Author's Notes: Hey there! I've got another chapter for you and I'm happy to report that it's quite lengthy! Jedi X-man Serena Kenobi – I'm threatening one character after another, aren't I? What can I say? The Arena is a dangerous place to be! Padme's Sister – Hee! You are so sweet to deal with me and all my terrible cliffhangers! RavenRulzRF – Good thing Mace sent that camera droid down there – and Siri picked right up on it. Smart girl, huh? Emthesmartypants – That Siri is definitely on top of things! Kickbutt Jedi Chick 4191 – I can't help myself – the story just breaks at certain points, honestly! Meandmysharpie – I'm happy to report that this chapter isn't as complicated – it simply shows what was happening on the center ice while Siri and Padme were finding out the master plan from Sidious. Hellish Red Devil – Aw, you've been such a 'supporter' of Jarrick all along – I hope he comes through for you in the end! ;-) Disco Shop Girl – I'm so happy you're enjoying this story so much! And as for Obi-wan not hearing her – love just may find a way… Erik's leading lady – Hee! Glad you like Angry!Hot!Anakin. And thanks for the story recommendation – I will check it out. Stanfield Skywalker – I'm tickled that you liked the way Palpatine's plan was revealed – that was one of the main ideas that spawned this sequel! Jessica-Angel-Skywalker – Obi-wan is hurting, but he's aware that he has to remain calm in order to have a chance to save Siri. ALL – I'll update as soon as I can – the weekends have definitely been my saving grace lately. Thanks for your continued support! It truly means the world to me. FYI – the quoted segments in italics are coming from the droid's video feed. You should recognize them from the previous chapter.
MAIN RINK - CENTER ICE
Anakin growled in frustration as the mist again managed to drain the power from the sabers. Going for the element of surprise, he slashed upwards at a breakneck pace... but the strategy yielded the same result as all the others: nothing.
The grim reality was now staring him in the face.
Jarrick had found a way to manipulate the power source of the traditional Jedi weapon. No matter what he tried, the blades dimmed upon coming into contact with the substance... but as soon as they broke free, the plasma flared back to life, cerulean blue burning brightly.
Jarrick noted the Jedi's consternation and gloated. "Ah, you've discovered the final insult I've arranged for the Order that rejected me. I thought it might be fitting if your weapons - like the Jedi themselves - proved inadequate for the job."
"There is more than one way to end this," Anakin replied furiously, clipping both weapons to the waistband of his costume. He reached into the Force, letting the heat and full power of his rage overcome him...
...before letting it flow back out as Padme's voice echoed through the Arena.
"Leave her alone!"
"What?" he yelped, confused. Her? His head swiveled from one side to another, desperately searching for his wife's familiar form. A flicker of light caught his eye and he saw the large screen viewer had suddenly blazed on to reveal a live image of Padme, her leg bandaged and eyes filled with angry tears.
She's hurt? He stepped towards the viewer, Jarrick long forgotten. What happened?
He quickly received the clarity he had wanted, but it was far more horrifying than he could have ever imagined.
"Don't worry, Senator Amidala; I haven't forgotten about you. I just have to spare some attention for our friend here. She still has a few more things to answer for before I can allow her to pass into the Force."
Obi-wan squeezed his eyes shut at the Chancellor's grim statement and Anakin noticed his former Master did not seem surprised by the turn of events. Bitter realization began to dawn...
The Light side of the Force issued a warning, but I was so cut off I didn't sense it.
He was ashamed to admit he probably would not have heeded it even if he had felt it. Chancellor Palpatine had been one of his biggest supporters from the time he set foot on Coruscant. Always there with a kind word, he was the last person Anakin would have suspected. Numb, he stared at the view screen, still not truly believing what he was seeing or hearing.
Padme's voice was stronger when she spoke again, indignation lacing her words. "She hasn't done anything!"
The crowd, already unnerved, darted glances between the drama unfolding onscreen and the situation in the rink below. By now, several men had reached the ice and were striding forward, glaring fixatedly at the crystal Jarrick continued to clutch.
