One Last Encounter
AUTHOR: Abigail
SUMMARY: There was only one way that Anakin and Padme could have stayed together…Twists the plot from RotS.
CHAPTER 5: Disturbance
RATING: M
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that was created by George Lucas.
NOTE: Ok. I read all of your reviews and I finally wrote out this whole thing instead of going through it blindly. I've very happy with what I've come up with so hopefully you all like it as well!
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Obi-Wan raised his light saber towards Anakin's, until their weapons met. His grip tightened as he searched for something to say. His mind was racing, out of control, yet he could hear the wise words of an old friend speaking to him. Use the force, Obi-Wan. It was a simple enough thing to say, but at this moment in time, Obi-Wan felt lost and unable to grasp what was happening. He turned to Padme, whose hidden face didn't conceal her emotion bearing eyes. He could see the dark side in them, yet something lay behind all of that. Something that resembled shame. He felt sorry for her. He truly did.
But Anakin stood in front of him still, as he was waiting for Obi-Wan to respond. He finally spoke. "I see that you have dragged down you own wife, my young apprentice." Anakin sharply raised his head at these words, processing them quickly.
"She came willingly, Obi-Wan. And I am no longer your apprentice, as I thought you would have known by now…" Anakin said, full of disgust and hatred. His eyes flashed again. The dark force was so clearly present around him that Obi-Wan almost felt alone, and afraid. Yet the force was strong and could easily shine through that darkness that was surrounding Anakin, clouding his old Jedi ways.
"Yes, Anakin. I see that you owe your new powers to Darth Siddious, your new Master. I knew that it wouldn't be long until you were lead down this path of destruction. I sensed it ever since the death of Count Dooku." Obi-Wan finished and waited silently. Anakin dismissed these words and pursued his objective.
"You must realize now, Obi-Wan, that you are a threat to Padme and I. You not only betrayed me, but you are certainly here to kill me, are you not?" Anakin posed this question, his sinister smile growing more and more crooked.
"I will do whatever it takes to keep you from harming anyone else, Anakin. If that means I must do so through death, so be it," Obi-Wan replied. "That is why I beg you; fight me now, unless you plan to leave the dark side. I cannot allow you to help the Emperor anymore Anakin. You must choose." Obi-Wan waited patiently waited Anakin's answer. Even though he could see how twisted Anakin's soul was, he still felt like there was a glimmer of hope left in him, a glimmer of goodness.
"You are wrong to think I give up all of the power and strength I've received, Obi-Wan. That is why I choose death," Anakin yelled. With a clash, his saber met Obi-Wan's, sending sparks into the air. Thus their duel began.
They circled each other, slowly adjusting to the sudden change of mood. It seemed to amuse Anakin, to think of the numerous times that he and Obi-Wan has trained, in a situation exactly like this. But the outcome will be much different. Anakin lashed at Obi-Wan, his saber clanging loudly in the night air. Darkness had cloaked Mustafar and only the glow of the lava from below lit their path.
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Padme had retreated to a far corner, where she could easily watch their duel. She felt somewhat out of breath. A slight pain in her stomach was bothering her, but she knew that her current situation wasn't one she was normally used to. She remembered Anakin's words from inside the cockpit just minutes ago. 'Whatever you do, stay back. This is something I must do myself.' Thinking about it at first, Padme had not been worried about what she had to do. But she truly felt like a traitor now, leading Obi-Wan into that death-trap, for she knew that Anakin would kill him. Or would he?
