Oct 2002
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, all the characters (Except for Tasha) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 31
Obi-Wan watched as the two circled each other, finding the strength to push himself off the ground with Padmé's help. He had just enough time to call out a warning and push Padmé out of range, as Palpatine lunged at them. The red lightsaber sliced through the air, straight at him.
Unable to dodge, unable to move, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and awaited the inevitable. It never came. He opened his eyes and stared. "No." his whisper was disbelieving.
Tasha stood in front of him, her arms wide, the point of a red lightsaber extending through her back and hanging inches in front of his face. As he watched she slowly collapsed to her knees, her own lightsaber falling from her limp hand. "NO!"
Her hand came up and the lightsaber suddenly switched off, dropping to the floor with a resounding clang. "Pearl! Tasha!"
She fell back against him, her eyes closed against ashen cheeks.
Beyond them, Anakin struck the final blow against the man as he was distracted, his lightsaber cutting through flesh and bone. Palpatine screamed as the energy blade cut him in half from shoulder to hip. A brilliant ball of blue-white light exploded from his body as it hit the floor, engulfing Anakin in the malevolent energy.
"ANAKIN!"
Padmé ran towards where her husband was being surrounded by the energy only to be thrown back across the room and into the blast doors by a huge burst of wind. Her head hit the wall with a loud bang and she crumpled to the floor.
Obi-Wan held Tasha in his arms. "Open your eyes," he begged, all of his memories about losing Qui-Gon coming back to haunt him. His master had taken a hit like this and died. He couldn't lose Tasha. Not now. Now when he realized exactly how much he needed her. "Tasha, please. Open your eyes."
Her eyelids fluttered, her green eyes glazed with pain as they finally opened. "Obi-Wan."
He curled about her protectively, shielding her from the aftereffects of Sidious' death. "Pearl. Why...?"
Her smile was pained as she tried to take in a deep breath, her green eyes clear of the coldness he'd become accustomed to. "I had to make him think I was on his side." Her breathing hitched as she fought to continue. "I had to make him think he'd won."
Tears gathered in his eyes. "You can't die. I won't let you."
She laughed, coughing almost immediately as pain raced through her chest. "You may not have a choice. You're not strong enough to keep us both alive."
He hugged her. "Then keep yourself alive. Damn you, don't do this to me now."
"Such language." She flinched from the pain, struggling. "I'm sorry I had to hurt you."
"Don't start that," he brushed her blonde hair out of her face, searching her features. "I won't let you die."
"Such passion." Her smile was faint, the light in her eyes beginning to fade. "Always so passionate."
He shook his head, forcing himself to smile. "Don't do this to me, not when I've finally found you."
Her hand rose slowly, as if she could barely lift it. He caught her hand as it cupped the side of his face, turning his head to place a kiss in the center of her palm. "I may not... have a choice."
The storm in the center of the room died, and Obi-Wan looked up. Anakin stood where the Sith lord had been, his clothing in tatters, a brilliant light surrounding him. Beside him was a huge crater crackling with black and blue energy. The whole end of the chamber was destroyed. Stepping out of the vortex, he dropped to the ground beyond Obi-Wan and Tasha. He didn't seem to see them as he walked purposefully towards where Padmé lay on the ground. He knelt, gently lifting his wife in his arms and closing his eyes. White light flowed into her, revitalizing her body and healing any injuries she'd sustained. Anakin carried her back towards Obi-Wan and Tasha as Tasha began to cough.
Blood flecked her lips as she turned her head into his shoulder, "It's too late for me." Her words were pained, soft. Obi-Wan could feel her life energy beginning to fade.
"Anakin!" he turned his head to look at his friend imploringly.
Anakin placed Padmé on the ground beside Obi-Wan and Tasha before placing a hand on her shoulder.
She shrugged him off. "No," her words were a gasp as she fought to get them out. "No, it's better this way."
"No! Don't you dare say that! I need you, Pearl."
