The Ties That Bind
Chapter 20
Anakin stared into the chasm horrified. He hadn't been able to save her! Closing his eyes, he slid down against the sill, his gaze never leaving the spot where she'd last been. He swallowed hard before a scream of pure rage was pulled from his throat. "DAMN YOU!" he slammed his palms into the sharp edge of the sill and didn't care when the pain struck. He'd failed!
His words echoed through the cavern that had been living quarters at one point. Below he could hear the sound of water rushing into the basement, and a slight, cold laugh with a mocking edge, drifted just above its roar. He froze, his eyes narrowing on the space below. A black cloaked woman, for her shape could be nothing else, rose slowly from the chasm, a battered, broken body in her grasp. "Did you really think you could escape, Skywalker?"
Anakin fought the urge to lunge at her. Flying out over an empty chasm with nothing but rocks and water below was not a good idea. "Who are you?"
"Your nemesis. My Master wishes to meet with you."
Anakin's gaze went to a very still Sabé. He narrowed his eyes on the woman. "What did she ever do to you?"
"She balanced you out, Skywalker, with her gone..."
His eyes widened. She thought it was Padmé she'd killed! He laughed bitterly. "I will see you dead, woman."
"Good, hate me. It will fester, your rage will grow and you'll become more powerful than I could ever be on my own."
He pointed his hand at her, slowly closing his fist. Her eyes bulged behind her mask as she began to choke. Her levitation faltered for a moment, her eyes closing as her throat worked convulsively to breathe. His grip on her neck was suddenly broken and he growled. Her lips curved into a mocking smile he couldn't see, but he could hear it in her voice. "Is that the best you can do?"
He glared at her. "Meet me on my terms and we'll see the best I can do. I will see you dead and have your head for a trophy."
She made a clicking sound with her tongue. "That's the darkside, young padawan. Are you sure you want to match me on my turf?"
Anakin inhaled sharply, feeling his sorrow turning into anger. Anger focused on this woman and transforming into quiet rage. He would have his revenge; he would make her pay for what she'd done to Sabé. "Not only will I match you, I'll surpass you."
"Anakin, no!"
He looked down, outside the Palace to the gardens below. Padmé stood in the clearing, the wind whipping her hair about her face.
"What's this?!"
The woman's eyes narrowed. She threw Sabé's hood back and screamed with rage, a Force wind whipping through the room and knocking Anakin from the ledge. He cried out once, sliding down the wall only to catch the sill of the window below. Padmé screamed as he fell. He couldn't feel her in his mind; couldn't feel her thoughts or emotions. Carefully he unshielded himself and drew on her strength. He couldn't die here, not if he was to avenge Sabé.
The woman appeared in the window above him, her gaze narrowing spitefully on Padmé. "So, you've escaped again and your loyal bodyguard has once again paid the price. You won't escape me!"
Anakin channeled the Force into his body and leapt upwards, colliding with the woman on the sill and tumbling back into the black abyss. He could hear Padmé's scream as the wind rushed past him. He was going to die.
Padmé watched, her heart in her throat, as Anakin faced off with the unknown assailant. She screamed as he fell from the window, only to catch himself below. She screamed again as she watched him tackle the woman and disappear back into the shattered room. She sank to the ground, her fist beating the ground, "No!" she whispered numbly. He couldn't be dead; Anakin couldn't be gone! She searched frantically for their bond, taking comfort in the fact that she could still feel him. Suddenly, as if being severed by a vibro-blade, she couldn't feel him anymore! A stillness crept over her as fear sank into her heart. *ANAKIN!* her mind screamed, searching for him.
Nothing. Not even an echo of life. She swallowed hard, tears running in rivers down her cheeks. No! She shook her head mutely in denial. NO! The void that was opening up in her soul was testament to his passing. She felt as if she'd been cleaved in half, her most important half suddenly torn from her irrevocably, forcefully. She screamed an inarticulate sound of torment as she curled up into a fetal position on the ground. She began to shake. Anakin was gone and she never, ever wanted to move again.
