Chapter 4: Confrontation
Obi-Wan lowered the ship's ramp and slowly began to make his way through the Temple Hanger Bay. As Obi-Wan approached one of the lifts the force, suddenly, surged around him. Obi-Wan turned to see a very hesitant Anakin still onboard the transports ramp.
"Come Anakin!" Obi-Wan urged Anakin to move from his spot atop the ramp. "We must hurry. We have to inform the Council of Sidious' plans!" Anakin heard Obi-Wan's voice, but for some reason his body would not obey his command to move. Obi-Wan hastily made his way back to the transport and to Anakin's side. The boy slowly turned his head to face Obi-Wan.
"I...I can't do this." Anakin admitted. "They'll never forgive me for what I've done. I'm as good as dead in their eyes." Obi-Wan felt sorrow overflow in his heart for the young man.
"Anakin I'm not going to lie to you. The Council's judgment won't be a light one. They will way your actions heavily against you and they will be harsh about it." Anakin felt fear grip at his heart. He had known this before, but by Obi-Wan openly saying it was like bringing all his fears to life. Anakin wished for it all to be a dream. He wished he were sleeping soundly in his quarters of the temple, instead of fearing for his life and the lives of the hundreds of senators who could die. Anakin felt dizzy and his legs felt as if they could fall from beneath him. However, Obi-Wan placed a reassuring hand on Anakin's shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry whatever happens we'll face it together. Just like always." Anakin nodded his head and took a deep breath, this time when Obi-Wan walked down Anakin followed. The two made there way to the lift, quickly, and entered. Obi-Wan reached over and pushed the keypad for the top floor.
(Right to the Council Room) Anakin thought. (Lovely) He grimaced slightly and leaned back, waiting out the smooth ride. Anakin looked out over Coruscant from his sliding place on the spires side. (It's amazing how something so beautiful hides some of the most hideous secrets imaginable) Anakin's gaze ran along the high skyscrapers and out into the horizon, which bloomed into bright yellow, orange, and red hues in the sunset. In the middle of Anakin's thoughts the lift came to an abrupt stop and the two silver doors parted to reveal the red-carpeted halls that ran throughout the temple. This floor however was unusually empty compared to the rest. This was the Council's floor not many Jedi liked hanging around on this floor and padawan's were not permitted up here without permission. The two jedi stepped out into the hall and proceeded to the Council chambers.
Suddenly, a knight turned a corner and ran unexpectedly into Obi-Wan. The knight was about to welcome Master Kenobi until his eyes fell upon the man walking next to him. Without hesitation the knight had drawn his blade and sent it sailing down onto Anakin. In a blur of light Obi-Wan's blue blade met the green of the opposing Jedi. The green and blue hissed as they rested upon each other, causing sparks to fly. The knight looked up and down Obi-Wan with a look of disgust. Obi-Wan used his strength to shove the knight back and easily used the force to spin and kick the lightsaber out of the man's hand, then used the force to claim it. As the knight regained his balance Obi-Wan deactivated his own blade and clipped his to his utility belt.
"Stop! We are not here to fight. You don't understand." Obi-Wan explained hoping to ease the Jedi knight. "Anakin is not our enemy."
"What? Are you out of your mind? How can you defend him Obi-Wan?" The man said enraged. "He's a killer. He's killed our friends! He killed her!" Anakin cringed in the background. Obi-Wan saw Anakin's slight motion and his paternal instincts kicked in.
"Garen would you just shut up?" Obi-Wan snapped at his best friend for the first time in his life. "Anakin has rejoined the lightside. He is here to face his crimes as a Jedi would." Garen's eyes were wide with shock. Never had Obi-Wan ever even raised his voice to him in such a way as that. Not once in the 30 years he'd known him. This angered Garen more then he could've imagined. To think that Obi-Wan would choose a sith over him.
"You can't be serious Obi-Wan." Garen's said, his voice betraying the hurt that he felt within. "How can you even start to trust him after what he's done!"
"You don't know my padawan like I do Garen." Obi-Wan said calming his tone slightly.
"Your what?" Garen felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him.
"Now if you'll excuse me my friend. We have urgent news with the council." Obi-Wan walked past Garen handing his saber back to him. Anakin who had been silent this whole time stepped in front of Garen.
"I cannot even begin to imagine the pain you have felt. And I offer no excuses for my actions. But, I can give you a promise that I will try to repent for all my sins." Anakin offered his hand to the knight. Garen looked down and laughed with revulsion.
"Shut up boy. You know nothing. You believe that you're going to come back and walk in here offering friendship and we're all going to accept you back?" Garen shook his head.
"No, I don't think that at all." Garen put one hand up to silence Anakin.
