Disclaimer: It's George's sandbox. I just play here cause it's fun.
AN: Here's chapter 14! Thanks for all the great reviews!
A Matter of Trust
Chapter 14: Rescue Mission
Anakin gave his son a perplexed look, as he pushed the bottle away and squirmed restlessly in Anakin's arms. It was nearly dawn and Anakin stood out on the balcony in the arm morning air with his son. He knew both of his children were strong in the Force. But despite their identical midichlorian counts, Luke seemed to possess more of an awareness of the Force's presence, even at his tender age of six months. Could he have been picking up on what Anakin was sensing?" Anakin looked down and saw his son looking out toward the lake, grinning from ear to ear. Anakin looked up and was astonished to see Qui-Gon's Force spirit standing there in front of him.
"Master Qui-Gon?" Anakin asked in disbelief.
"Hello Anakin. And hello Luke," Qui-Gon said. Anakin smiled, as he heard Luke giggle.
"Obi-Wan's in danger, isn't he master?" Anakin asked.
"I'm afraid so Anakin. The Sith Lord has trained a powerful new apprentice. You must protect your family," Qui-Gon said.
"I wish we knew who the Sith Lord was. He has eluded us for so long," Anakin sighed.
"Anakin, the Force may have chosen you to defeat the Sith, but it has chosen to give you a partner to help you," Qui-Gon said.
"You mean Padme," Anakin replied.
"You both have the means needed to uncover the Sith Lord's identity," Qui-Gon replied. Anakin's eyebrows creased in confusion.
"What about Obi-Wan. I just can't forget about him, he's like a brother to me," Anakin said.
"Like I said before, you must protect your family. Let your heart guide you young one, it has not failed you yet," Qui-Gon said, as he disappeared. Anakin sighed deeply and looked down, only to see that Luke was fast asleep. He took him inside and put him in his crib, before going to take a shower. He and Padme had a lot to figure out today.
Blue clashed with red, as Obi-Wan fought the female Sith. The battle had been pushed outside the old temple and onto the many rocky outcrops that covered the dead, rock and sand covered planet. Sweat poured down Obi-Wan's face, as he fought to meet and evade the woman's fierce and hate driven attacks.
"It seems that the great General Kenobi is tiring," Psion mocked.
"I assure you Psion, I am far from finished," Obi-Wan retorted.
"We'll see," she replied, as she thrust her saber at him again. Obi-Wan met it with his, as the sabers hissed and crackled in their deadlock. Psion brought her leg up and delivered a roundhouse kick to Obi-Wan's ribs. He cried out in pain, as he stumbled back. He quickly brought his saber back up to meet hers, as she brought it crashing down on him. Obi-Wan gritted his teeth, as he fought her for control of the situation.
"You fought well Master Kenobi. Much better than your pitiful colleagues," Psion taunted.
"Shut up," Obi-Wan spat. Psion shot Force lightning at him. Obi-Wan absorbed it with his saber. Psion jumped and delivered a spinning kick, hitting Obi-Wan in the face, drawing blood from his lip. Obi-Wan fell to the ground with a hard thud and Psion shot him with a jolt of Force lightning. Obi-Wan cried out in agony, as his body writhed in pain. The Sith then secured a pair of Force resistant cuffs on his wrists.
"Come Master Kenobi. It's time to record a distress message for the council. One that I'm positive that will somehow make it to Anakin," Psion said.
"You won't get away with this Psion," Obi-Wan protested.
"Oh, but I will. Everything will play out as my master has foreseen it," Psion said...
Later that morning, Padme and Anakin sat in the sitting room with the twins. Sabe and Typho had gone to the market in Theed.
"Ani, what's wrong? Is that dream still bothering you?" Padme asked.
"I saw master Qui-Gon through the Force this morning. Master Obi-Wan is in trouble, I just don't know where he is," Anakin replied.
"Are you going to contact master Yoda?" she asked. He nodded.
"What else is bothering you?" she asked.
"Qui-Gon also told me that you and I have the means necessary to discover who the Sith Lord is. I just don't know what he means," Anakin replied. Padme thought for a long moment.
"Maybe it's possible that we could find something in the database. When I found that information about your mother, I was only using one of Artoo's encryption keys. Perhaps, if we have Artoo and Threepio hack in to the mainframe themselves, we might be able to find the source of all this," Padme said. Anakin smiled.
