he headed for the medical lab.
Disclaimer: I don't own any this, all the characters (Except my original) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 8
Obi-Wan turned from his stance by the council chamber entrance as the lift's doors slid open. Yoda came floating out, Anakin and Padmé no far behind. He inclined his head to Master Yoda before smiling tightly at Anakin. "It's good to see you Anakin."
Anakin shook his old Master's hand, privately wondering what was causing such tension in the normally calm and, let's face it, boring Jedi. "Good to see you, Obi-Wan. Master Yoda tells me the council needs my help, I don't suppose you know what this is all about?"
Obi-Wan swallowed hard, determined to face this with as much dignity as possible. "You and I have a connection from being Master and padawan for ten years. An old... acquaintance of mine has somehow managed to steal or wipe some of my short term memory. I was out with her eight nights ago and have no recollection of what happened. Master Yoda and Master Windu have tried to retrieve what's been lost, but they lack the proper... understanding of my mind to do so."
Anakin swallowed the bark of laughter that Obi-Wan's admission summoned. Obi-Wan and a woman? This serious old man had been on a date? He swallowed again, trying to keep the smile off his face. "How can I help, I didn't understand you then, I don't think I understand you now. Most men rejoice at being unable to remember what happens with a woman, especially when they didn't want to be there in the first place."
"Wait, this must." The three turned to look at Master Yoda as he was keying in the codes to unlock the chamber, "Summon Master Windu, I must."
They were ushered into the Council chamber, Yoda taking his seat while the three stood. Anakin could feel Obi-Wan's trepidation as a tangible thing. They waited in silence, Anakin shifting from foot to foot until Padmé placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He smiled at her. Her presence had always been soothing on his nerves.
The door slid open and Mace Windu stepped into the hall. Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padmé bowed to him. He returned it with an inclination of his head. He stopped, doing a double take as Padmé's presence registered. "Senator Amidala?" His tone betrayed his incredulity, though only barely.
She smiled. "Master Windu. Yes, I assure you, I am alive. Forgive me for not informing you, but secrecy was needed to maintain my safety."
He inclined his head again, acknowledging her apology, "It is good to see you alive, Senator. Your presence has been sorely missed in the senate. I'm afraid your replacement doesn't have your..."
"Fire?" Anakin's lips twisted into a grin.
"Tact."
Padmé smiled. "Thank you, Master Windu."
Mace took his seat next to Yoda and looked at Anakin. "Have they explained why you've been brought here, Anakin?"
"Obi-Wan has said it has something to do with memory loss?"
Mace nodded, "We have need of your familiarity with your Master. That, and you may remember the woman who's taken it from him since you were there when he freed her."
Anakin blinked. "Tasha?" He swung around, pinning his old Master with an disbelieving stare, "You went out with Tasha Jade?"
"I thought I could handle her."
"You underestimated her." Anakin shook his head, sighing, "Master, I think you need to be given lessons on women. Alright, I'll help. What do I do?"
Mace motioned for Obi-Wan and Anakin to kneel as Yoda waved Padmé to a chair next to him. Anakin carefully placed his hands on Obi-Wan's face, the man's beard soft against his palms. He closed his eyes as Obi-Wan hands slid onto his face, stretching out with the Force. The power in the room was invisible, but Padmé could feel the sudden difference.
Anakin opened his mind completely, stretching out to touch Obi-Wan's. He could feel the presence of Masters Yoda and Windu, but ignored them. They were spectators, here to lend help if he needed it. He slipped into the passive memory bank of Obi-Wan's thoughts, looking through the last week's events. He saw the fruitless search for Tasha, felt Obi-Wan's frustration. The morning headache, moved back in his memories to the minute he woke, naked and alone, in unfamiliar chambers.
Anakin paused there, a mental block of Obi-Wan's own making standing in his way. He pushed on it, encouraging him to drop it. Obi-Wan's block didn't fall. Anakin, having long learned how to circumvent the blocks Obi-Wan put up, encouraged Mace and Yoda to push on the block. Free, he slid to the side, using the force to probe the edges of the block. Slipping past, he coaxed Obi-Wan, with difficulty, to drop the wall. The mental block fell after a good hour of probing and coercing. Anakin wasn't sure Obi-Wan had even known he'd been blocking his thoughts.
