Title: Birth of Tyranny
Author: ewan's girl


Chapter 10:

Obi Wan fell towards the sea. He pulled out a rope from his belt and threw it upwards, using the force to guide it around a rock to stop his plummet. He swung from the rope for a second, the water from the water fall drenching him. He thought about what had just occurred.
"It never fails." He mumbled to himself and began to climb up.
She-ar-ah stood over the edge, panicked. She didn't know what to do. Finally her heart began to beat again when she saw Obi Wan making his way back to her through the mist. She ran to his rope, and helped him up. She held the soaking wet Jedi in her arms for a moment, relieved to see him alive.
"I was worried there for a second." She said, moving some hair out of his face.
He smiled at her, then the two looked towards the palace. To their horror they saw black smoke rising from it. "Oh gods." She-ar-ah placed a hand over her mouth. "The king!" She began to run up the slippery trail to the palace with Obi Wan on her tail. "Sergeant. Block all points of entry, no one leaves until it is safe." She-ar-ah called into her comlink.
They made it to the ball room. They saw the guests coughing, and screaming in confusion. Obi Wan handed She-ar-ah her shoes, as they made their way across broken glass. She-ar-ah pulled out her blaster as she scanned the corners of the room for the assassin.
Obi Wan scanned the room for the bounty hunter and for his apprentice. "Anakin!" He called into the darkened room.
"Master, I'm here!" Anakin's voice came from the middle of the room. "Come quickly!"
Obi Wan and She-ar-ah rushed to the center, where the blast had apparently occurred. To their horror they found Anakin leaning over Chancellor Palpatine, tying his cloak around the chancellor's leg which was obviously broken. They also saw Mace Windu and Padme Amidala hovering over Bail Organa who was in much worse condition.
"I need the medical team to the ball room, and I need them now!" She-ar-ah screamed into her comlink. She ran to Bail, and knelt next to him. He was barely awake, and was struggling to breath. "Your highness?" She-ar-ah said trying to control her emotions. "Just relax, the medical team will be here shortly." She smiled, trying to make him feel better.
Obi Wan watched She-ar-ah as he knelt next to the chancellor. Mace Windu came and knelt next to him as well. We just received a report that Count Dooku is on his way here with a huge droid army. Obi Wan looked over at his apprentice, who looked at him with a worried glance. He put a reassuring hand on Anakin's shoulder. He looked down at the Chancellor, who's face was black from the smoke.
"Have you made your decision?" Palpatine asked, and coughed.
Anakin looked confused, and Obi Wan turned to him. "Go check on Senator Amidala." Obi Wan commanded.
"But." Anakin started to protest.
"Now Padawan, make sure she is ok." Obi Wan said in a firm tone, and Anakin obeyed.
He turned to the Chancellor and nodded. "I accept your proposal." He said in almost a defeated tone. "I promise I will protect the Republic."
Palpatine smiled and nodded. "I know you will general Kenobi."
Mace gave a worried glance at Obi Wan, who tried desperately to ignore it.

**

Obi Wan walked on one of the sandy beaches, he was alone and wanted to keep it that way. He thought about the new responsibility he had just accepted from the Chancellor, and he was worried. He looked up at the stars, he then heard footsteps coming up behind him.
"They're beautiful aren't they?" She-ar-ah asked, and Obi Wan looked at her. She was back to wearing one of her skin tight black suits, decorated with various weapons. "It's a shame some of those lights up there are actually star ships bent on destroying us."
Obi Wan turned back to the stars. "I promise I will not let that happen." He looked at her. "How is his majesty?" He asked in a sympathetic tone.
"He is stabilized. He'll be ok." She looked at the ground. "He asked me where I was. I didn't know what to tell him." She could feel the tears building. "I told him we were on patrol. But I let him down."
"No you didn't, even if we had been there, there wasn't anything we could've done." Obi Wan moved towards her. "Trust me."
She-ar-ah still stared at the ground, and nodded her head.
"She-ar-ah listen to me, we can't keep living in the past, we have to focus on what is in front of us right now." She looked at him, they stared at each other for a moment, then he cleared his throat. "How is the evacuation process going?"
"Almost everyone has been evacuated, we still have his majesty and Chancellor Palpatine, because we were waiting for them to be cleared medically." He nodded when he heard this news. "Also Senator Amidala is still here."
He looked at her. "What?" He asked annoyed.
"She said she won't leave until Bail is safe." She-ar-ah looked at Obi Wan. "She also doesn't want to leave Anakin." Obi Wan snapped to attention. "Or you in danger." She-ar-ah added, protecting the Senator and Anakin from his knowledge of their affair.
"Fine, but I want everyone on a transport in one hour." Obi Wan commanded.
"Yes general." She-ar-ah answered.
Obi Wan stopped in his tracks. "Please, don't call me that."
"I'm sorry, but that is what you are now, what should I call you?" She-ar-ah looked at him.
"Look She-ar-ah, I am going to do the best I can to lead this army, and save the republic, but I'm still a Jedi, I will always be a Jedi." She nodded, and started back to the palace. "And She-ar-ah, I want you on that transport as well."
She turned and looked at him. "No, I will not leave you here unprotected until your army arrives."
He walked up to her and took her hands in his. "I will be fine, I have what guards the Chancellor brought with him, my army will be here shortly after Dooku lands."
She-ar-ah shook her head. "No, I will not leave you."
He put a hand on her cheek. "I need you to protect the king, that is what you were hired to do, and we both have jobs to do." She opened her mouth in protest, and he silenced her. "Please She-ar-ah it'll be easier for me to do my duty if I'm not worried about your life."
She-ar-ah looked down at the ground, then back at him. "Alright, I will go."

