A/N: The long-awaited (well, the awaited anyway) chapter twelve - I'm actually very proud of this chapter. Might be a tissue warning, it depends on how you read it - I cried a little bit hehe. Quick update today, eh? Well, I probably won't be able to update later, so you get the benefit of another chapter right now. Enjoy, and review please. I love reviews.
Chapter Twelve: Last Hope
Tsena closed her eyes and focused on the Force. She needed to meditate and find out what was happening to Anakin.
Images began to flash up in her mind.
A ship landing in an exhaust vent.
Anakin and Padmé running down a corridor.
Anakin trying to free himself from a machine.
Anakin and Padmé captured by droids and an armoured bounty hunter.
Anakin and Padmé in a cart entering an arena.
Interspersed between these images, Tsena saw Obi-Wan's face. Then the visions from her dream – herself sinking into the sea.
And suddenly she knew.
Anakin and Padmé had gone to rescue Obi-Wan. They had been caught. They were to be executed.
And she understood what her dreams were telling her.
She had to save Anakin, the Chosen One, the man she loved. She had to save his life – but she had to give her own to do so. She loved him too much to let him die, he was too important to her and the Jedi.
She would save him, and she would die.
She rose and walked to her room. She felt strangely calm. She was not afraid of what was coming. If it would save the person she loved more than anything or anyone in the galaxy, she would give her life gladly.
She picked up a small, pocket-sized holocam and took it to record a message to Anakin – the last message he would ever receive from her.
I'm coming, Anakin…
Jovarii was sitting deep in meditation when she saw it.
Obi-Wan imprisoned inside a force field.
Obi-Wan being led into an arena.
Obi-Wan chained to a huge post, as thousands of Geonosians roared in excitement.
Jovarii slowly opened her eyes. He's going to be executed, she realised.
A tear spilled onto her cheek, and she brushed it away angrily. Now was not the time for tears. She had to take action. She had not seen him dead, or dying. There was still time.
She stood up and strode away, her cloak billowing out behind her.
You will not die, Obi-Wan. I love you too much to lose you.
I'm coming…
"…and as my first act with this new authority, I will create a grand army of the Republic to counter the increasing threats of the separatist," Chancellor Palpatine announced to the Senate.
"It is done then," Mace Windu said to Yoda as they sat overlooking the Senate. Yoda nodded grimly. "I will take what Jedi we have left and go to Geonosis to help Obi-Wan," Mace continued.
"And visit, I will, the cloners of Kamino and see this army they have created for the Republic," Yoda said.
The two Jedi walked away from the Senate Hall.
Tsena and Jovarii slipped into the stands around the arena. They had a clear view of Anakin, Padmé and Obi-Wan. Anakin had used the Force to control the reek that had been attacking him, and he was riding towards Padmé, who was standing on top of her post. She jumped down and dropped behind him, and they rode past Obi-Wan, who swung himself up behind them.
Jovarii felt intense relief when she saw that Obi-Wan was unharmed – but it was short-lived. A group of droidekas rolled out and surrounded the reek, pointing their blasters at the three.
Tsena sensed that she didn't have much time left. She kept her eyes on Anakin.
"Master, I just want to tell you that whatever happens next, you are not to blame. It isn't your fault," she said in a low voice.
Before Jovarii had a chance to question her, Mace Windu's purple lightsaber flickered to life, sweeping into the signal they had been waiting for. The two women drew their own sabers and activated them, and as they did so, they could see two hundred blue and green blades appear in the stands.
Tsena continued speaking as she ignited her lightsaber. "You are a wonderful Master, and wonderful Jedi – and a wonderful friend," she said to Jovarii, her voice breaking slightly. Then she ran down to the arena.
Tsena sliced her way through countless droids, making her way as fast as she could to where she could feel Anakin's presence in the Force. All around her, she felt so many Jedi – too many Jedi – falling and becoming one with the Force. The arena floor was littered with their bodies, droids and the bodies of the execution creatures. Everywhere she looked, she found destruction.
There is no emotion – there is peace. There is no ignorance – there is knowledge. There is no passion – there is serenity. There is no death – there is the Force, she repeated to herself.
And then she saw him, his lightsaber a blur as he deflected shot after shot. He looked up and locked eyes with her – and despite the death and destruction around him, he smiled. He began to fight his way to her.
This is it, Tsena thought. He was coming closer, focused on moving forward, leaving his back unprotected. And then she saw the blaster being raised and pointed at him…
She threw herself into the air and vaulted over Anakin a split second before the shot was fired. He whirled around just in time to hear the crack of the blaster, and to see Tsena fall.
