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 33
Obi-Wan stepped into the sick room, a feeling of dread in his heart. Tasha's body was stiff, lifeless, as she lay on the table. His restrictions had been lifted not two hours after his complaint, and he'd yet to find out why. Swallowing hard, he moved to her side, marveling at the swell of her stomach. Whatever the Healers were doing it must be beneficial for his daughter.
He walked through the circle, not stopping with them, but moving directly to her bedside. He could feel her life force now, the Force having been restored to him completely. A part of him felt bruised, battered, yet he couldn't give up yet. Tasha couldn't die. Yet, looking at her, he knew she could die, that she was very close to it. Ignoring the others in the room, he gathered Tasha in his arms and place a gentle kiss on her lips. Tears glittered in his eyes as he felt her life continue to slip away. *Don't go, please Tasha. I need you.*
He wasn't sure if she heard his silent plea as he reached into the Force and reached for her life. She was fading, but not for lack of trying. She was trying to hold on, to come back, but something was blocking her way. Obi-Wan felt his way to her blocked, an invisible Force wall that wouldn't allow him access. He searched for the source, a cold fear washing over him when he realized where it was coming from. The Force Healers. Outrage and shock coursed through him. They were trying to make her die! Why? Wasn't all life sacred to the Jedi? He knew he wasn't strong enough to face them, to beat them and break the Force block. He needed help.
Even as he watched, Anakin's presence curled around his own, lending strength and vitality. Obi-Wan's anger swelled, but Anakin's presence slowed it, lending him focus. Together they used their will to attack the Force wall, Anakin's powers seeming to grow and slam through the invisible barrier without effort as Obi-Wan reached solely for Tasha's presence.
Her energy fed off Anakin's, off his own, building, strengthening until...
Obi-Wan cried out as lights exploded behind his eyes, throwing him back into his body. Around him the Healers and Anakin were pushed back into their own bodies, staggering under the power of the merging. Obi-Wan's eyes cleared as the audible sound of a lightsaber igniting hit his ears. Anakin's back was the first thing he saw. Blazing brilliantly in front of him was his blue saber.
"Out, every single one of you. Now."
The Healers were still dazed, barely conscious, but Anakin's low command, backed by a Force compulsion, had them stumbling out of the room as fast as they could move. Anakin moved to the door as Padmé appeared, allowing only her entrance before locking the door and blocking it with his body. His lightsaber switched off as he looked at Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan looked down at Pearl, gently stroking her hair. "Open your eyes, Pearl. Please. Tell me you're alright."
Her eyelids fluttered before slowly opening. "Stubborn," she whispered, her voice hoarse.
His smile was slow, tremulous as tears flooded his eyes. He hugged her tightly, burying his face in the curve of her shoulder. "Tasha, oh Tasha, I thought I'd lost you."
Her arms slowly came up around his shoulders, hugging him back. "Not by choice, Obi-Wan, never by choice."
Anakin pulled Padmé to him as the two embraced, hugging his wife. After a few minutes he cleared his throat. "I hate to break this up now that you're back, Tasha. I'm glad to see you're alright. I, however, have some pretty serious questions to ask the council." His eyes hardened dangerously. "I, for one, want to know why they want you dead."
Tasha pulled away from Obi-Wan, who was reluctant to let her go. "I think I can answer that. It's the same reason why I didn't kill you."
Padmé's hand convulsed about Anakin's. "I thought you had. How did he resist the effects of your lightsaber?"
Tasha's smile was wan as Obi-Wan positioned the bed so she could sit and talk. "He didn't. Anakin will probably attest to the fact that it hurt like hell when I stabbed him. Is my lightsaber around here, Obi-Wan?"
"I've got it," Anakin pulled it out of a fold in his cloak, passing it to her.
Tasha motioned for Obi-Wan to step back and ignited it. "Obi-Wan, hold your hand in front of me please."
He did as asked, trusting her completely. Padmé felt a sliver of trepidation as Tasha line the blade up with Obi-Wan's hand. "Watch closely, Skywalker."
Tasha pushed the blade towards Obi-Wan's hand, but it shrank back from his flesh before contacting it until, a half inch from his palm, it disappeared into the hilt. Tasha slowly pulled the hilt back and the blade reappeared, sliding slowly out of the base. She switched it off and it blinked out. "I have a special switch on my blade that allows me to use it like a retractable knife but keep the sound. I did stab Skywalker, and I'm sorry I had to, but without any of you knowing what I had in mind, I had to make it look real."
Anakin nodded. "Her blade only went into my back about a quarter inch, but damn did it sting! I'm sorry I went along with her, Angel, but Tasha made a mind link when she put her hand to my throat to check my pulse. She masked my life signs so I'd appear dead to anyone looking. She told me that if I wanted to kill Palpatine I'd have to trust her." He looked back at Tasha, his smile rueful, "I admit I didn't want to but, when you spared my life and gave me the opportunity to strike at him with impunity, I had to."