**

Anakin Skywalker watched as the last transport was being loaded, his master had given him the responsibility of making sure everyone was evacuated. His master who had been asked by Chancellor Palpatine to be general of his army, the same Chancellor Palpatine who had always told him that he was going to be the greatest of all the Jedi, not Obi Wan. He could feel Jealousy rise through his body. He sat staring off into space, very concerned with his thoughts. He didn't even notice Padme walking up behind him. He even jumped when she reached out and touched his arm. She quickly pulled her arm back.
"I'm sorry Padme." Anakin said, when he noticed he startled her. "I was just thinking."
"I noticed." Padme answered and smiled. "Are you ok?"
Anakin sighed. "Yeah, I'm just..." He looked at his wife and before he knew it he was unloading everything on her. "Why did the Chancellor pick him? Palpatine always says that I'm the most talented Jedi, not Obi Wan."
Padme's expression grew concerned. "Anakin, your master is a very talented Jedi. The Chancellor picked him because he felt he was the best candidate to lead the army."
Anakin threw her an angry look. "You always pick a side that I am not on. I thought you were my wife."
She looked at him offended. "Anakin! Now I love you very much, and I believe you would do a great job at leading the army...it's just perhaps the Chancellor knows you are young yet, and maybe he has other plans for you."
Anakin looked away. "I don't know."
Padme grabbed his head, and made him look at her. "As your wife Anakin I am always on your side, but as a member of the senate I have to do what is in the best interest of the Republic." He looked down, and she brought his gaze back to her, and she smiled. "I love you Anakin Skywalker, promise me that as you grow up you'll never forget who you are."
He leaned in and kissed her. "I will try."

**

Obi Wan walked towards Anakin. Anakin pushed Padme out of his arms when he noticed his master walking towards them.
"Anakin." Obi Wan said in a firm tone.
"Master?" Anakin asked very nervous.
"I have decided that I want you to go on this transport." Obi Wan said as he motioned to the transport preparing to depart.
"What?" Anakin asked surprised.
Padme looked between the two.
"Master, I shouldn't leave you here. The army has yet to arrive." Anakin reminded Obi Wan.
"Yes I know." Obi Wan said with a sigh. "But I feel that we need to finish our original mission and protect king Organa." Obi Wan looked at his apprentice. "Please Padawan, do as I say this time." Obi Wan said in a pleading tone.
Anakin looked at his master, then at his wife. Actually he was glad he would get to stay with her. "Yes master, but I will be back as soon as his majesty is safe."
Obi Wan bowed to Anakin which took him by surprise. "May the force be with you."
They stared at each other for a moment, but were interrupted by She-ar-ah clearing her throat. "We are ready to depart." She said in a professional tone.
Padme made her way to the transport, followed by Anakin. He turned and looked at his master one more time.
"Be careful Anakin." Obi Wan said in a fatherly tone.
"You too master." He turned to leave and then looked back again. "I will come back and help master...I promise." Obi Wan nodded in response.
She-ar-ah watched the other two go, when she turned to Obi Wan. "He's not staying here?" She asked appalled.
"I need him to stay with the transport, too many important lives at stake." He looked past She-ar-ah at the transport. He turned his attention to her, and noticed how worried she looked. "Don't worry, you will get past the blockade."
She shook her head. "I'm not worried about us."
He took her hand and kissed it.