"No!" he screamed, and caught her before she hit the ground.
About twenty Jedi were left, forming a circle as they were surrounded by droids. But Anakin saw none of this. All he could see was Tsena.
She gazed into his eyes, breathing heavily. The blaster had caught her in the chest – she knew she was dying.
"Anakin," she breathed. He cradled her in his arms, tears shining in his eyes.
"You'll be okay, Tsena, we'll get you out of here and you'll be fine," he said desperately.
"No," she said. "It's…too late…for me." There's nothing you can do.
"No, it's not!" Anakin cried, tears rolling down his face. He had not cried when his mother died, but he wept now as the woman he loved more than life slipped away.
"Anakin…please…listen to me," she struggled on. "It's not…your fault. It was my choice…my destiny." She gently stroked his cheek, her breathing becoming more ragged and broken. "I would…die every day…for you."
"You won't die, Tsena. You can't die!" he sobbed. "I love you. Don't leave me."
"I love you…too much…to let you…die." Tsena closed her eyes briefly. "You will be…such…a great Jedi…Anakin."
With the last of her strength she stretched up and kissed him – a long, sweet, gentle kiss that swept through her and drenched her broken body and soul with love and light. She broke away and he burned every detail of her into his memory – the sweet taste of her lips, her familiar scent, her long soft hair, her expressive blue and gold eyes – everything she knew and loved about her.
"I…love…you…" she whispered. Emin talu raya, she heard in her mind – then she expelled her last breath, and Anakin felt her spirit leap from her body and dissolve into the Force. He bent over her body, tears dripping form his face to hers.
Jovarii felt her Padawan breathe for the last time, felt her become one with the Force.
"Tsena!" she screamed, and ran to where her apprentice lay in Anakin's arms. She collapsed to her knees, sobbing wildly. She felt Obi-Wan pull her up gently, and she clung to him, crying into his robes. Suddenly, she became aware that they were surrounded by gunships, piloted by and pouring out clone troops.
"Jedi, move!" she dimly heard Mace shout. Obi-Wan half-carried, half-dragged her onto a ship, and they were joined a moment later by Anakin, carrying Tsena, and Padmé. The ship took off, and Anakin set Tsena's body down, his face a mask of pain and anguish. Jovarii's expression was identical to his, her cheeks streaked with tears.
When Padmé saw Anakin's face, she understood how much he loved Tsena. He seemed almost to be hurting more than when he had lost his mother. She almost began dreaming of what it would be like to be loved that much, but stopped herself. She was in the middle of a war, in great danger. Now was not the time for sentimentality, especially when she had firmly pushed away and forgotten her own feelings for Anakin. She did not want to remember them any more.
Just then, they saw a Geonosian speeder zooming away from the battle being raged below them. It was Dooku.
Anakin's hands clenched into fists, anger beginning to burn in him. Dooku was the reason why so many Jedi were dead. He was the reason why Tsena was dead.
"It's Dooku. Go after him!" he commanded the pilot of the ship. He looked once more at Tsena's lifeless form, and turned to stare at the back of Dooku's speeder.
Obi-Wan glanced at Jovarii. She was shaking so badly she could hardly hang on and keep her balance. He reached out his hand and took up hers, and she gripped it with her trembling fingers as if it were a lifeline. He could sense nothing but pure grief in her for her Padawan, and he wished he could hold her and comfort her.
He looked at Anakin, who was staring straight ahead with grim determination. He reached out to his Padawan with the Force. He sensed intense grief, pain – and anger. The strength of his emotions was almost overwhelming. Obi-Wan glanced at Tsena's body, a pang of sadness of his own touching him for the young woman he had known since she was a child, training in the Temple.
Could it be that Anakin's relationship with her was more than friendship? he wondered.
Suddenly, something exploded under the ship, and they lurched sideways. Padmé fell out of the open door and tumbled down a sand dune. Anakin just glanced back to check that she was unharmed, and then he turned to face the front again.
Obi-Wan was surprised. So he had nothing but professional feelings towards Padmé all along.
They followed Dooku to a hangar tower. Jovarii looked at Obi-Wan. "You go," she said. "I…I can't. I'll stay here."
Obi-Wan nodded. He could see that she was in no condition to fight. She gripped his hand a second longer. Please, be careful, she told him through the Force, her eyes red and hollow. I've already lost Tsena. I can't lose you too.
She released him, and he nodded again. He looked to Anakin as he prepared to get off the ship.
Anakin began to follow, but turned to face Jovarii. "Make sure Tsena gets back to the Temple," he told her. "I don't care how. Just…make sure she does."
