She could barely see to walk in the dimness. At first the pitch-darkness and feeling of space had reminded her of an underground cavern, but the surface beneath Tahiri's feet was cold, smooth metal. The thrum of a lightsaber slicing through the air came from behind her. At the corner of her eye, a blood-red glow flared and then vanished. For a moment there was nothing more. Then the sound of quiet, choked sobbing reached her ears.
Sensing a familiar presence, she headed toward it. As Tahiri drew closer, she could see the silhouettes of two bodies crumpled on the floor and that of another person kneeling and slumped over near them. She broke into a run.
"Anakin!"
He flinched, but did not change his position. Now she could see that the floor where he knelt was covered in a pool of blood.
Tahiri crouched down beside her friend. Reaching out, she lifted his chin so he was looking straight at her. His face glistened with tears. The eyes that had always seemed strangely pale were shadowed, reflecting only the darkness around them.
"Anakin?"
"I didn't do it. It wasn't me. Please, you have to believe this. Just tell me that you believe me."
She wanted to agree. Instead she found herself taking his hand in hers.
"I'm here."
"You'll leave."
"No, I won't. I'm staying right here. Nothing will make me leave, not even you. I won't let you be alone in this."
"I... I think you'll have to."
He grimaced as if in agony. A large, jagged scar became visible, running from chin to ear over the right side of his face. A strange black substance moved over his features like a living thing, and formed itself into a mask. Tahiri looked down at Anakin's arm and the hand she held. Wires and machinery slithered out from beneath the skin, and were in turn engulfed by black coverings and armor.
"I don't want to be like him. Why can't I stop this? Don't leave. If I'm alone, I'll forget to fight it."
The mechanical hand was nearly crushing hers. She held on tenaciously. Tahiri wasn't sure what was happening, but she knew Anakin needed her now. Though she hadn't been there when he was captured by the Sith, she was here now. This time she would not fail.
She became more worried when she realized that Anakin was slowly becoming transparent. Everything else was fading as well, melting into the darkness. The grip on Tahiri's hand became more and more insubstantial, until it was no longer there. There was only blackness and empty space around her now. Anakin was somewhere else, and she felt herself drawn towards the distant echo of a concerned voice calling her.