xxnikegoddess: yeah i know it's been ages since i updated. But since i'm still in recovery from hospital (ankle operation) i was stuck at home all day for nearly a week and decided to take the advantage to basically lie around doing nothing, watch movies endlessly and redecorate my room with chock loads of posters, and computer didn't really occur to me. Well not fanfic anyway. But since hopeless4life demanded me to update, i wrote a really really long chapter to make up for it. It's going very AU now. So enjoy! And as always, reviews are loved.
Seconds passed in hours and Obi-Wan's heart pounded manically inside his chest like a wild drumbeat. His golden hair blew into his eyes and he blinked quickly as the sharp feathered edges tickled his lashes. His hand wound tighter around the unstable black cable as it raced against the wind towards the falling body of Anakin. Every millisecond that passed brought Obi-Wan one inch closer, but it also brought Anakin one inch closer-to the deadly lava.
Obi-Wan could already sense he wasn't going to make it in time. It looked like he would be successful in sight, but his mind spoke otherwise. Gritting his teeth he cautiously let go of the swinging cable and stretched out his arm as far as he could. He felt as if his arm was being ripped from its socket by a machine, but it still wasn't far enough. And down and down his apprentice fell.
Obi-Wan was close enough to smell the first scent of burning leather as the waves of lava made their first contact with Anakin's body. Yet his arm was still too far away.
No! he thought furiously inside his head. Fear jolted through his body like an electric volt, and he felt something he had never felt before- total and utter despair. It streaked inside his veins like poison, slowly eating him up from inside out.
And then in a sudden, almost spontaneous action he thrust his hand out and grasped the air. Anakin's limp body froze in mid-air, the pungent smell of burning hair filling Obi-Wan's nostrils. Concentrating as hard as he could while clinging onto an thin, unsturdy cable wire dangling dangerously over a lake of boiling lava, Obi-Wan let the Force run through his body freely and into his fingers. Anakin's bedraggled figure levitated upwards and out, further and further away from danger, and in one decisive thrust, Obi-Wan directed his former apprentice's body onto a narrow cliff a few metres above them.
Anakin's feeble body crashed onto the rocks with a thud, then rolled over before lying still. Although he wasn't moving, Obi-wan was sure he heard a slight cough coming from the boy. So he was alive. It had worked. He had saved Anakin, he himself was safe, no one was hurt. Despite the atmosphere and circumstances, Obi-wan found a broad grin molded onto his lips. Now, all he had to do was get himself onto real land, win Anakin over, and explain all this to the council. Oh and of course, Senator Amidala would probably be about to give birth any minute. His grin faded. I have a bad feeling about this, he thought to himself.
Anakin groaned and opened his eyes, to find himself face to face with a large obsidian rock. He turned his head and found he was on a fairly low cliff, alone and deserted. Spurts of lava shot up high into the air, so high they rose quite a few metres above from where he was standing. He patted himself down. His hair was singed at the ends, he smelt strongly of burnt leather and his ankle throbbed painfully. The scar above his cheekbone tingled from the heat.
Where am I? I'm supposed to be dead! What the hell is going on, I was falling, down and down into the abyss of lava below and then…Anakin blinked and caught a glimpse of a lightsaber handle lying on the ground next to him. Anakin activated the saber. A ray of blue shot out and the handle grew warm in his hand. Anakin knew. Nothing likemy old lightsaberfor comfort, he thought to himself.He could almost hear Obi-wan's voice admonishing him inside his head. Your lightsaber is your most important possession, Anakin! It is a matter of life and death! 'I'm sorry, Master' Anakin would say solemnly, like every time before. 'It won't happen next time.'
Anakin smiled to himself. Without your lightsaber, there may not be a-
-Next time? Anakin jumped back startled. He knew that voice. That serious yet highly amused tone. The voice he had been hearing in his head from the minute he became a Jedi. But how had Obi-Wan communicated to him telepathically? And where was he anyway?
Anakin had never experienced this before. The voice inside was of course, always just memories and phrases repeated by his master too many times for his liking. But that-that had definitely been his Master talking to him. He closed his eyes.
Master?
There was no reply. He opened his eyes and tried to clear his mind. Focusing fiercely, he pictured Obi-wan's face inside his head. He was shocked to find the only image he could remember and picture clearly was the one of his former Master…struggling with pain and concentration as he swung from a dangling cable line! What was that all about? Trying to erase any theories he had, he kept the bizarre picture in his mind and willed himself to talk to the image. He tried again.
Obi-wan?