Anakin slammed his fist into the woman's gut as they fell, freezing suddenly as his bond with Padmé was severed. Pain tore through him. "NO!"
The woman struggled in his grasp, slamming her knees into his face and freeing herself from his grasp and pushing away. A roar below caught their attention as Anakin struggled to find equilibrium. He was suddenly adrift, his anger and pain fighting for supremacy in his soul. Water rushed up below them and he barely had time to catch his breath before they hit.
Anakin came up sputtering in the choppy water. The current underneath tugged at his feet, threatening to drag him back under as he looked around. No one. A few feet away bubbles were popping on the surface and he ducked under the water, checking the source. Sabé? She was drifting downwards, towards the heavy current, air bubbles drifting from her mouth. He dove, swimming towards her and grabbed a hold of her clothing. Dragging her back towards the surface, he ignored the burning in his lungs. He'd found her and she had to be alive! He was shaking badly as he fought for the surface, his soul and heart feeling empty. Padmé was gone. How was that possible? He'd taken out the threat to her by willingly sacrificing himself. She couldn't be dead! He fought to breathe, feeling a pressure of losing her weighing heavily on his chest, as he broke to the surface. He looked around and dragged Sabé's body towards the wall. He needed to rest, to find something to cling to.
A mocking laugh brought his head up. "So, you've found the handmaiden. It's a shame you're too late to save her."
Anakin glared at her, not fighting the pain and allowed it to channel his powers. He focused on the woman and grabbed her in a telekinetic grip, dragging her towards him. He watched her eyes widen in shock as she fought to be free of his grip. Ready for her tricks, he changed the focus of his grip every few seconds. Grabbing her arm, her neck, her body, then her leg and repeating the cycle randomly so she couldn't anticipate. She struggled in his hold, trying to break free. Anakin felt the water beginning to recede, dropping him down further as the water washed out of the palace and back into the river. He barely paid it any notice, simply continued dragging the woman towards him.
She pulled a vibro-knife from her belt and threw it at him. It stopped short of his face and dropped harmlessly into the water. Her struggling continued. Anakin reached under the water to his belt, keeping Sabé locked close to his body. The woman screamed suddenly as something tugged on the back of her mask. She grabbed the bottom, continuing to come closer as the water continued to recede. It was falling faster than she and within minutes Anakin's feet were touching ground. He looped Sabé's arms around his neck, freeing his hands, and pulled his lightsaber from his belt.
The blade hummed over the sound of running water as he brandished it at the woman. Her control broken, she fell to the waist deep water with a splash and came up coughing. Anakin was on her in an instant, grabbing her arms and holding them tight behind her back as he ripped the mask from her face. He stumbled back. Carré.
Her lips were twisted in a cold smile. "Not expecting me, Skywalker?"
He blinked. Her voice was different, more refined. "I was expecting you; just not this you."
Her blue-black hair was plastered to her head, her eyes spitting fire. "Go ahead and kill me, strike me down, my Master's only desire is to see you at his feet!"
He froze. Her Master was the Sith.
"D-don't..."
He glanced over his shoulder at the soft, scratchy word. Sabé's eyes fluttered open, glazed with pain, but still sparked with life. He blinked. "You're alive!"
She flinched. "Head hurts. Don't k-kill her."
Anakin turned his gaze back to Carré. "Why shouldn't I?"
"C-council's right to pun-" She swallowed hard, forcing the words out, "punish her."
He grimaced. "I hate it when you're right, but I'm glad you're alive to be right more often." He moved to pull something from his belt and Carré twisted out of his grip. Water slashed around their boots, now ankle deep, as she whirled to face him.
Anakin held his lightsaber at the ready. Something moved behind him and he ducked, a silver cylindrical object flying out to land in Carré's hand. "So you are Jedi after all."
Carré smiled coldly, igniting the red blade. "Think again, Jedi."
Anakin gently lowered Sabé to the ground and advanced on Carré. She met him halfway and the battle began.