Slipping into the night Obi-Wan couldn't remember, Anakin felt darkness. A blank spot. He frowned, seeing bits and pieces of that night filtering in and out of his thoughts. Obi-Wan's memories has been erased. Anakin's lips flattened as he submerged himself in the Force, digging deeper, following the Force signature of the woman who'd stolen his friend's memories.
Tasha's signature was dark, tainted with Darkside energy he couldn't remember ever feeling in her. Having been where she was, Anakin knew how to undo what she'd done. Without destroying Obi-Wan's sense of self and mind; the wipe was only temporary. He would have eventually regained the memories but it would have been some day in the far future.
Anakin began pulling pieces from Obi-Wan's mind, starting with their entrance into the club, and leading up to the first drink. Obi-Wan's attention wasn't on his companion for most of the time as he kept an eye out for possible dangers. Typical, Anakin found himself thinking, even on a night out the Jedi can't relax! He focused his attention on the portion of Obi-Wan's memory that held Tasha's actions. He frowned, seeing her palm some kind of packet from her sleeve. That was never good. As if watching a holo-vid, Anakin saw Tasha turn towards the bartender and take Obi-Wan's drink, the hand with the hidden packet remaining at her side.
Obi-Wan accepted the drink, taking a sip before placing it back on the counter top. Tasha's hand suddenly slid along his neck, exactly on the pulse point, the packet in her hand rubbing against his skin. Anakin's eyes widened as he felt the sudden shift in Obi-Wan's blood stream. It wasn't a toxin.
Obi-Wan's memories began to deteriorate as the natural aphrodisiac began working on his body. Tasha stood on the bar to dance and the memory winked out. Anakin fought it, concentrating on Tasha's gown as a way of calling up the elusive memories. The fabric swaying with her movements, sliding across Obi-Wan's skin. A flash of Tasha straddling Obi-Wan's lap, her mouth pliant and receptive under his had Anakin tearing his mind away.
Grasping for breath, he broke the connection and fell away from his old Master. "You kissed her!"
Obi-Wan was breathing hard, his face betraying little of the shock he was feeling. "I suspected as much," he gasped, closing his eyes and fighting for composure.
Their breathing echoed in the quiet room for several minutes before they found enough calm to talk.
Anakin spoke first. "I think I can guess where the night went from there. Why would Tasha want to seduce you?"
Obi-Wan couldn't raise his head. The embarrassment was too great. "I don't know."
Anakin looked up, stopping when he saw the lights outside had been dimmed, night settling over the planet. They must have been locked in Obi-Wan's thoughts for most of the day. His gaze went to Padmé, curled up on the seat nearest him, her breathing deep and even. The silent by-play would have been boring to someone who wasn't Force sensitive. A tender smile curved his lips. At least she was sleeping peacefully.
He turned to look back to Obi-Wan, "I can't continue tonight."
Master Windu stood, "I'll assign you new quarters in the temple, Anakin. Palpatine knows you're here by now. We'll keep your wife safe."
"It's appreciated, Master Windu, but where I go while I am here, Padmé will come with me. We have some news of our own."
The three Jedi gave him their attention as Padmé murmured in her sleep. Anakin took a deep breath and sought calm, "Supreme Chancellor Palpatine knows Padmé is alive. He's threatened her life if I don't return to him as an apprentice. Obi-Wan said he would deliver my message..."
"We received it."
He inclined his head to Mace. "Then you know that I was secretly his apprentice after you granted me knighthood. In killing Count Dooku on Geonosis, I not only gained his attention, but he demanded I take the place of the apprentice I'd lost him. I felt obligated to try and turn him to the light side and in doing so almost lost myself to him." He looked at Padmé, "The fight with the woman on Dagobah, whom I now assume was Tasha Jade, and the Sith creature almost pushed me over the edge. Obi-Wan and my wife pulled me back. Now I must face Palpatine if Padmé and I have any hope of raising our children together."
"You could both be killed, Anakin."