Her smile was for him alone. "You'll never lose me."
Anakin reached out and grasped her shoulder firmly. Ignoring her weak protests he allowed the Force to flow into her body. He repaired some of the damage, enough that she wouldn't die, but her lungs had been ruptured and blood was leaking into her respitory system. They had to get her to a medical lab and soon.
Obi-Wan allowed Anakin to mend his deeper wounds before forcing himself to his feet. He was exhausted. Tasha protested weakly. "I won't make it. Leave me."
"Never. I won't let you die."
"So stubborn," she gasped, pain shooting through her chest.
"You bring out the worst in me. What's the fastest way out of here?"
She gasped for breath, her arms clutching her chest as she coughed, the pain almost unbearable. She couldn't find the focus to touch the Force and dull it, and it was starting to eat further into her chest. A part of her was worried the blade had been poisoned, but it was impossible to taint a lightsaber. She gasped for breath. "There's... there's a turbolift hidden in the pillar to the north corner."
Obi-Wan carried her swiftly to the pillar in the far north of the room, carefully avoiding the area that was blank in the Force. Anakin, Padmé cradled in his arms, was close behind. With Tasha's halting help they found the turbolift and entered the codes to activate it.
With one last look around the chamber, at the place where Palpatine had stood and died, they entered the lift. They raced up through the bowels of the city in the fast moving car, the rock flashing past quickly.
Obi-Wan cradled the unconscious woman in his arms. After her last words, she'd passed out. Her skin lacked color, her breathing shallow and irregular. Her body shook in his arms at each breath, her pain echoing through the Force.
"How is she?"
Obi-Wan looked up as Anakin was placing a disoriented Padmé back on her feet. The back of her head was covered in dried blood and her stance was shaky, but she seemed to be alright. Obi-Wan looked back at Pearl, his throat tight. "She's dying."
"I wish I could have done more."
"You gave her a chance, Anakin, I couldn't ask for more."
They were silent as Tasha suddenly cried out, clutching her chest as she came away. "NO! Master! No!"
"Pearl!" Obi-Wan held her more tightly, stroking her shoulder. "Pearl, look at me, he's dead, he can't hurt you anymore!"
Her head tossed from side to side and Obi-Wan realized she was delirious. "No, not my baby. Please, anything else, just not her!"
He felt his heart clench with her pitiful words, her plea. He could find no words as her ranting continued.
"Please Master, don't make me kill him! No! I won't!" she screamed and Obi-Wan just about dropped her. Her head tossed again. "Not again! I swear I won't disobey you again, please don't! Master!"
Anakin placed a hand on Tasha's shoulder over Obi-Wan's. The Force flowed between them, calming her and him as Anakin stepped back. "She'll sleep until we make the lab."
Obi-Wan curled around her body protectively. "Please be alright, Pearl."
Their trip upwards ended in the Chancellor's office. Anakin led the way from the area, Padmé walking directly behind him as Obi-Wan carried Tasha. Anakin allowed no one to stop them as they got to the main turbo lifts. He used the Force, though he was mentally exhausted, to call the lift quickly. Before they'd reached the ground level, Tasha's breathing had begun to hitch. "Don't die on me!" Obi-Wan commanded her as they reached the main floor.
The doors opened to reveal security personnel. A voice from the back of the gathered crowd echoed across the hall. "That's them! They're the ones who killed the Supreme Chancellor!"
"We don't have time for this!" Obi-Wan exclaimed, "Pearl needs help now!"
Anakin spun out of the turbolift, his lightsaber blazing a brilliant trail of blue. "This is Jedi business, do not interfere."
"I'm sorry, Jedi Skywalker, but you're under arrest for the death of the Supreme Chancellor."
"What proof do you have to accuse us?"
The man faltered. "I-"
"None."
The man swallowed hard as Anakin scanned the crowd. "You will let us pass."
Carefully, slowly, the crowd parted.
