Chapter 16: The Duel of Fates Remastered
Obi-Wan had a bad feeling.
As Padmé and company took charge of Nute Gunray and Rune Haako, Obi-Wan couldn't help but have a deep, gutted feeling that something bad was on the horizon. An icy presence slipped beneath his shields, enveloping his conscious. His mind burned by a strike with a prickly effect. There was a tremor in the Force as the ice thickened around him.
Something dark was occurring.
Obi-Wan whirled to Padmé. "I have to go."
Padmé drew her eyebrows in, surprised. "Go? What do you mean?"
"I can't explain, but I need to go," Obi-Wan said, apologetic as he swiftly moved to one of the doors.
"Is it Anakin?" Padmé asked, worried.
Obi-Wan quickly shook his head. "No, it's… it's the Jedi."
He did not wait for any objections or permission. He got the door unlocked and bolted out. He heard shouts to seal the doors again and the snap of bolts being placed. Obi-Wan paid no mind. He body tingled in wary anticipation like he was about to come upon a calamitous event he could not handle. A treacherous vine wrapped around his legs, slowing him down despite the Force speed he exerted to return to the hanger. All the droids he crossed were too slow to fire or block him from his path. Yet, time still slipped away from him.
He returned to the empty hanger. Charred droid parts littered the floor, the smell of static heat biting his senses. He glanced around the front of the hanger where he last saw Master Rhara and Garen battling another one of Dooku's animals. Drawn, burnt lines marked the walls, trailing away from the hanger.
Armed with his blaster, Obi-Wan followed.
He trailed the burnt markings of missed strikes that took him to an entry, which led deep into the power station. Catwalks crisscrossed a massive pit in which housed a tandem of generators that served the starship complex. Like the rest of Naboo's Royal Palace, it was cavernous in size, but the tranquility was disturbed by heavy machinery whirring around the metal walls. Ambient light filtered through wisps of steam, distorting Obi-Wan's vision as he walked onward.
The Dark Side seeped in the room. The very walls captured a scream that continuously rang in its echoes. The cold invaded him, seeping through his skin and hardening around his heart. The Force reflected unpleasantness. A deep cut that would scar forever.
Obi-Wan initially took a step back. Whatever happened already did. Nothing Obi-Wan could do to change the outcome. Still, a small voice whispered to him, luring him away from the scene. He didn't move. He only stood as the Force swirled in an uncontainable madness.
Obi-Wan stared back. The choice laid at his feet. But it wasn't really a choice. Not when it came down to this. Obi-Wan inhaled, preserving as he moved across the first catwalk. He took quick glances from over the sides, eyes searching for a flash of colored lights. He hadn't seen any lightsaber marks in a while. A sign that either the battle ended or moved elsewhere. Unsure due to the awry feeling in the Force, Obi-Wan made his steps lighter, muffling his presence to hide in the flashes of shadows and steam.
As he neared halfway and the steamed somewhat cleared, Obi-Wan caught sight of a lump form on a catwalk below. Obi-Wan stopped. He studied it closer. That was not a lump. It was a person. Without thought, Obi-Wan jumped over the side, landing gently on his feet with the aid of the Force. He rushed over. A sharper shape came and he could make out finer details of the person. His heart dropped. He slowed to a stop, looking down at the familiar face.
Laying on her back, eyes round in shock and terror, was Master Rhara.
In the middle of her chest was a gaping, charcoaled wound.
Obi-Wan knew she was dead. The living never look frozen in time, but it didn't stop him from taking a knee and checking for a pulse. Her neck was cold and silent, and the smell of burnt flesh agitated Obi-Wan's stomach. Sighing in despair, Obi-Wan respectively closed her eyes.
The first kill was always harsh. And the second only worse.
Obi-Wan did a quick scan of the area, hoping he wouldn't find another body. To his fortunate find, he saw no other corpse laying in wait. But that didn't mean anything. It only meant that Garen was alone with a madman.
Obi-Wan got back on his feet. Blaster in hand, he saw a small door at the far end of the power station. The battle must have continued on from there. Obi-Wan moved, but slipped and nearly fell on top of Master Rhara's body. He looked for the cause of his unsteady balance and saw Master Rhara's lightsaber. It was left behind, next to her opened hand as if she was letting it go upon passing.
Obi-Wan swallowed. He knew it was wrong to steal another Jedi's lightsaber. A lightsaber was a Jedi's life and despite Master Rhara's death, the lightsaber still belonged to her. Yet, couldn't help but feel the need to pick it up. He always felt blasters were uncivilized. Not a proper weapon as it made killing impersonal. Killing was never impersonal. Not for Obi-Wan. Taking a life would always be personal. Therefore, a lightsaber kept him in check and when he killed, it was in defense rather than in savagery.