Chapter 20
Anakin stared into the chasm horrified. He hadn't been able to save her! Closing his eyes, he slid down against the sill, his gaze never leaving the spot where she'd last been. He swallowed hard before a scream of pure rage was pulled from his throat. "DAMN YOU!" he slammed his palms into the sharp edge of the sill and didn't care when the pain struck. He'd failed!
His words echoed through the cavern that had been living quarters at one point. Below he could hear the sound of water rushing into the basement, and a slight, cold laugh with a mocking edge, drifted just above its roar. He froze, his eyes narrowing on the space below. A black cloaked woman, for her shape could be nothing else, rose slowly from the chasm, a battered, broken body in her grasp. "Did you really think you could escape, Skywalker?"
Anakin fought the urge to lunge at her. Flying out over an empty chasm with nothing but rocks and water below was not a good idea. "Who are you?"
"Your nemesis. My Master wishes to meet with you."
Anakin's gaze went to a very still Sabé. He narrowed his eyes on the woman. "What did she ever do to you?"
"She balanced you out, Skywalker, with her gone..."
His eyes widened. She thought it was Padmé she'd killed! He laughed bitterly. "I will see you dead, woman."
"Good, hate me. It will fester, your rage will grow and you'll become more powerful than I could ever be on my own."
He pointed his hand at her, slowly closing his fist. Her eyes bulged behind her mask as she began to choke. Her levitation faltered for a moment, her eyes closing as her throat worked convulsively to breathe. His grip on her neck was suddenly broken and he growled. Her lips curved into a mocking smile he couldn't see, but he could hear it in her voice. "Is that the best you can do?"
He glared at her. "Meet me on my terms and we'll see the best I can do. I will see you dead and have your head for a trophy."
She made a clicking sound with her tongue. "That's the darkside, young padawan. Are you sure you want to match me on my turf?"
Anakin inhaled sharply, feeling his sorrow turning into anger. Anger focused on this woman and transforming into quiet rage. He would have his revenge; he would make her pay for what she'd done to Sabé. "Not only will I match you, I'll surpass you."
"Anakin, no!"
He looked down, outside the Palace to the gardens below. Padmé stood in the clearing, the wind whipping her hair about her face.
"What's this?!"
The woman's eyes narrowed. She threw Sabé's hood back and screamed with rage, a Force wind whipping through the room and knocking Anakin from the ledge. He cried out once, sliding down the wall only to catch the sill of the window below. Padmé screamed as he fell. He couldn't feel her in his mind; couldn't feel her thoughts or emotions. Carefully he unshielded himself and drew on her strength. He couldn't die here, not if he was to avenge Sabé.
The woman appeared in the window above him, her gaze narrowing spitefully on Padmé. "So, you've escaped again and your loyal bodyguard has once again paid the price. You won't escape me!"
Anakin channeled the Force into his body and leapt upwards, colliding with the woman on the sill and tumbling back into the black abyss. He could hear Padmé's scream as the wind rushed past him. He was going to die.
Padmé watched, her heart in her throat, as Anakin faced off with the unknown assailant. She screamed as he fell from the window, only to catch himself below. She screamed again as she watched him tackle the woman and disappear back into the shattered room. She sank to the ground, her fist beating the ground, "No!" she whispered numbly. He couldn't be dead; Anakin couldn't be gone! She searched frantically for their bond, taking comfort in the fact that she could still feel him. Suddenly, as if being severed by a vibro-blade, she couldn't feel him anymore! A stillness crept over her as fear sank into her heart. *ANAKIN!* her mind screamed, searching for him.
Nothing. Not even an echo of life. She swallowed hard, tears running in rivers down her cheeks. No! She shook her head mutely in denial. NO! The void that was opening up in her soul was testament to his passing. She felt as if she'd been cleaved in half, her most important half suddenly torn from her irrevocably, forcefully. She screamed an inarticulate sound of torment as she curled up into a fetal position on the ground. She began to shake. Anakin was gone and she never, ever wanted to move again.