Obi-Wan paid almost no attention to what Anakin was doing. Pearl was starting to convulse, her breathing become more and more erratic. "We have to get there now, Anakin! She's slipping away!"
As he watched, her chest rose and fell slowly, coming less frequently. Panicked, Obi-Wan raced through the parted crowd towards a waiting speeder. Anakin ran ahead, holding the crowd at bay, with Padmé close on his heels. She picked a speeder as Anakin continued to hold the crowd in thrall. His Force powers were manifesting, becoming more powerful even as he grew weaker. Obi-Wan felt a flash of fear for his friend, but it was quickly diminished by his concern for Tasha. She couldn't die. He wouldn't let her die!
They piled into the small speeder, Obi-Wan holding Tasha carefully in his lap. He stroked her hair, closing his eyes to send her his strength through the Force. He could barely find her life signature, or that of the child within her. Even as he slipped into her system and boosted them both, anchoring them to him, he could feel them slipping away. NO! He put his forehead to hers as Anakin's aggressive driving cut them into the traffic and back towards the Temple. He couldn't lose her, not now. She wasn't allowed to die. By sheer force of will, he anchored her, holding the little life that was left in her body to his own, wrapping his around hers, and holding her. She wouldn't die; he wouldn't allow it.
Anakin landed the speeder a few minutes later at the base of the Temple, close to the medical wing. He helped Padmé out of the speeder and then turned to Obi-Wan. His friend was still, his forehead close to Tasha's. Anakin reached out to shake the man but froze. He could feel what Obi-Wan was doing. He could feel the concentration involved, the drain on Obi-Wan's battered body and mind.
"Padmé, go get the medics. And hurry, Tasha's fading fast."
Padmé turned and raced away towards the medical wing. Anakin slumped against the side of the speeder, exhausted. He should help Obi-Wan, should try to help the man save his woman, but couldn't find the strength. He sank to the ground slowly, his eyes closing. Completely drained, he couldn't find the strength to stand. His head fell on his knees as he passed into unconsciousness.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, all the characters (Except for Tasha) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 31
Obi-Wan watched as the two circled each other, finding the strength to push himself off the ground with Padmé's help. He had just enough time to call out a warning and push Padmé out of range, as Palpatine lunged at them. The red lightsaber sliced through the air, straight at him.
Unable to dodge, unable to move, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and awaited the inevitable. It never came. He opened his eyes and stared. "No." his whisper was disbelieving.
Tasha stood in front of him, her arms wide, the point of a red lightsaber extending through her back and hanging inches in front of his face. As he watched she slowly collapsed to her knees, her own lightsaber falling from her limp hand. "NO!"
Her hand came up and the lightsaber suddenly switched off, dropping to the floor with a resounding clang. "Pearl! Tasha!"
She fell back against him, her eyes closed against ashen cheeks.
Beyond them, Anakin struck the final blow against the man as he was distracted, his lightsaber cutting through flesh and bone. Palpatine screamed as the energy blade cut him in half from shoulder to hip. A brilliant ball of blue-white light exploded from his body as it hit the floor, engulfing Anakin in the malevolent energy.
"ANAKIN!"
Padmé ran towards where her husband was being surrounded by the energy only to be thrown back across the room and into the blast doors by a huge burst of wind. Her head hit the wall with a loud bang and she crumpled to the floor.
Obi-Wan held Tasha in his arms. "Open your eyes," he begged, all of his memories about losing Qui-Gon coming back to haunt him. His master had taken a hit like this and died. He couldn't lose Tasha. Not now. Now when he realized exactly how much he needed her. "Tasha, please. Open your eyes."
Her eyelids fluttered, her green eyes glazed with pain as they finally opened. "Obi-Wan."
He curled about her protectively, shielding her from the aftereffects of Sidious' death. "Pearl. Why...?"
Her smile was pained as she tried to take in a deep breath, her green eyes clear of the coldness he'd become accustomed to. "I had to make him think I was on his side." Her breathing hitched as she fought to continue. "I had to make him think he'd won."