"You're a genius angel," he replied, as he kissed her cheek and stood up.
"I'm going to get them hooked into the mainframe and then contact master Yoda," Anakin said, taking Luke with him. Padme smiled, as she cradled a sleeping Leia.
Mace sighed deeply, as Obi-Wan's transmission blinked out.
"We have no one else to go rescue Obi-Wan, so I will go myself," Mace said. Yoda nodded gravely. Suddenly, the comm signaled that they had another transmission. Yoda turned it on and Anakin's face appeared on the screen.
"Skywalker?" Mace questioned.
"Hello masters. I'm sorry if I am interrupting you, but it's important to speak to you about," Anakin said, as he shifted Luke in his lap. Yoda smiled at the small child.
"What is it Anakin?" Mace asked. Anakin took a deep breath and told them about his dream and meeting with Qui-Gon.
"I need to know where he is masters. I think he's in terrible danger," Anakin said. Yoda and Mace exchanged glances.
"Received a transmission we did, just before you called, " Yoda said.
"Obi-Wan has been captured by the Sith apprentice on Korriban" Mace said .
Korriban...Anakin made a mental note.
"Could not see the apprentice, for remained out of our view they did," Yoda said.
"I will be going to Korriban to deal with the Sith," Mace said.
"Masters, with all due respect, I think I should go also. The Force revealed this to me for a reason," Anakin interjected.
"Stay on Naboo with your family, you must," Yoda said.
"Obi-Wan is part of our family," Anakin argued.
"Anakin, I will be going to deal with the Sith. It is best that you stay out of these affairs," Mace replied. Anakin's jaw clenched, but he pushed down his frustration.
"Yes masters," he said, as his transmission blinked out. Anakin had no intention of listening to them. He was going after Obi-Wan.
Padme and Sabe came into the room.
"What did they say?" Sabe asked.
"They received a transmission from Obi-Wan this morning. The Sith forced him to announce his capture to the council," Anakin said. Sabe put a hand to her mouth and a few tears escaped her eyes.
"Master Yoda told me to stay put, but I'll be damned if I just sit around and wait for someone else to rescue him," Anakin said.
"We're coming with you," Padme announced.
"Absolutely not," Anakin replied.
"Why not?" Padme asked.
"It's way too dangerous. And what about the twins?" Anakin asked.
"Mom and Sola would be happy to take them for a few days. And Captain Typho can watch security at my parent's house," Padme said.
"No way," Anakin protested.
"Anakin, if you had been captured, there is nothing in this galaxy that could keep Padme from coming after you. And nothing is going to keep me from going after Obi-Wan," Sabe said. Anakin sighed deeply.
"She's right Ani, nothing would keep me from you. We're coming with you or we'll follow you anyway. You choose," Padme replied. Anakin rolled his eyes.
"You don't even know where I'm going and I'm not going to tell you," Anakin replied.
"I overheard master Yoda say Obi-Wan was on Korriban," Padme replied.
'Sithspit.' He swore that the woman had supersonic hearing sometimes. He ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair.
"Fine. We're dropping the twins off and leaving in an hour," Padme smiled and kissed him quickly, before going to get the twins ready.
An hour and a half later, they made the jump to hyperspace and the course was set for Korriban. From Coruscant it would take Mace almost ten hours to get to Korriban. Because their Nubian cruiser was faster and were coming from Naboo, they would be able to make the trip in five hours. Saying goodbye to the twins had been hard for them both, but they assured Sola that they would return soon and with Obi-Wan in tow. Anakin flipped on the light, telling everyone it was okay to unhook their restraints. He put the ship on auto pilot and went in back. Both Artoo and Threepio were still logged in to the Senate mainframe database, unlocking files and searching for answers. Suddenly, Artoo began beeping wildly.
"What is it?" Anakin asked.
"It seems that Artoo and I have uncovered several audio recordings from the Sith Lord himself," Threepio said.
"Coming from the Senate building?" Padme asked.
"Yes Miss Padme," Threepio replied.
"Could you pinpoint where it came from specifically inside the building?" Anakin asked. Artoo chirped his response.
"Oh dear, are you sure Artoo?" Threepio asked. He blooped again.