**

The transport made it's way into the heavens and came face to face with a blockade of enemy star ships. She-ar-ah sat in the navigators seat, and one of her guards piloted the ship. She looked over and saw the look of terror in her guards eyes.
"Get ready, this will not be easy." She said to him, as they edged closer to the blockade.
**
Back on Alderaan Obi Wan and Mace Windu listened to the conversation in the transport through the radio. They exchanged worried glances.
**
As the transport flew closer to the star ships, just as expected smaller ships exited out, and began attacking.
"Evasive maneuvers!" She-ar-ah screamed at her guard.
The transport dove under one of the star ships scraping the roof against the bottom of the bigger ship. Three fighters followed after them. She-ar-ah manned the guns as they tried to out run the fighters. Anakin burst through the cockpit door.
"What's happening?" He seemed to scream at the other two.
"Fighters, coming in all around us." The guard answered.
The guard continued to try to out run the fighters, while avoiding the bigger star ships. Suddenly they were hit.
"R2 get us stabilized!" Anakin yelled into the comlink.
R2 moved to his place outside the ship, and began to work on it.
"Let me pilot the ship." Anakin told the guard very forcibly.
"I can't let you do that sir." The guard answered.
"I said let me at the controls." Anakin said in a very angry tone.
Suddenly the guard began to choke on thin air. She-ar-ah looked over worried, then she turned her attention on Anakin who had his hand stretched out towards the choking guard. Fear began to run through her body. Before she could respond her guard was on the floor passed out and they were in a downward spiral.
**
Obi Wan listened intently to what was happening, he grew very afraid.
"We're going down!" He heard She-ar-ah scream over the radio. He shut his eyes. Suddenly the radio went to static.
"Get that radio back on!" He screamed at one of the guards. He looked over at Mace Windu who had an expression to match his.
"Gods, the Chancellor is on that transport." A guard pointed out when the radio went silent.
"Everyone I love is on that transport!" Obi Wan yelled, and stormed out of the room followed by Mace Windu. Obi Wan walked out into the hall and ran his hands through his hair, trying to calm himself down.
"Obi Wan?" Mace asked, with concern and with a hint of discipline in his voice.
"I know master, I'm letting my emotions run away with me." Obi Wan looked ashamed. "I'm walking a thin line."
"I have come to expect more from you Kenobi." Mace said in a stern tone.
"I know master, I don't know what's wrong with me." Obi Wan looked away from the eyes that were now burning into him.
"Pull it together, we need you now." Mace said and made a face that showed he meant what he said.
"Yes master." Obi Wan said as if he were a padawan again.
Suddenly they were interrupted by a guard. "The radio is back on!" He said and was almost knocked down by Obi Wan and Mace Windu.
**
Anakin jumped into the pilot's seat, he grabbed the controls and pulled on them causing the ship to barely miss crashing into a star ship. She-ar-ah continued to stare at him with a look of shock on her face.
"Well are you just going to sit there, or are you going to shoot them?" Anakin asked the bewildered woman.
She-ar-ah snapped out of her trance and grabbed the controls for the guns. She began to fire at fighters as Anakin came straight at them. "Our guns are no match for the fighters." She-ar-ah pointed out.
Anakin looked down at the fuel, and noticed it was almost empty. "They must've hit one of the fuel cells, we are almost out." She-ar-ah looked at him worried. "We won't be able to get past this blockade. Looks like we have to go back."
Anakin turned the ship around in a tight 360 degree turn, almost causing She-ar-ah to fly out of her seat. He then forced the ship to go as fast as it could go down towards the planet of Alderaan. The last of the fighters turned back to their star ships as they entered the atmosphere.
"The fighters are turning back." She-ar-ah exclaimed, as she held onto her seat due to the steep drop. "I think you can stop now."
Anakin looked at her, she noticed the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "We are out of fuel, we are sorta free falling at this moment." He said with a mock smile on his face.
"What?!" She-ar-ah almost screamed.
"Don't worry, I'll think of something." Anakin tried to reassure her.
"Well you better do it quick, I'd say we have about one minute till impact." She-ar-ah said, looking out the windshield.
"R2, can you see if there is any fuel left in the broken fuel cell?" Anakin said into the comlink.
Outside the ship R2 beeped when he heard this command.
"And if there is, transport it into the remaining fuel cell." Anakin commanded.
The ship continued to plummet closer to the planet. Anakin tried to pull the ship up, but with no success. "Come on R2." Anakin mumbled under his breath. Suddenly the fuel light came on with a little fuel. "Yes!" Anakin claimed as he pulled on the controls.
"We're not going to make it." She-ar-ah exclaimed as he headed for the space port.
Anakin ignored her, as he flew the ship into the hanger. It crashed and skitted along the floor, causing four guards, Obi Wan and Mace Windu to jump out of it's way. They ran to the ship when it came to a rest. The guards began unloading the passengers one by one.
C3PO came down the ramp followed by R2. "My goodness R2, I have decided that I don't care much for space travel."
Anakin finally emerged and was greeted by Obi Wan. "Is everyone alright?" He asked his master.
"Appears to be." Obi Wan looked up at his padawan. "Are you alright?"
"Yes master." Anakin walked past Obi Wan, and Obi Wan turned to him.
"Good job Anakin." He said with a smile.
Anakin stopped. 'Anakin? Not Padawan, or my young apprentice?' He stood there for a moment with a confused look on his face, then he turned to his master. "Thank you Obi Wan." He then turned to his wife who was waiting for him.
Obi Wan turned to the transport just as She-ar-ah was coming down the ramp with her guard who was struggling to walk. Other guards rushed forward and carried the guard down the ramp. Obi Wan looked at the guard in confusion. She-ar-ah walked up to him.
"There's something you need to know." She looked at Obi Wan with a very concerned look. "It's about Anakin."