Padmé wrapped her arms around his waist, "But why would the council try and make sure she died?"
"Because I'm too dangerous."
All eyes swung to Tasha. Obi-Wan's blazed fury for a heartbeat before he controlled it. "Too dangerous?"
She nodded. "Think about it. I can cloak myself completely. Not just my Force signature, but my life force too. I can make it seem like there is nothing but air where I'm standing. I can essentially cloak myself from any and all Jedi, including the council. I make the perfect Jedi assassin."
"That's ridiculous, why would you hunt Jedi?"
She met Obi-Wan's gaze squarely. "It's what I did for my last Master, Obi-Wan. It's what I did for Palpatine. I served him unconditionally, killing those he tagged and hunting down those who double-crossed him. Skywalker was my only rival in that respect, but he never did have my abilities."
Anakin shook his head. "I still don't think that's all there is to it, Tasha. I want answers from the council itself. I want to know why Master Yoda and Master Windu would condone this, even if you did hunt Jedi, you don't deserve to die!"
She grimaced, her eyes falling on her round stomach. "And I'd like an answer about this! What the hell did they do to my baby?"
"Our baby."
She rolled her eyes, looking at Obi-Wan out of the corner of one, "What makes you think I'll allow you to be a part of our lives now?"
"Because I won't give you a choice."
She laughed softly, surprising everyone by reaching up to grab the front of his tunic and kissing him fiercely. Padmé whistled. "Does this mean you don't want to leave him?"
Tasha looked at the other woman, "No, I don't want to leave him. I came back for him, I would die for him."
Padmé smiled.
Anakin looked at Obi-Wan, "Well, if you two are done necking, I want some answers. That is, if Tasha is up to the trip so soon after recovery?"
Tasha grimaced as she pushed herself off the bed, swinging her feet over the edge. She waved Obi-Wan's help away. "I'm not an invalid, I just beat death. Go, open the door and help Skywalker keep those crazy healers away from me. I want nothing more than to cut them down, but I won't. I promised myself once the Sith was dead I'd curb my darkside tendencies."
Obi-Wan and Anakin made sure the hallways was clear before Padmé and Tasha left the sick room. Tasha held the wall for support, but with every step she seemed to gain strength. By the end of the hallway she was walking on her own two feet, her face set. Whatever she was feeling was hidden behind a mask of indifference.
Anakin glanced back only once as they approached the turbo lifts. Whatever the council had intended by trying to kill Tasha, he had a feeling she knew what it was. She wasn't telling them everything.
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 33
Obi-Wan stepped into the sick room, a feeling of dread in his heart. Tasha's body was stiff, lifeless, as she lay on the table. His restrictions had been lifted not two hours after his complaint, and he'd yet to find out why. Swallowing hard, he moved to her side, marveling at the swell of her stomach. Whatever the Healers were doing it must be beneficial for his daughter.
He walked through the circle, not stopping with them, but moving directly to her bedside. He could feel her life force now, the Force having been restored to him completely. A part of him felt bruised, battered, yet he couldn't give up yet. Tasha couldn't die. Yet, looking at her, he knew she could die, that she was very close to it. Ignoring the others in the room, he gathered Tasha in his arms and place a gentle kiss on her lips. Tears glittered in his eyes as he felt her life continue to slip away. *Don't go, please Tasha. I need you.*
He wasn't sure if she heard his silent plea as he reached into the Force and reached for her life. She was fading, but not for lack of trying. She was trying to hold on, to come back, but something was blocking her way. Obi-Wan felt his way to her blocked, an invisible Force wall that wouldn't allow him access. He searched for the source, a cold fear washing over him when he realized where it was coming from. The Force Healers. Outrage and shock coursed through him. They were trying to make her die! Why? Wasn't all life sacred to the Jedi? He knew he wasn't strong enough to face them, to beat them and break the Force block. He needed help.
Even as he watched, Anakin's presence curled around his own, lending strength and vitality. Obi-Wan's anger swelled, but Anakin's presence slowed it, lending him focus. Together they used their will to attack the Force wall, Anakin's powers seeming to grow and slam through the invisible barrier without effort as Obi-Wan reached solely for Tasha's presence.
Her energy fed off Anakin's, off his own, building, strengthening until...
Obi-Wan cried out as lights exploded behind his eyes, throwing him back into his body. Around him the Healers and Anakin were pushed back into their own bodies, staggering under the power of the merging. Obi-Wan's eyes cleared as the audible sound of a lightsaber igniting hit his ears. Anakin's back was the first thing he saw. Blazing brilliantly in front of him was his blue saber.
"Out, every single one of you. Now."
The Healers were still dazed, barely conscious, but Anakin's low command, backed by a Force compulsion, had them stumbling out of the room as fast as they could move. Anakin moved to the door as Padmé appeared, allowing only her entrance before locking the door and blocking it with his body. His lightsaber switched off as he looked at Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan looked down at Pearl, gently stroking her hair. "Open your eyes, Pearl. Please. Tell me you're alright."