He lingered again on the lightsaber, wrestling at the situation before he finally snatched it up from the floor. If he was going to confront another one of Dooku's assassins, he needed a lightsaber.
He made his apologies to Master Rhara and raced down the catwalk, turning into a corridor filled with red laser walls. The lasers shocked him into immobility, capturing him in its fine walls. For a moment, Obi-Wan thought he fell right into the assassin's trap. After taking a quick measure of his location, realized he was in the service corridor for the melting pit, the disposal unit of the power station. He looked up at the mechanics and found that the lasers were to keep intruders out. That meant there had to be a shut off somewhere. He examined his chamber and found nothing to help in his escape. The switch must have been at the beginning of the corridor. All Obi-Wan could do was wait out the transformation. Once the walls retreated, Obi-Wan had to be quick to get out if he didn't want to spend another minute trapped between red laser shields.
The wait wasn't too long. He heard the groan of release. There was a kick and the red walls came down. Obi-Wan sprinted, arms pumping and nearly launching himself down the corridor. He just got to the end when the laser shields barricaded the corridor again. He skidded to a halt, his nose almost brushed against the laser. He stumbled backwards and squeezed the lightsaber in his hand in reassurance and comfort. Breathing ragged, he stared down the last wall that kept him secured in the corridor. If only he ran faster, he thought as he his lungs expanded in dire need of air. That was when he heard the sounds of a battle. The snap hiss of lightsabers clashing brought Obi-Wan to look beyond the red laser to see Garen battling on his own against the dark assassin.
The red-black tattooed assassin was a warrior in his prime. His acrobatic maneuvers and quick reflexes proved his powers were at its peak and; therefore, unbeatable. His tattooed face portrayed a fervent hatred, driving his power and combat against Garen. Already, it killed one Jedi. An accomplishment the assassin had wanted for years. And his eyes… Obi-Wan noticed he held no fear and no doubt. The monster knew he was going to win.
Garen, while young and full of stamina, could not quite compete at the same level as the assassin. He wasn't battle hardened and his offensive tactics were woefully inadequate. He was barely parrying the strikes and stabs. He wasn't going to hold out for much longer.
Suddenly, Obi-Wan never felt so trapped before. Desperately, he cast around to find any way out of his captivity and shut down the system to save his friend. He looked at all options, but there was nothing he could do but cling onto the hope that Garen could hold on.
It was then that the assassin noticed him. His yellow-red ringed eyes found him. A smile of open derision came with a promise of pain. There was a shift in the Force. A tilt that unhinged Obi-Wan. He focused on the fight, bouncing on his toes and lightsaber ready to ignite.
"Come on… hurry," Obi-Wan hissed as he tried to use the Force to withdraw the lasers. The icy enclose threatened to freeze his heart over.
The assassin looked at Obi-Wan once more and Obi-Wan had a plunging feeling that, up to this point, the assassin was only playing. That his battle had nothing to do with the Jedi and everything to do with him.
In seconds, the assassin somersaulted over Garen's head. Garen was not expecting it and was too slow to stop it. In a cunning strike, the assassin ran his double-bladed lightsaber right up Garen's spine. Garen's howl resonated in Obi-Wan as his own piercing scream shattered the ice through a volcanic rage. Pain rattled him, shredding every ounce of hope Obi-Wan had as his friend flopped on the floor, nearly tumbling over into the melting pit.
The assassin didn't even watch Garen fall. His attentive gaze was on Obi-Wan, drinking in the sight of the building fury. To him, it was all a game. After seemingly enjoying his share, the assassin returned to Garen, who still clung onto his life with uneven breaths. The red and black tattooed creature flashed his blade, preparing for the final plunge.
It was then the lasers abruptly turned off. Obi-Wan ignited the lightsaber and lunged for the rescue.
Green clashed against red.
Anakin frantically ducked out of sight. Battle droids surrounded his ship and Artoo-Detoo was beeping in panic mode. He wasn't the only one. The control panel still indicated that everything was red. There was nothing he could do.
"Artoo! We have to do something," he whispered. "The system is still overheated. Isn't there anything you could do?"
Artoo beeped in reply, but then a droid's crackling, monotone voice interrupted him. "Where is your pilot?" it demanded.
Anakin scrunched himself lower in the cockpit as he listened to Artoo bravely reply.
The metallic droid spoke again. "You are the pilot?"
Artoo whistled, but the battle droids sounded confused. "Identification?"
Thinking that Artoo's cover was blown, Anakin was prepared to try fighting his way out the cockpit. Obi-Wan taught him how to use the Force for defensive means. He could probably do it offensively as well. Before Anakin could reveal himself to the droids, he heard sounds of switches clicking and circuits jumping. Anakin glanced at the control board. The system lights changed from red to green.
Anakin burst out a smile. Artoo-Detoo did it! He saved them!
"Yes Artoo!" He cheered. "We're up and running."