Tears gathered in his eyes. "You can't die. I won't let you."
She laughed, coughing almost immediately as pain raced through her chest. "You may not have a choice. You're not strong enough to keep us both alive."
He hugged her. "Then keep yourself alive. Damn you, don't do this to me now."
"Such language." She flinched from the pain, struggling. "I'm sorry I had to hurt you."
"Don't start that," he brushed her blonde hair out of her face, searching her features. "I won't let you die."
"Such passion." Her smile was faint, the light in her eyes beginning to fade. "Always so passionate."
He shook his head, forcing himself to smile. "Don't do this to me, not when I've finally found you."
Her hand rose slowly, as if she could barely lift it. He caught her hand as it cupped the side of his face, turning his head to place a kiss in the center of her palm. "I may not... have a choice."
The storm in the center of the room died, and Obi-Wan looked up. Anakin stood where the Sith lord had been, his clothing in tatters, a brilliant light surrounding him. Beside him was a huge crater crackling with black and blue energy. The whole end of the chamber was destroyed. Stepping out of the vortex, he dropped to the ground beyond Obi-Wan and Tasha. He didn't seem to see them as he walked purposefully towards where Padmé lay on the ground. He knelt, gently lifting his wife in his arms and closing his eyes. White light flowed into her, revitalizing her body and healing any injuries she'd sustained. Anakin carried her back towards Obi-Wan and Tasha as Tasha began to cough.
Blood flecked her lips as she turned her head into his shoulder, "It's too late for me." Her words were pained, soft. Obi-Wan could feel her life energy beginning to fade.
"Anakin!" he turned his head to look at his friend imploringly.
Anakin placed Padmé on the ground beside Obi-Wan and Tasha before placing a hand on her shoulder.
She shrugged him off. "No," her words were a gasp as she fought to get them out. "No, it's better this way."
"No! Don't you dare say that! I need you, Pearl."
Her smile was for him alone. "You'll never lose me."
Anakin reached out and grasped her shoulder firmly. Ignoring her weak protests he allowed the Force to flow into her body. He repaired some of the damage, enough that she wouldn't die, but her lungs had been ruptured and blood was leaking into her respitory system. They had to get her to a medical lab and soon.
Obi-Wan allowed Anakin to mend his deeper wounds before forcing himself to his feet. He was exhausted. Tasha protested weakly. "I won't make it. Leave me."
"Never. I won't let you die."
"So stubborn," she gasped, pain shooting through her chest.
"You bring out the worst in me. What's the fastest way out of here?"
She gasped for breath, her arms clutching her chest as she coughed, the pain almost unbearable. She couldn't find the focus to touch the Force and dull it, and it was starting to eat further into her chest. A part of her was worried the blade had been poisoned, but it was impossible to taint a lightsaber. She gasped for breath. "There's... there's a turbolift hidden in the pillar to the north corner."
Obi-Wan carried her swiftly to the pillar in the far north of the room, carefully avoiding the area that was blank in the Force. Anakin, Padmé cradled in his arms, was close behind. With Tasha's halting help they found the turbolift and entered the codes to activate it.
With one last look around the chamber, at the place where Palpatine had stood and died, they entered the lift. They raced up through the bowels of the city in the fast moving car, the rock flashing past quickly.
Obi-Wan cradled the unconscious woman in his arms. After her last words, she'd passed out. Her skin lacked color, her breathing shallow and irregular. Her body shook in his arms at each breath, her pain echoing through the Force.
"How is she?"
Obi-Wan looked up as Anakin was placing a disoriented Padmé back on her feet. The back of her head was covered in dried blood and her stance was shaky, but she seemed to be alright. Obi-Wan looked back at Pearl, his throat tight. "She's dying."
"I wish I could have done more."
"You gave her a chance, Anakin, I couldn't ask for more."
They were silent as Tasha suddenly cried out, clutching her chest as she came away. "NO! Master! No!"