Anakin, are you alright?
Anakin was surprised to get an answer so fast. And Obi-wan had asked him if he was…alright. Flashbacks of the last hour or so played back in his mind at a high speed. Blades whirling. Buildings crumbling. Obi-Wan standing over him, saber poised over his chest. Padme's limp body stranded in front of the ship. And torrents of lava. Yet he was safe and sound, standing here with only a few burnt hairs and clothing. Obi-wan had saved him. After what he'd done, Obi-wan had probably risked his own life to bring him to safety. He had been half unconscious, and if he could remember correctly, falling straight into an ocean of lava. Obi-wan could've cut him down like a destroyer gunning down a torrent of clones, or just let him fall into the lava. He had tried to kill him; murder him in cold blood even. For what? Obi-wan was more than just his master. He was his mentor. His guide through life. His best friend. His brother. The father he had never had.
What about Padme? he unconsciously thought. He could feel the anger starting to bubble inside him again. She betrayed me. She brought Obi-wan so he could kill me. She knew he would kill me and yet she brought him anyway, knowing he'd kill me-
Anakin paused. She hadn't lured him into a trap. She hadn't tried to distract him while Obi-wan was standing there, waiting. Come to think of it, if she had told Obi-wan where he was she wouldn't have brought him on her ship. She hadn't even brought Captain Typho with her! And Obi-wan- Obi-wan wouldn't have gotten on her ship, it would've been too dangerous. He had probably snuck on without any of Padme's knowledge. He was the one who hadn't noticed, because he was so engrossed in her, in what she had to say, in what great things he had planned for her.
Because he loved her so much.
She hadn't told Obi-wan where he was, even though she knew he would probably become the most powerful man in the galaxy. And a Sith at that. She was wiling to put the whole galaxy in danger to protect him.
All he had wanted to do was protect her, and he had turned into a near cold-blooded murdered. She had protected him so much more than he had ever managed to protect her. And too late, he now realized, she had also protected him from the truth. He stared down at his hands. Hand and glove. He felt like an absolutely useless failure.
Anakin? Can you hear me? Are you alright? Obi-wan's voice interrupted his thoughts.
He didn't exactly know what to do or say. His mind subconsciously spoke without him willing it.
What will I say? What if he's hurt because of me? I can't…
Anakin!
Anakin jolted. Had he been thinking that aloud?
Yes, master?
Listen to me, Anakin, I haven't much time. I sense…something. A very great disturbance. I need to know if you are with me or not. No ponderings, no thoughts, no questions. I just need a yes or a no. We can discuss things later.
He's giving me a second chance, Anakin thought to himself, emotion clogging his throat up. His eyes were about to tear up if he wasn't careful. After all I did, he just…he knew it wouldn't be a simple apology, and let bygones be bygones. But he could tell from Obi-wan's voice it was going to be okay. It was all going to be okay, no matter what.
I'm with you till the end, Mas- Anakin paused . …Brother.
There was a short, pregnant pause.
This just keeps getting better. Anakin could almost see the slight but highly amused smile creeping up on Obi-wan's serious expression. He couldn't help but suppress a grin. He was all forgiven, just like that! Well, for now. And right now that was all that mattered. They were going to escape. Together as a team. Kenobi and Skywalker once more. A team that would never be separated again.
Obi-wan's voice became stern and sharp once more. Listen to me, Anakin. I know you have a lot of questions right now, but we really don't have a lot of-
Where are you?
Obi-wan continued as if he hadn't heard. Or sensed. Or however this telepathic communication thing worked.
-time, so you're going to have to listen to me without interrupting, asking questions, saying anything. Follow my directions clearly, down to very last minute detail.Is that understood?
Silence.
Anakin, did you hear me?
You told me not to say anything, master, Anakin communicated with a giggle. He was too happy to be alive and have Obi-wan there he couldn't care less about the circumstances.
The dark side never really did change the real, cheeky, troublesome, rebellious old padawan of mine did it. Now, Anakin. I'm being completely serious here. I want you to get back to Padme's spaceship the shortest way you can, the quickest you can-
Padme! Is she-
She is fine, Anakin, Threepio is with her. Use the Force to guide you through a safe path to the spaceship, then I need you to prepare the shuttle for take off. As fast and efficiently as you can. Make R2 initiate a lockdown protocol system on all the doors save the main one, and leave that one only half open-
But why-
Anakin, I have TOLD you, there is no time! Make sure everything is locked down and secure. Make sure you are in the pilot's seat, ready for take off as soon as you get in. No matter what happens, you must remain in there. NO MATTER WHAT. Anakin do you copy?