"It seems that they originate from the Supreme Chancellor's office," Threepio said. A cold chill rippled down Anakin's spine. Sabe and Padme looked horrified.
"Play a transmission Threepio," Anakin said.
"Yes master Ani. The first one in this particular log dates back to almost four years ago," Threepio said.
"About the same time my mother died," Anakin said. Padme squeezed his shoulder.
"What do you have to report Zeel?" the scratchy voice said.
"Skywalker's mother was delivered to the Tuskan cap," Zeel reported. The transmission ended and the next one began.
"Lord Tyrannus, is she dead?" Sidious asked.
"Unfortunately no, Amidala still lives," Tyrannus replied.
"Her death is instrumental in turning Skywalker," Sidious said.
"She will die my master, I promise you," Dooku replied.
"She and Skywalker will arrive on Geonosis, I have foreseen it. She must die," Sidious said.
"Yes my master," Tyrannus said, as the transmission ended.
Anakin sank to his knees, a look of utter disbelief present on his features. Padme gave Sabe a sad look.
"This whole thing is my fault. I put him in power," Padme said.
"No, it's not your fault Padme, he manipulated you," Sabe replied.
"She's right angel. He's been using and manipulating us all…and I almost played right into his hands. He's been using me since day one and I almost fell for it" Anakin said, raising his voice in frustration and anger at Palpatine. Seeing that Padme needed some time alone with Anakin, she excused herself and went to her cabin. Padme knelt down beside him and took his face in her hands. She brushed the unruly blonde locks that she loved from his eyes.
"None of this is your fault either Ani. He's been fooling us all, even the council," Padme said.
"But he was going to turn me. If it wasn't for you, I would have let him. He would have used you against me somehow," Anakin said, as suddenly a realization dawned on him.
"What is it Ani?" Padme asked.
"You weren't supposed to be there that day on the Imperial Hand. Palpatine didn't want you there. He wanted me to kill Dooku, so he could make me his next apprentice. And you saved me from that fate Padme," Anakin said. She smiled faintly.
"Guess I was in the wrong place at the right time," Padme replied.
"if you hadn't been there, I would have killed Dooku for revenge. Then Palpatine would have found some way to use you against me. Who knows what terrible things I would have done," Anakin lowered his head in shame.
"You look at me Anakin Skywalker," she demanded. He looked up, as she softly caressed his chiseled, handsome face with her hands.
"There will be no more discussion on what could have happened or what might have happened. Our love save us then and I will save us again, always. I know I've said it before, but have faith in our love Ani, for it will always be enough to save us," Padme told him, while looking deeply into his sapphire eyes. She crushed her lips to his with a searing, passionate kiss. She kissed him long and hard, until they were forced to break it in order to breath. Anakin cradled her face in his hands.
"I don't deserve you angel," he told her.
"Yes you do baby, we're meant to be," Padme replied, as she kissed his forehead.
A few hours alter, Anakin landed their ship on Korriban. He hooked his saber to his belt.
"I need you both to stay here in the ship. I'll be back with Obi-Wan," Anakin said.
"Wait a minute, do you really expect us to stay here?" Padme protested.
"Please angel, I need to know that you're safe," Padme nodded reluctantly.
"Artoo, stay by the controls. I want you to be able to get us out of here in a hurry if we have to. Threepio, you stay with Padme and Sabe. I'll be back soon," he said, as he kissed his wife tenderly.
"Please be careful Ani," Padme pleaded. He gave her a crooked smile, before kissing her quickly again. He left the ship and began trekking our onto the rocky terrain. Reaching into the Force, he followed Obi-Wan's Force signature.
Inside the rundown, old temple, Psion had moved Obi-Wan to what looked like an audience chamber. Obi-Wan was suspended in the air, arms and legs bound, much like they had been when he was held prisoner on Geonosis. Psion smiled evilly.
"It seems that he took the bait. Anakin is on his way here right now, I know you feel it to. He's in for the surprise of his life when he gets here," Psion said.
'Blast it Anakin, what are you doing here? Go back," Obi-Wan thought mentally. But because of the Force restraints, he knew the message would not be heard. And even if it was, he knew Anakin wouldn't listen.
Anakin soon reached the old temple. He could sense that his master was inside and he quickly entered, his lightsaber swinging readily at his side…