"Pearl!" Obi-Wan held her more tightly, stroking her shoulder. "Pearl, look at me, he's dead, he can't hurt you anymore!"
Her head tossed from side to side and Obi-Wan realized she was delirious. "No, not my baby. Please, anything else, just not her!"
He felt his heart clench with her pitiful words, her plea. He could find no words as her ranting continued.
"Please Master, don't make me kill him! No! I won't!" she screamed and Obi-Wan just about dropped her. Her head tossed again. "Not again! I swear I won't disobey you again, please don't! Master!"
Anakin placed a hand on Tasha's shoulder over Obi-Wan's. The Force flowed between them, calming her and him as Anakin stepped back. "She'll sleep until we make the lab."
Obi-Wan curled around her body protectively. "Please be alright, Pearl."
Their trip upwards ended in the Chancellor's office. Anakin led the way from the area, Padmé walking directly behind him as Obi-Wan carried Tasha. Anakin allowed no one to stop them as they got to the main turbo lifts. He used the Force, though he was mentally exhausted, to call the lift quickly. Before they'd reached the ground level, Tasha's breathing had begun to hitch. "Don't die on me!" Obi-Wan commanded her as they reached the main floor.
The doors opened to reveal security personnel. A voice from the back of the gathered crowd echoed across the hall. "That's them! They're the ones who killed the Supreme Chancellor!"
"We don't have time for this!" Obi-Wan exclaimed, "Pearl needs help now!"
Anakin spun out of the turbolift, his lightsaber blazing a brilliant trail of blue. "This is Jedi business, do not interfere."
"I'm sorry, Jedi Skywalker, but you're under arrest for the death of the Supreme Chancellor."
"What proof do you have to accuse us?"
The man faltered. "I-"
"None."
The man swallowed hard as Anakin scanned the crowd. "You will let us pass."
Carefully, slowly, the crowd parted.
Obi-Wan paid almost no attention to what Anakin was doing. Pearl was starting to convulse, her breathing become more and more erratic. "We have to get there now, Anakin! She's slipping away!"
As he watched, her chest rose and fell slowly, coming less frequently. Panicked, Obi-Wan raced through the parted crowd towards a waiting speeder. Anakin ran ahead, holding the crowd at bay, with Padmé close on his heels. She picked a speeder as Anakin continued to hold the crowd in thrall. His Force powers were manifesting, becoming more powerful even as he grew weaker. Obi-Wan felt a flash of fear for his friend, but it was quickly diminished by his concern for Tasha. She couldn't die. He wouldn't let her die!
They piled into the small speeder, Obi-Wan holding Tasha carefully in his lap. He stroked her hair, closing his eyes to send her his strength through the Force. He could barely find her life signature, or that of the child within her. Even as he slipped into her system and boosted them both, anchoring them to him, he could feel them slipping away. NO! He put his forehead to hers as Anakin's aggressive driving cut them into the traffic and back towards the Temple. He couldn't lose her, not now. She wasn't allowed to die. By sheer force of will, he anchored her, holding the little life that was left in her body to his own, wrapping his around hers, and holding her. She wouldn't die; he wouldn't allow it.
Anakin landed the speeder a few minutes later at the base of the Temple, close to the medical wing. He helped Padmé out of the speeder and then turned to Obi-Wan. His friend was still, his forehead close to Tasha's. Anakin reached out to shake the man but froze. He could feel what Obi-Wan was doing. He could feel the concentration involved, the drain on Obi-Wan's battered body and mind.
"Padmé, go get the medics. And hurry, Tasha's fading fast."
Padmé turned and raced away towards the medical wing. Anakin slumped against the side of the speeder, exhausted. He should help Obi-Wan, should try to help the man save his woman, but couldn't find the strength. He sank to the ground slowly, his eyes closing. Completely drained, he couldn't find the strength to stand. His head fell on his knees as he passed into unconsciousness.