Yes, master. But what about you? Where should I meet you?
There was a slight pause.
I'll meet you at the ship in 15 minutes. If I'm not there by then, you must leave. And make haste.
What are you-
Anakin. Your priority is to get off this desolate planet as fast as possible, with your wife. Your main and only priority. Is that understood?
Yes, master. But-
Remember. 15 minutes and then off. Or if anything…unexpected happens you must fly away AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. Do not even THINK of getting out your lightsaber. Remember, one more unnecessary minute here is one more necessary minute of Padme's life in danger.
Master, where ARE you-
This is the last word, Anakin. I must concentrate if I am to meet you back at the ship in one piece. 15 minutes, fly. Any danger at all, fly-
What if we don't meet-
-Then you will leave without me! Obi-wan sounded almost angry now.
Anakin hung his head. The whole time he had been standing on this cliff, his hair billowing in the wind, discovering this new skill. Too happy that it was over. Realizing what he had done and slowly realizing what the consequences would be. He was so young, so naive…
I'm sorry, master.
The Force will bring us together again, Anakin, somehow. Obi-wan's voice calmed down inside his mind, and picked up a more soothing tone. I promise you. Now go! I need my full concentration.
Yes, master. And don't be late!
Anakin smiled, turned around, and began to run. He knew the place better than anyone else, half destroyed or not, he would follow Obi-wan's instructions exactly, no matter what. For once, he let his pride sink below his priority and was going to complete this mission, with no unexpected surprises. Heck, if the dead spirit of Grievous popped out and started talking to him, he would carry on, onto the ship. It was the only thing flowing through his mind. Back to the ship, back to Padme, as fast as you can. Back to the ship, back to Padme, as fast as you can.
He hadn't been concentrating fully on where he was going, and was very relieved to see the silver gleam of the ship in the distance, not too far away. On the other side of the broken bridge that he now stood on. His heart leaping inside his chest nervously, he gathered up the Force inside him, took a few steps back then sprinted to the edge of the broken shards of the same bridge he had ran across to greet Padme barely hours ago. In one almighty leap he soared through the air, the Force drawing him to the other side with a powerful pull.
Anakin! Obi-wan's voice suddenly rang out alarmingly in his mind. Anakin's concentration immediately snapped and he found himself once more, falling, falling…
But this time he was wide awake, and without hesitation he whipped out his lightsaber mid-air and threw it fiercely into the edge of the platform where he was supposed to have landed. It sank in with a satisfying hiss. Then as he fell and drew near eye level with his plunged in lightsaber he struck out his hand, calling upon the Force. The saber shook violently, creating cracks in the ground around it, but it did not budge.
Oh crap, Anakin thought.
Are you really that unhappy to hear me? Obi-wan replied sarcastically to Anakin's rhetorical thought.
Anakin ignored the voice in his head and gritted his teeth in concentration, focusing all of it on the saber that was rapidly passing away out of sight. Then subconsciously, the frustration and anger inside him began to bubble. Obi-wan had nagged him endlessly about hurrying to the ship, and now he was about to fall into the lava again because of him!
Suddenly a flash of blue sprang out from the edge and shards of rock scattered in the air as the Force pulled Anakin and the blade together, drawing them together like a magnet, so that now Anakin was pulled up to almost ground level. With the blade safely in his hand he backflipped in the air and landed neatly on his feet. He stood there for a moment, proudly admiring his quick thinking. But there was a nagging in the back of his head he couldn't quite get rid of. The blade hadn't shifted at first. But when he had gotten annoyed and angry at Obi-wan's untimely interruption…no. He was not a Sith. He did not rely on his negative feelings for power. It was just that the first try rarely worked. That was all.
His mind snapped back to Obi-wan. He cleared his mind.
Master?
Yes?
Yeah, er, so why did you call me? And distract me? And almost send me back into the lava again?
Once again, Obi-wan ignored his chiding tone. Anakin, I have…I just wanted to warn you, I have a very bad feeling about something. Something…sinister and very dangerous. And it's very close. Just get to the ship quickly.
But you said fift-
I know what I said, Anakin, I'm getting there as quickly as I can. Just follow my instructions and don't argue. I can't shake off this bad feeling…I fear both you and Padme are in danger. That is all. Hurry.
The words 'Padme in danger' clicked in his brain and he quickly turned around to run back to the ship.
And found himself face to face with the leering face of Darth Sidious.