Palpatine's cruel laughter rang through the cavernous room. "She hasn't done anything? Oh, but when I get my turn before the Holo-news, she will have. And it will be deemed treason."
Anakin turned to Jarrick, blue eyes awash with pain. "You... you know the Chancellor? He is helping you?"
Jarrick grinned and shrugged casually. "The secret is out; I suppose I can let you in on another one. He prefers to be called Darth Sidious, Skywalker."
No... Force, no...
"I let Padme and our baby go with him... and Siri too," he whispered, still shaken by his glaring naiveté. How could I have been so wrong? Fool! You impetuous, trusting fool!
"He once predicted you would have a hand in the downfall of the Jedi Order. I do love it when he's right."
"It must be exhausting... always having a witty comment handy. You know, some people say a sharp tongue is an attempt to avoid the acknowledgement of a hurtful moment in one's past."
Anakin felt his anger more acutely than ever before... it was white-hot in intensity and brutal beyond belief. He called the Force to him and the air seemed to vibrate from the onslaught. Yes, he would fight this battle with his newly acquired power from the Dark side... the hurtful, vengeful side. It was certainly appropriate given the deceit that had been used against him.
It was time to do whatever was necessary.
"If you think you're going to lay claim to Anakin Skywalker as your next apprentice, you truly have lost your mind. He will never turn."
"He already has."
"What are you talking about?"
"Skywalker has been experimenting with the dark side for awhile now. He can sink into it as easily as he breathes. Only this time, he won't be coming back."
The Chancellor's knowing tone caused Anakin to pause, his emotions caught in a tug-of-war. Part of him still thirsted for revenge, to make the traitors pay for hurting his friends... no, they were more than his friends - they were his family. But the remainder, the part that so cherished Padme, that was a brother to Obi-wan and a good friend to Siri... that part demanded salvation in the form of dignity and decency.
"He'll come back, I know it."
He stole another glance at the video feed, taking in the brave expressions of Siri and Padme as they faced their would-be executioner. His gaze then traveled to Obi-wan, splayed upon the ice even as he maintained his renowned aura of calm. All three of them were here in this Arena because of him - because they wanted to help him... and despite all his mistakes and arrogance, because they loved him.
It was now time for him to prove he was worthy of such devotion and faith.
He let the light sabers clatter to the floor a split second before he followed suit. Now that he had let go of the Dark side, the blocking crystal struck him hard, leaving him extraordinarily vulnerable.
But it wasn't enough to stop him from weakly demanding, "Give it to me, Jarrick."
The shadowed man laughed and the mist spun around him in a physical response to his glee.
"I don't want to hurt you," Anakin continued. "Both of us have been manipulated by a man we thought we could trust, but that doesn't mean it's too late. Siri and Padme are still alive and reachable. Perhaps we can set things right."
"Set things right?" Jarrick cackled. "From where I stand, things are more right than they've been since the day the Jedi selected you over me."
"You have Jarrick; it appears he has already ingratiated himself with the public."
"That fool? He is nothing, a mere pawn to tide me over until I could claim a rightful apprentice, one worthy of my powers."
Jarrick's triumphant laughter caught in his throat as his Master's words reached his ears. Anakin couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for the young man; he had a feeling his entire world was about to come crashing down.
"He must truly be fairly powerful if he caught the attention of the Jedi several years ago." Anakin marveled at Siri's ability to be so blithe - even while holding the knowledge that her life could be cut short at any second by the unpredictable Sith lord.
"His command of the Force is impressive enough. But he is insipid and weak, traits I will not tolerate."
"The crystal." Anakin's voice broke from the strain of issuing the simple phrase.
"Shut up!" Jarrick screamed, bringing the gemstone to his chest. The men from the audience were nearing, but halted when Anakin raised a hand in warning.
"He was so easy to persuade; it was a tad pitiful, especially since I do enjoy a challenge."
Anakin knew no more words from him were necessary as Palpatine spoke of the lies and rumors he had spread to manipulate the lonely young man and turn him against the people that loved him. As he continued to listen, Jarrick seemed to shrink in stature, clutching the crystal as if it were his lifeline. And perhaps it was.