Anakin buckled in his seat and threw the ignition switches up. The starfighter's engines roared to life and he popped his head up to the viewport. He saw several more battle droids back away from the awakening starfighter, confused and shouting out orders. One of them saw him and started firing.
"That's not good," Anakin said as on bolt hit the side of his ship. He reached for the deflectors and threw them up. "Shields up!"
The next round of bolts rebounded, securing Anakin from a near death experience. He hauled the controller close and released the antigrav lifts. The starfighter unsteadily rose from the hanger floor.
The droids continued to fire at him, their bolts harmless against his shields. "Let's show them how we fight Artoo!" Anakin exclaimed as the cannons were no longer locked.
Or at least what he thought were the cannons.
When he pressed down on the buttons, his ship rocked as two, bright light torpedoes sped down the long corridor of the hanger. It whipped past the battle and destroyer droids, supply cargo, transport ships and everything until it disappeared into the darkness.
Anakin only blinked. "What the blazes was that?"
Artoo beeped, unsure.
As more blaster fires came at him, Anakin decided to leave the hanger. He swung the starfighter around and threw the thrusters forward. He kicked up the power drive and it responded with a ferocious roar. Seconds, that was all it took, and Anakin shot across the hanger with Artoo whistling in approval. He topped down droids in his path as he raced to the exit point, spying the stars and the battle.
He wasn't aware of anything until he heard Artoo's frantic beeps. Anakin read the display. "What do you mean hurry?"
Artoo gave a warning beep.
"There's a massive fire behind me?!"
Artoo confirmed with an anxious beep.
Anakin had no time to check to see if Artoo was right. He trusted the little droid. He switched up the power drive and threw the thrusters at full throttle. Anakin slid all the way back in his seat, pinned by the pressure as they came hurtling out of the hanger and into space.
Artoo was beeping and shrilling like his wires were fried up. Anakin ignored him, focusing on avoiding the debris left from the battle to rejoin the rest of the Naboo starfighters. Then a bright light consumed Anakin and debris flew past Anakin's canopy. Then the light diminished into a black void.
Someone started yelling through the channels in his head gear. Voices bickered about what happened until someone cheered, "Look! Look over there! That's one of ours! Outta the main hold! Must've been him!"
Anakin realized the man was talking about him. He cringed as he had hoped that he could return to Naboo quietly without getting Obi-Wan upset. But all the cheers he overheard and all the enemy fighters becoming inactive proved that his hopes of quiet heroics was not going to happen. He knew he would need to come up with a very good reason why he joined the battle.
Artoo beeped reprovingly at him. Anakin groaned. "I know," he muttered, not at all looking forward to his talk with Obi-Wan.
He wasn't looking forward to his confrontation with Obi-Wan, but he couldn't help but sit up straighter in his cockpit. He and Artoo had successfully destroyed the Trade Federation battle ship. All the pilots were cheering and calling him a hero. Anakin could not deny that the praises warmed him and a silly grin split his face. He was a hero! Him! A hero. Like Obi-Wan.
As they piloted their starfighters back to the Naboo, under safe passage after the droids were disabled, the pilots all leapt out of their starfighters to race over to Anakin's ship when it landed. Anakin was nervous at first. He stayed in his cockpit, unsure if he should reveal himself at all. But, Artoo encouraged him, if anything, to at least meet up with Padmé and Obi-Wan quicker.
Anakin disengaged the engine and the canopy rose up. Cool air whipped around his hair, touching his sweaty brow. Taking a few quick breaths, Anakin shakily rose to his feet.
To his surprise, he saw all the smiling pilots by his ship, a thunderous clap greeting him. He looked down at all the faces, many of them turning from gratitude to shock. They had not expected a boy to be the pilot who destroyed the ship.
The clapping died from the shock, but then it erupted again. It did not matter to them. Soon, Anakin found himself amongst the throng of pilots, all trying to reach and pat his shoulder. All of them complimenting and chanting his heroics. Artoo beeped alongside him as the pilots continued their celebratory moment.
Anakin, while accepting handshake after handshake, kept his eyes out for Obi-Wan and Padmé.
Where could they possibly be?
Everything Obi-Wan ever learned and preached escaped his mind.
He removed himself from his usual cautious self and barreled into the monster with fury that they both nearly toppled over the melting pit. He whipped the green lightsaber, striking against the dark assassin with every power he had. He was lost in a red haze, consumed by the pain, grief and guilt for Garen and Master Rhara.
The assassin was caught off guard by Obi-Wan's ferocity. He fell back, letting Obi-Wan press him to the far wall. He struggled to trick Obi-Wan into defense. Obi-Wan refused to let up, pushing and pressuring into the assassin. Lightsabers scraped, hissed and clashed against each other, the chamber echoing their story.
