Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.
CH. 3
"CROSSROADS"
Obi-Wan thought deeply about the newest revelations. Anakin and Padme had been married for quite some time now – keeping it a secret from all of those around them. How could we not see it? he pondered over the current situation. How could they have concealed the truth from everybody for so long? I was around Anakin every day and I had no idea…
"Master Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan turned to the sound of a youthful voice. "Yes?"
"Master Yoda would like to speak with you," the Jedi padawan informed him.
"Thank you," Obi-Wan replied. "I will be there in just a moment."
The young padawan respectfully inclined his head before turning to leave. Obi-Wan guessed he was only a few years younger than Anakin and couldn't help but feel a little guilty for not knowing this particular padawan's name as he watched him walk away. Truthfully, he had come across several Jedi padawan's and Knight's alike that he hadn't recognized immediately. Many of them he had not been acquainted with in quite some time and others he had never even met until now.
The remaining Jedi had gathered in this place, a safe haven from the threat of the thousands of soldiers that awaited them elsewhere. The disaster they found themselves in the middle of brought them together from all over the galaxy. It hurt Obi-Wan deeply to see how few of them actually survived Order 66. There were too few of them left alive after the wake of the attacks.
Clearing his mind, Obi-Wan took a deep breath and exhaled before starting for Yoda's chambers. He knew whatever he wanted to talk about it would not be pleasant. It seemed good news was rare these days.
When he arrived he found Yoda in the middle of meditation. Staying quiet, as not to disturb his concentration, Obi-Wan took a seat beside the older Jedi and crossed his legs. Yoda's eyes slowly opened after a short wait and he looked over at Obi-Wan with overwhelming sadness.
"What is it?" Obi-Wan asked, obviously curious to hear what was troubling his Master. He could feel his emotions radiating from him through the Force.
"Hatred, I sense from young Skywalker," Yoda replied. "Suffering…pain. Something terrible, he has done."
Obi-Wan intently studied Yoda's face. Whatever he felt through the Force, it had clearly upset him a great deal. "What has happened?"
"Death," was Yoda's simple answer.
Obi-Wan creased his forehead as he thought over his words. Death? he thought to himself. Oh, Anakin, what have you done now?
Darth Vader strode down the landing platform towards his ship. He glanced down at the fresh blood that stained the sleeve of his tunic and grimaced. He recalled it being splattered on him as a result of using the Force to slam one of his victims into a wall he was standing near. They got no more than they deserved, he scowled. I would have been wise to stick with my lightsaber and avoid dirtying my robes.
Once he reached his ship he climbed into the cockpit and proceeded to contact his new Master.
"Aah, Lord Vader," Sidious greeted him with a callous smile. "I have been expecting a call from you. I trust everything went according to plan?"
"Yes, Master." Vader answered. "They have been dealt with and properly disposed of, just as you wished."
"Good, good…" the man formerly known as Chancellor Palpatine quietly sat to reflect on his accomplishments. Soon his empire would be in place and he would finally rule the galaxy. He bared his teeth as the next sentence left his grinning lips. "I have another task for you, my apprentice. Return to the Jedi Temple as soon as you can."
"The Temple?" Vader raised a puzzled eyebrow. "But all the Jedi have already fled."
"Oh, this does not involve our hunt for those traitors," Sidious replied. "You will return to Coruscant and destroy all that remains of the Jedi ways. Soon they will be nothing more than a faint memory. Troopers have been sent to assist you -- leave nothing standing. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master," Darth Vader bowed his head as the transmission ended.
Without hesitation he set course to Coruscant.
Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped out of Yoda's chambers and glanced around the area. It was rather cramped for how many people they had crowded together there, but they would all have to make due with what little space they had available.
He searched the crowd until he found who he was looking for…Senator Amidala.
She sat apart from the others , staring off into space as she appeared to be lost deep in her own thoughts. The redness around her eyes gave away the fact that she had been crying recently. Can you blame her? he asked himself. I knew that she and Anakin cared for each other, but not to this extent. They didn't just love each other – they were in love. Now she must cope with losing the one she loved…I do not envy her that.
Obi-Wan reluctantly moved closer to Padme and stopped a few feet away from her. She didn't seem to notice his presence so he politely cleared his throat to make himself known and she started as she turned to face him. At first she looked startled, but her expression quickly changed to one of contempt.
She is still angry with me, Obi-Wan told himself. She has yet to come to terms with what has happened. She just needs time to accept it…
"Milady," Obi-Wan was the first to speak.
"What do you want?" she asked, turning her gaze away from him.
"May I?" Obi-Wan reached his hand out and gestured towards the vacant seat beside her. She looked back over at him as he sat down beside her. "I would like to talk to you…about Anakin."
"Why do you have to torment me?"
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "It was never my intention to torment you, Senator."
"Well, you sure do a good job of it anyway."
A long silence ensued while Obi-Wan struggled to find the right thing to say. He failed to think of anything and let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry you have to go through this."
"I don't want your pity," Padme snapped.
Obi-Wan sat without saying another word for a long moment before speaking again.
"I am going to look for him," he finally said. She will never speak to me again after this… "I thought I should tell you. He is only growing stronger – he must be stopped before he can hurt anybody else."
"You mean you're going to kill him!" Padme didn't really state it as a question, but more like she couldn't believe what she had just heard. How can he even consider going after Ani? she thought. There's no way I'm just going to let him go and hunt him down!
"There is no other way," Obi-Wan replied, his sorrow evident on his face. "I'm sorry, I have to do this. He is dangerous."
"Have you really become so heartless, Obi-Wan? I will never forgive you if you hurt him!"
Padme quickly rose to her feet and stormed away from a speechless Obi-Wan Kenobi. She angrily disappeared from his sight and left him sitting alone. When he looked over he spotted Yoda watching him from the distance, obviously having caught their exchange. Fantastic, he thought sarcastically. I'm going to lose my mind before all of this is said and done with…
He stared at the empty chairs in the room from beneath the hood of his cloak. This place had once been where all the Jedi Master's would gather together to discuss 'official Jedi business'. Those days were over. Today this place would be left in ruins and turned to rubble.
His eyes scanned the floor he stood on and he remembered all the times he had stood in this very place with his old Master. He was always being blamed or reprimanded for something he had done wrong, but today he was the one in control. He was more powerful than any of them could have ever imagined. They could only dream of the power he now possessed – thanks to the dark side.
After one last survey of the room, Darth Vader turned to the group of clone soldiers that stood behind him.
"What are your orders, sir?" the commanding officer questioned.
Vader regarded the soldiers for a moment before brushing past them to leave the room. They all stood at attention as he approached and those in the way quickly moved aside to let him pass.
He gave his instructions as he vanished down the long hallway. "Tear it to the ground."