Anakin slammed his fist into the woman's gut as they fell, freezing suddenly as his bond with Padmé was severed. Pain tore through him. "NO!"
The woman struggled in his grasp, slamming her knees into his face and freeing herself from his grasp and pushing away. A roar below caught their attention as Anakin struggled to find equilibrium. He was suddenly adrift, his anger and pain fighting for supremacy in his soul. Water rushed up below them and he barely had time to catch his breath before they hit.
Anakin came up sputtering in the choppy water. The current underneath tugged at his feet, threatening to drag him back under as he looked around. No one. A few feet away bubbles were popping on the surface and he ducked under the water, checking the source. Sabé? She was drifting downwards, towards the heavy current, air bubbles drifting from her mouth. He dove, swimming towards her and grabbed a hold of her clothing. Dragging her back towards the surface, he ignored the burning in his lungs. He'd found her and she had to be alive! He was shaking badly as he fought for the surface, his soul and heart feeling empty. Padmé was gone. How was that possible? He'd taken out the threat to her by willingly sacrificing himself. She couldn't be dead! He fought to breathe, feeling a pressure of losing her weighing heavily on his chest, as he broke to the surface. He looked around and dragged Sabé's body towards the wall. He needed to rest, to find something to cling to.
A mocking laugh brought his head up. "So, you've found the handmaiden. It's a shame you're too late to save her."
Anakin glared at her, not fighting the pain and allowed it to channel his powers. He focused on the woman and grabbed her in a telekinetic grip, dragging her towards him. He watched her eyes widen in shock as she fought to be free of his grip. Ready for her tricks, he changed the focus of his grip every few seconds. Grabbing her arm, her neck, her body, then her leg and repeating the cycle randomly so she couldn't anticipate. She struggled in his hold, trying to break free. Anakin felt the water beginning to recede, dropping him down further as the water washed out of the palace and back into the river. He barely paid it any notice, simply continued dragging the woman towards him.
She pulled a vibro-knife from her belt and threw it at him. It stopped short of his face and dropped harmlessly into the water. Her struggling continued. Anakin reached under the water to his belt, keeping Sabé locked close to his body. The woman screamed suddenly as something tugged on the back of her mask. She grabbed the bottom, continuing to come closer as the water continued to recede. It was falling faster than she and within minutes Anakin's feet were touching ground. He looped Sabé's arms around his neck, freeing his hands, and pulled his lightsaber from his belt.
The blade hummed over the sound of running water as he brandished it at the woman. Her control broken, she fell to the waist deep water with a splash and came up coughing. Anakin was on her in an instant, grabbing her arms and holding them tight behind her back as he ripped the mask from her face. He stumbled back. Carré.
Her lips were twisted in a cold smile. "Not expecting me, Skywalker?"
He blinked. Her voice was different, more refined. "I was expecting you; just not this you."
Her blue-black hair was plastered to her head, her eyes spitting fire. "Go ahead and kill me, strike me down, my Master's only desire is to see you at his feet!"
He froze. Her Master was the Sith.
"D-don't..."
He glanced over his shoulder at the soft, scratchy word. Sabé's eyes fluttered open, glazed with pain, but still sparked with life. He blinked. "You're alive!"
She flinched. "Head hurts. Don't k-kill her."
Anakin turned his gaze back to Carré. "Why shouldn't I?"
"C-council's right to pun-" She swallowed hard, forcing the words out, "punish her."
He grimaced. "I hate it when you're right, but I'm glad you're alive to be right more often." He moved to pull something from his belt and Carré twisted out of his grip. Water slashed around their boots, now ankle deep, as she whirled to face him.
Anakin held his lightsaber at the ready. Something moved behind him and he ducked, a silver cylindrical object flying out to land in Carré's hand. "So you are Jedi after all."
Carré smiled coldly, igniting the red blade. "Think again, Jedi."
Anakin gently lowered Sabé to the ground and advanced on Carré. She met him halfway and the battle began.