He swallowed, pushing himself to his feet and walking to where Padmé slept. "I know." He bent down, picking her up in his arms and turning back to look at Mace, "We have to do this, Master Windu. I'll help Obi-Wan regain his memories, but in return you have to step aside and allow me, allow us, to deal with the Sith Lord. Agreed?"
"Anakin."
He turned to look at Obi-Wan.
"Hadn't you decided that staying hidden was the best way?"
"What future is there in always being on the run? I want my children to have a semblance of a normal life. They're strong in the Force and I'll train them myself if I must, but I refuse to raise them on the run. They deserve better than that. Master Windu, I'd like to put my wife to bed. Today has been exhausting."
Mace opened his mouth to speak when Padmé suddenly cried out.
"NO!"
Anakin's eyes widened as a wave of fear nearly knocked him from his feet. Shaking, he sank down into the chair nearest him, and cradled her on his lap. "Padmé!" he called, gently stroking her cheek. "Padmé!"
Her eyes fluttered and she sat straight up in his lap, her hands raised as if in protection of herself... or in seeking. "Leia! Luke!"
Anakin's blood ran cold. "Padmé! Wake up, you're dreaming, Angel!"
Her eyes suddenly opened and she collapsed back into his arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Anakin!" she wrapped her arms around his neck, her whole body shaking in his embrace.
He stroked her back, holding her close, rocking her back and forth like a child. He forgot they weren't alone and began to murmur to her; soft words of reassurance and love that always helped calm her down. He'd not had to comfort her after a nightmare for a while. Slowly, she stopped shaking, but her grip on him didn't loosen. "He knows, Anakin."
He froze. "He can't know."
Padmé lifted her head, her brown eyes swimming with tears, "Obi-Wan told his agent."
Anakin's gaze flew to Obi-Wan, his eyes widening in shock and sudden understanding. "You told Tasha about my children?"
"I..."
Anakin held up one hand to stop him, "You don't remember, I know. If Luke and Leia are in danger because of you, I'll never forgive you, Obi-Wan." He dropped his gaze back to his wife, "How do you know, Angel?"
She shivered, "He told me."
Anakin's eyes hardened. "He contacted you while you were sleeping?"
She nodded, taking a fortifying breath before pushing off his lap and standing, "He said that if you don't turn, he'd make sure one of them did. Which ever one would be the prefect consort for Obi-Wan's child."
Silence descended upon the room at her soft words. Obi-Wan pushed himself to his feet, "My child? I have no children."
She looked at him, "Not yet. She's carrying your child."
Obi-Wan shook his head, "She couldn't possibly... we'd have to have... I think I would remember..." He thrust his hands into his hair before taking a long, calming breath and regaining his composure. "There is no way to know, except to regain my memory, if Pearl and I... copulated." He swallowed hard, "Just over a week isn't enough time to tell if she's carrying my child if we did."
She nodded once, "Indeed. Anakin."
He stood next to her.
"Take me to the medical lab please."
He inclined his head to the masters and silently led her from the chamber. The doors slid shut behind them before she allowed her shoulders to sag and wrapped her arms about her middle. "If he hurts them, Anakin, I'll never forgive myself."
Anakin slid his arms around her, leading her to the lift, "He won't have the chance. I promise."
Obi-Wan lifted his head to look at his Masters. "I have failed you."
"How so, Obi-Wan?" Master Windu's question was asked calmly, rationally.
"If I fell prey to Pearl's charms, and from the sound of it I did, anything that could happen to the twins or Pearl is my responsibility."
"How does that make you a failure?"
He bowed his head, "I'm the reason why they're in danger."
Mace stood and walked to the window, looking out over the glittering landscape below. "I wouldn't say it makes you a failure, Obi-Wan. I would say it makes you more human."
"But less of a Jedi."
"Too hard on yourself, you are," Yoda watched as Obi-Wan mulled over Mace's words. "Mistakes, everyone makes. Help rectify them, you can."
"How?"
Mace turned, "Helping Anakin in his fight against Palpatine. He will be tempted as never before to turn. Perhaps your presence will be a deterrent."
Obi-Wan bowed and quickly departed the chamber, accepting the Master's decision. Determined to help set things right, he headed for the medical lab.