Her eyelids fluttered before slowly opening. "Stubborn," she whispered, her voice hoarse.
His smile was slow, tremulous as tears flooded his eyes. He hugged her tightly, burying his face in the curve of her shoulder. "Tasha, oh Tasha, I thought I'd lost you."
Her arms slowly came up around his shoulders, hugging him back. "Not by choice, Obi-Wan, never by choice."
Anakin pulled Padmé to him as the two embraced, hugging his wife. After a few minutes he cleared his throat. "I hate to break this up now that you're back, Tasha. I'm glad to see you're alright. I, however, have some pretty serious questions to ask the council." His eyes hardened dangerously. "I, for one, want to know why they want you dead."
Tasha pulled away from Obi-Wan, who was reluctant to let her go. "I think I can answer that. It's the same reason why I didn't kill you."
Padmé's hand convulsed about Anakin's. "I thought you had. How did he resist the effects of your lightsaber?"
Tasha's smile was wan as Obi-Wan positioned the bed so she could sit and talk. "He didn't. Anakin will probably attest to the fact that it hurt like hell when I stabbed him. Is my lightsaber around here, Obi-Wan?"
"I've got it," Anakin pulled it out of a fold in his cloak, passing it to her.
Tasha motioned for Obi-Wan to step back and ignited it. "Obi-Wan, hold your hand in front of me please."
He did as asked, trusting her completely. Padmé felt a sliver of trepidation as Tasha line the blade up with Obi-Wan's hand. "Watch closely, Skywalker."
Tasha pushed the blade towards Obi-Wan's hand, but it shrank back from his flesh before contacting it until, a half inch from his palm, it disappeared into the hilt. Tasha slowly pulled the hilt back and the blade reappeared, sliding slowly out of the base. She switched it off and it blinked out. "I have a special switch on my blade that allows me to use it like a retractable knife but keep the sound. I did stab Skywalker, and I'm sorry I had to, but without any of you knowing what I had in mind, I had to make it look real."
Anakin nodded. "Her blade only went into my back about a quarter inch, but damn did it sting! I'm sorry I went along with her, Angel, but Tasha made a mind link when she put her hand to my throat to check my pulse. She masked my life signs so I'd appear dead to anyone looking. She told me that if I wanted to kill Palpatine I'd have to trust her." He looked back at Tasha, his smile rueful, "I admit I didn't want to but, when you spared my life and gave me the opportunity to strike at him with impunity, I had to."
Padmé wrapped her arms around his waist, "But why would the council try and make sure she died?"
"Because I'm too dangerous."
All eyes swung to Tasha. Obi-Wan's blazed fury for a heartbeat before he controlled it. "Too dangerous?"
She nodded. "Think about it. I can cloak myself completely. Not just my Force signature, but my life force too. I can make it seem like there is nothing but air where I'm standing. I can essentially cloak myself from any and all Jedi, including the council. I make the perfect Jedi assassin."
"That's ridiculous, why would you hunt Jedi?"
She met Obi-Wan's gaze squarely. "It's what I did for my last Master, Obi-Wan. It's what I did for Palpatine. I served him unconditionally, killing those he tagged and hunting down those who double-crossed him. Skywalker was my only rival in that respect, but he never did have my abilities."
Anakin shook his head. "I still don't think that's all there is to it, Tasha. I want answers from the council itself. I want to know why Master Yoda and Master Windu would condone this, even if you did hunt Jedi, you don't deserve to die!"
She grimaced, her eyes falling on her round stomach. "And I'd like an answer about this! What the hell did they do to my baby?"
"Our baby."
She rolled her eyes, looking at Obi-Wan out of the corner of one, "What makes you think I'll allow you to be a part of our lives now?"
"Because I won't give you a choice."
She laughed softly, surprising everyone by reaching up to grab the front of his tunic and kissing him fiercely. Padmé whistled. "Does this mean you don't want to leave him?"
Tasha looked at the other woman, "No, I don't want to leave him. I came back for him, I would die for him."
Padmé smiled.
Anakin looked at Obi-Wan, "Well, if you two are done necking, I want some answers. That is, if Tasha is up to the trip so soon after recovery?"
Tasha grimaced as she pushed herself off the bed, swinging her feet over the edge. She waved Obi-Wan's help away. "I'm not an invalid, I just beat death. Go, open the door and help Skywalker keep those crazy healers away from me. I want nothing more than to cut them down, but I won't. I promised myself once the Sith was dead I'd curb my darkside tendencies."
Obi-Wan and Anakin made sure the hallways was clear before Padmé and Tasha left the sick room. Tasha held the wall for support, but with every step she seemed to gain strength. By the end of the hallway she was walking on her own two feet, her face set. Whatever she was feeling was hidden behind a mask of indifference.
Anakin glanced back only once as they approached the turbo lifts. Whatever the council had intended by trying to kill Tasha, he had a feeling she knew what it was. She wasn't telling them everything.