"Just go. Go with your master." Garen put his hand down and walked away, attempting to send his anger into the force. Garen disappeared into the lift and Anakin walked to his master's side, his head hung. While Obi-Wan waited for Anakin to catch up he felt as though he had just walked away from everything he'd ever known. Obi-Wan was so tired, both physically and mentally. His very soul was tired of going through life trying to make sense of everything that seemed to just get worse with every breath he took.
'How could I? I just yelled at my best friend! I took out all my frustrations on the one person who didn't deserve it.' Obi-Wan would've begun to scream wildly, he knew, if not for all his years of training. So Obi-Wan ignored his urge to destroy something and focused on his hurt padawan.
"It's alright Anakin. You know Garen didn't mean it. He's just confused right now. You'll see. Garen is very forgiving." Obi-Wan forced a smile to help comfort his padawan. Anakin looked up. He noted his masters attempt to soothe him and he was grateful. But, he had to ask Obi-Wan. He couldn't drop this subject so easily. he had to know what had made Garen hate him, man who had once loved him as a boy.
"Master?" Anakin asked, his voice slightly fearful. "What was Garen talking about before Master? Who died?" Obi-Wan's heart suddenly lurched with pain. His eyes clouded with tears and he tried to hide it from Anakin. He had hoped Anakin would not pursue this conversation. But, he should've known Anakin would need to know. "Who was so important to you and Garen?" Anakin almost didn't want to know once he saw the pain the mere mention of the subject cause Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure he should tell Anakin. He didn't know what it would do to him. So, Obi-Wan did the only thing he thought he could, he lied.
"It's nothing Anakin. It has nothing to do with you directly. Garen was just blowing off steam." Obi-Wan had barely managed to get the words out before he was forced to turn away by his own grief. Anakin looked at his master with shock. He hoped Obi-Wan would surly not think that Anakin wouldn't see through the lie. Obi-Wan knew how perceptive he was, how perceptive he's always been.
"Master please. I have to know. I can't just forget. These are my sins I need to know." He put a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Who? Who was it that meant so much?" Obi-Wan turned and blinked back tears before speaking. He knew he'd have to tell Anakin.
"During the middle years of the Clone Wars. Dooku, he attacked a ship carrying wounded Jedi back to the temple. He...he destroyed them all." Anakin's face masked that of pure horror as Obi-Wan described how many had died, both padawan and master alike.
"And she was killed." Obi-Wan sighed and wiped away his tears.
"Who?" Anakin asked persistently now. He couldn't imagine such attachments in Obi-Wan. Although, he had learned a lot about Obi-Wan this past week, he still had a hard time seeing certain traits in his master then went against the code "Who is it master that Master Garen and you have lost?" Obi-Wan paused hesitantly before responding.
"Bant" Obi-Wan said, barely above a whisper. Anakin's chest tightened and his heart skipped a beat. Anakin remembered Obi-Wan's Mon Calamarian friend. She had always been there at the Healer's Ward telling him how much he was like Obi-Wan with his frequent visits. Her glossy, silver eyes had shone with a light that couldn't be described. Anakin stopped breathing momentarily as he felt guilt wash over him. She was always so kind to him. Every time she had caught Anakin doing something wrong she would always cover for him. She was always so compassionate and understanding. One of the only few who were that way towards him, Anakin's heart ached.
Obi-Wan felt the guilt that Anakin was engulfed in and he grabbed Anakin's shoulder. "Listen Anakin. It wasn't your fault. Dooku killed her, him and him alone. And he alone will pay for her death." He shook Anakin lightly. "But you can't blame yourself for it." Anakin looked into Obi-Wan's eyes hurt showing on his face.
"Can't I?" Anakin said, becoming angry. "Why shouldn't I? Wasn't it I who helped him gain advantages on the Jedi? Wasn't it me who told them the Jedi's positions on the fields? For all I know I'm the one who could've given them Bant's transports position!" Anakin's shame overcame him. "It is my fault!" Obi-Wan suddenly became irritated at Anakin's behavior. He reached out and slapped theyoung manacross the face.
"Stop that!" He yelled sternly. Anakin stumbled back a bit. A little shaken by his master. "Snap out of this self pity right now Anakin Skywalker. Things happen, sometimes for the worse and sometimes for the better. All we can do is go through life hoping we make the right decisions. But, if we don't we can't spend the rest of out lives hoping to make one wrong a right. We have to move on and make the rest of our decisions count. And we can't do that if you're sitting here regretting your past all the time." Obi- Wan's voice had softened, trying to make Anakin understand, hoping that he could. At first Anakin hadn't known what to say. But, finally, Anakin nodded.
"Your right. I just have to make sure the decisions I make now count for good." He stepped towards Obi-Wan. "But, I am sorry about Bant. I will make it up to you. I promise." Obi-Wan nodded solemnly.
"Alright." He said, forcing his thoughts away from his friends. "Then let's go." The pair turned the next corner and it revealed the Council doors.