"What will you do with Jarrick when all of this is over?"
"I will kill him, of course. Or Anakin will." The Chancellor smirked at the thought. "Either way, he will not be leaving this Arena alive. An inconvenient but necessary loss. But on the upside, I will succeed in nullifying the prophecy - one candidate is dead, the other is my very willing and able apprentice. Problem solved."
"You heard him, Jarrick," Anakin murmured. "He's going to kill you. What do you have to lose?"
Jarrick released a tendril of mist and Anakin's head snapped back as it whipped him harshly. Gingerly, he ran his tongue along the inside of his mouth, tasting blood. His mind continued to race, desperately seeking a diplomatic path he could take. Ugh, Obi-wan is the one who's good at this - not me!
Before he could get much further in his thinking, his entire body tensed. Even though his connection to the Force remained shrouded, every instinct he possessed was screaming urgently that something important was about to happen.
And sure enough, Siri delivered. Force, how she delivered!
"A Sith Master never reveals his secrets."
Despite her fading state, Siri summoned a grin that outshone the brightest stars. "I'm sorry to say, I think you just did. Smile, Chancellor. You've got quite an audience. I imagine it is probably the entire Galaxy by now."
Palpatine turned and studied the camera droid in disbelief. Anakin could tell the Sith initially thought it was simply a trick meant to distract him - and when he realized it wasn't, his eyes glowed with fury, resembling orbs of acid. Shrieking, he aimed a blast of Force lightning at Siri, the sheer impact of it lifting her off the ground.
"No!" Jarrick cried in horror. As if it he couldn't stand the sight of it, he let the crystal fall-
-and the nearest man crushed it under his boot, dissolving it into dust with a satisfying crunch.
The spell was broken.
The mist returned to its Master hastily, spiraling and swirling around him, disguising him from view. There was a blinding flash and when it was gone - so was Jarrick.
Anakin didn't give him another thought. He leapt to his feet, intending to rush for the stairwell and turned to Obi-wan to relay his plan... but the Jedi was still on his knees, staring at the big screen viewer. Siri's eyes had closed as she slipped towards unconsciousness.
"She loves me," he whispered. "I heard her."
Anakin grabbed his elbow and heaved him up, balancing expertly on his iceblades. "Even a gundark could have told you that."
Obi-wan's face seemed lit from within. "I love her too."
At the simple admission, the bond that connected the four of them surged back to life.
Anakin tugged him forward. "Then we'd better hurry. I can't imagine there's another woman in the Galaxy who would be crazy enough to fall for the likes of you."
They skated across the rink, dodging the fans that had spilled onto the ice to help. "Summon the medic droids!" Anakin cried to one woman. "We need them in the lower storage room now!"
They continued their path to the stairwell, so entrenched in the Force not even their clumsy footwear could slow them. Anakin opened the durasteel door with a flick of his wrist, revealing Mace Windu as he knelt just inside.
"Master Windu!" Anakin panted. "Come with us! Padme and Siri-"
"I know," he responded tiredly. "I was trying to reach them, but the crystal's powers stopped me." He made a dismissive hand gesture, his dark eyes filled with determination. "Go! We'll follow as soon as we possibly can - our recuperation will not be as fast as yours."
Anakin and Obi-wan looked at each other, finally understanding the core strength of the bond than ran between the four of them. Friendship… love… family… Such intense power could never come from the Dark side.
"Go!" Mace repeated. "Tachi can't survive that Force lightning for much longer."
Padme's scream suddenly echoed through the Arena, silencing the frenzied crowd. Heart in his throat, Anakin's gaze flew back to the large screen, deathly afraid of what he might find.
His wife appeared unhurt, but was backing away from the Sith Lord, her skin damp with sweat. Trembling hands shielded her midsection, subconsciously protecting their unborn child. Her gait was awkward and it took Anakin a moment to realize why...
She was only wearing one of her iceblades-
Because the other was buried in Palpatine's back.