Jovarii nodded, and the two men leapt out of the ship.
Count Dooku stood by a control panel, a small interstellar sail ship sitting nearby. He watched as the two Jedi approached.
As soon as he saw him, Anakin felt his anger rising. "You're going to pay for all the Jedi you killed today, Dooku!" he called. You're going to pay for killing Tsena.
Obi-Wan drew his lightsaber, and Anakin did the same. "We move in together," he said. "You, slowly on the –"
"No," Anakin said. His rage was burning, and he knew that if he waited, it would explode and he would lose control. "I'm taking him now!" He charged forward.
"Anakin, no!" Obi-Wan shouted.
The Count smiled faintly. He raised his arm and sent a stream of Dark side Force lightning shooting out towards Anakin. The young Jedi was thrown violently into the air, and he slammed into the wall and slumped down, dazed.
"As you can see, my Jedi powers are far beyond yours," Dooku said to Obi-Wan confidently.
"I don't think so," Obi-Wan countered, moving slowly towards him. Dooku ignited his saber, a red-glowing blade.
Obi-Wan came at him, striking hard. Dooku barely needed to move to block the cuts.
"Master Kenobi, you disappoint me," he taunted. "Yoda holds you in such high esteem."
Obi-Wan fought on grimly, but he was beginning to tire. He backed off.
"Come, come, Master Kenobi," Dooku jeered. "Put me out of my misery."
Obi-Wan dove back into the battle, and Dooku was surprised by the ferocity of the attack. But soon his pace began to slacken as his exhaustion set in, and the Count began to drive him back. Obi-Wan missed a parry, and Dooku's lightsaber flashed into his shoulder. His own faltered for a fatal second, and Dooku stabbed into his thigh.
Obi-Wan stumbled back, his lightsaber sliding across the floor. The Count raised his arm for the final blow.
"And so it ends," he said with a slight shrug. He brought his weapon down at Obi-Wan's head.
A green blade cut in underneath, stopping the weapon with a shower of sparks.
Anakin forced Count Dooku's lightsaber away from his Master, his emotions finally under control.
"That's brave of you, boy, but foolish," Dooku said calmly. "I would have thought you'd learned your lesson."
"I'm a slow learner," Anakin shot back, and charged.
His attack was fast and unrelenting, catching the Count off-guard and driving him back. Dooku looked surprised, but he recovered quickly.
"You have unusual powers, young Padawan," he said. "But now enough to save you this time!"
Anakin was beginning to tire, and Obi-Wan knew he needed to do something unexpected to defeat the Count. He summoned up his strength.
"Anakin!" he called, and used the Force to fling his lightsaber to his apprentice.
Anakin caught it, smoothly igniting it and sweeping it into his attack. He picked up his pace, his blue and green blades moving with perfect precision. Suddenly, he remembered the day he had returned to the Temple and watched Tsena train against Jovarii. He smiled briefly, an idea springing up in his mind.
The Count struck downwards, and Anakin met his blade with both of his, pushing against the bar of red light. Slowly, he allowed Dooku to force him back until he was on the ground, holding the weapon off just above his head. He saw Dooku's triumphant smile.
You haven't won yet, he thought, and then he kicked out, landing the Count on his back. Immediately, Anakin leapt to his feet and flipped over, pointing his own lightsaber at Dooku's throat, and Obi-Wan's blade at his heart.
"Give up, Dooku?" he asked.
The Count grinned evilly. "Never," he said, and swept his lightsaber across and down, slicing Anakin's arm at the elbow.
Searing pain tore through Anakin, beginning to dull his senses. With the last of his strength, he plunged Obi-Wan's lightsaber down into Dooku's heart.
As he slumped to the floor, he felt Dooku die. The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was Master Yoda at the door of the hangar.
Tsena had strayed beyond all time and space. She could see and feel the warm glow of the Force calling to her.
She looked ahead, and to her surprise saw an image of Anakin. Then his features twisted strangely, and he was clothed in black, a black helmet covering his head, a red-glowing lightsaber in his hand.
Red…the colour of the Sith!
She saw him strike a blow to an old man wilding a blue blade – an older Obi-Wan Kenobi. She saw him use the Force to choke a man in uniform.
He will turn to the Dark side…
Then she saw no more.
On board the gunship, Jovarii suddenly felt something flare in the body of her apprentice. She gently placed her hand on Tsena's pale cheek – and her eyes widened.
She ran to the pilot. "I need to get to Coruscant immediately!"
The pilot nodded and set the coordinates.
Jovarii turned back to her apprentice.
She was alive.