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The two Jedi's had followed each other's footwork into the dark depths of the building complex, and were now on the remaining bridges that hadn't melted away from the volcanic eruption. With each passing second, their parries and jabs were with much more aggression and passion. It wasn't long until they had reached the bottom level of the complex, where a docking bay led out onto the raging river of lava. Anakin felt the dark side growing again, like it had with Padme. Menacing, evil, twisted, fiery…
Anakin struck Obi-Wan with all of the force within his sadistic soul, sending him crashing to the ground. Obi-Wan's saber fell to the ground, quickly rolling away off the dock into the lava. It sparked and sputtered until it slowly sunk and melted into the twirling sea of fire, consumed by its heat. Anakin walked over to Obi-Wan, who quickly stood up, facing Anakin, defenseless. Obi-Wan bowed his head silently, feeling the loss. "It is over now. Do as you wish…" Obi-Wan paused, thinking for a moment. "Darth Vader."
Anakin was stunned, and for the first time, he felt the coldness of that name. Darth Vader, murderous Sith and follower of the dark side. The right-hand of the all powerful Emperor. Anakin hid his weakness, and stepped closer to Obi-Wan, bring his light saber forward until it barely rested at the top of Obi-Wan's head. The blue light bounced off of every single hair, reflecting it back up, creating a translucent halo around Obi-Wan's head. "What a heroic way to die, Obi-Wan. At the hands of your once friend and apprentice. And without a weapon, as well."
Anakin said this without mercy, but was unable to look at Obi-Wan. Anakin shut his eyes, and slowly began to raise his weapon. He brought it down but…stopped in mid-air. A horrible pain jolted through his body, wrenching his muscles and pulling at him everyway. It radiated through his arms, legs, head…he felt himself tumbling towards the ground, but was able to grab onto the nearby wall for support. His muscles gave way, sending his saber to the same fate as Obi-Wan's weapon. Anakin raised his head and could suddenly sense it. "Padme" he whispered.
He pulled himself up, the pain still present in his weakening limbs. Hearing a scuffle he turned toward Obi-Wan, whose face was contorted and wrenched with pain. "I feel it too, a disturbance in the force." Obi-Wan stood there, hunched over, and looking at Anakin, waiting for his next move.
Anakin abandoned all thought as his legs moved, awkwardly at firstwhile the pain rippled up each leg. He ignored the pain, running faster and faster, his robe's flowing behind him. Anakin's face was drenched with sweat and his eyes were burning. But at that moment, all he could feel, hear, see or think about was Padme. She was in trouble and he knew it.
After running up the endless flights of stairs that he had previously climbed down, Anakin was panting heavily, his breathing coming in short gasps. He forced himself to run faster, pushing each foot to make that extra step. Anything to get him to Padme. He finally reached the final step and ran to Padme's fallen figure that lay twisting on the ground. He knelt beside her, grasping her hand and gently lifting up her head.
Soft moans and cries of pain left her mouth. Tiny beads of perspiration trailed down her wrinkling face. Her tiny slippered feet dug into the rocky ground beneath her, pushing against the pain that appeared to be wracking her small frame. "Oh Anakin!" she cried out, squeezing his hand to make sure he was truly there. "My baby…it's coming…" she whispered, her teeth clenched and biting into her lower lip.
Anakin felt helpless as he tried calm her down, buther cries became excruciatingly louder. He lifted her up into his arms and he tried to quickly think of what he should do. He knew that if they were to travel back home, they might not make it in time. That was a risk that he did not want to make, for Padme's sake. As he gently stroked her hair and whispered calm nothings to her, he could sense someone else's presence. He watched das Obi-Wan appeared at the top of the stairs, briskly walking towards him.
Without asking any questions, Obi-Wan motioned to his ship. "I know of a nearby medical bay that was used during the Outer-Rim sieges. I do not know if it is still in operation, but we can afford to try," Obi-Wan said calmly as he continued to walk toward his ship. Anakin hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Padme's face. Her blue eyes were brimmed with tears, looking up at his with such shame and sadness. "Hurry Ani…" she said quietly, her hands grasping his strong shoulders. Anakin knew that Padme needed his help, and if that meant going with enemy, he would do whatever it took to save her. Anakin pulled Padme closer to his chest as he followed Obi-Wan footsteps that led towards his ship, and hopefully Padme's safety.