The assassin regained the offensive when he twisted out of Obi-Wan's way, kicking him in the back. Obi-Wan caught the wall and rolled to the side, missing the red lightsaber's strike. A thin layer of sweat glistened his face and wetted the tips of his hair. Obi-Wan's breathing turned ragged. He raised the lightsaber. He wanted nothing more than to eliminate the creature before him. To keep him from causing more suffering.
He charged, but the assassin was ready. He swept aside and elbowed Obi-Wan in the face. Obi-Wan stumbled backwards, but he didn't lose focus. Blood trailed from his nose, dripping over his lips and his tongue tasted the rough copper. Still wrung with fury, he came after the dark assassin, fighting with all his strength and quickness. The enemy was well focused to block every single attempt. He was in complete control whereas Obi-Wan was losing all sense of self, falling deeper into the madness.
They fought alongside the ledge of the melting pit, returning back to where Garen laid. It seemed the assassin grew bored because he used the Force to fling heavy objects at Obi-Wan to disable him. Obi-Wan cut through the objects, warding off the attack as the metal gave out a startling shriek as it collided with the walls.
The duel wore on and it was evenly fought at the beginning. Obi-Wan recognized the assassin before him was much stronger and that his own hatred frenzy surpassed Obi-Wan's own frantic determination. Obi-Wan was growing tired, his strength fading from exerting too much of his anger into the fight.
Bit by bit, the enemy gained the upper-hand, carrying the attack to him. Obi-Wan did his best to keep the mad creature from him, fear creeping back into his thoughts about what it would mean if he too died.
Obi-Wan rejected the thought. He would not die. Not today. Not by this deviled creature.
He remembered Master Yoda's words, encouraging him to be mindful and to be strong. Soft voices of his old master slipped into his conscious. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, before he fell, came back to him with words encouraging him to not concentrate on his fears. To focus on the here and now. And then, he heard a voice he never expected to hear again in his head. The whisper was faint and memorable as if the long ago Jedi stood beside him once again. Be brave, it said. Let go.
Their teachings gave him excess drive and Obi-Wan mounted his final assault. He rushed the assassin with a series of blows to the creature's side. The assassin followed, bringing his double-bladed lightsaber horizontal.
With a smirk, Obi-Wan faked the attack. He distracted the enemy from his true purpose. The assassin went the wrong way. With his free hand, Obi-Wan elbowed the assassin in the face. It distracted the assassin long enough. Obi-Wan brought his lightsaber down on the middle section of the red lightsaber. The double-blade lightsaber was dissected, one end circuiting out.
Victorious! Obi-Wan continued and cut at the assassin's head for the killing blow when the horned creature stepped aside. Obi-Wan missed. He swung around to quickly throw the lightsaber behind to counterattack the assassin's next strike. The enemy didn't let up. He struck harder and harder until Obi-Wan lost his footing and fell sideways. The lightsaber scattered to the opposite side of the wall. Losing balance, Obi-Wan toppled right beside Garen.
Obi-Wan flipped over to continue the fight, but a strong hand seized his neck. Slowly, Obi-Wan was lifted off his feet as the tattooed assassin glared up in triumph. He grinned, his gnarly, yellow-stained teeth visible that Obi-Wan believed them to be rotten. The pressure along his esophagus tightened and Obi-Wan found he was choking. Blood rushed to his brain and he snatched the assassin's hands to rip it away from his throat.
His struggles only made the creature laugh. "You have no chance of beating me, Kenobi," he gleamed. "Though you far succeeded my expectations of you."
Obi-Wan glared down and croaked through his constricting throat. "I often do."
His throat crushed a little more.
The assassin's yellow-red eyes fixed on him, studying him. "I am beginning to see their reasons to spare you," he commented, a hint of resentment biting those words. "You have a lot of anger in you. Power too. Embrace it! Unleash your anger and let it fuel your power!"
Obi-Wan refused. He realized his mistake. He had given into his anger and now he fell into the monster's grasp. He chose not to listen to the assassins. He closed his eyes and went deep inside himself, reconnecting with the Force he trusted.
The assassin growled. "You cannot expel what is already in your heart, Kenobi!" he lashed out, shaking Obi-Wan. "It matters not! I have you now. And soon, I'll find the boy and then I will become the rightful apprentice! The true heir to the great Lords of the Sith!
"And you will be nothing more than a beaten pet," snarled the assassin.
It was then the assassin tried to take control of Obi-Wan. He shoved his Force powers into Obi-Wan's head. Obi-Wan's shielding protected him from the first onslaught, but the assassin charged again. His throat pinched and oxygen cut, his brain started to slow down and Obi-Wan knew he only had a few minutes before he would be disabled completely and at the assassin's mercy.
Instead of panicking, Obi-Wan calmed himself. He stilled his trembling heart and banished his fear and anger. He focused on the happier moments and light cracked through the dark abyss that he nearly toppled in. It pulsed and brightened, casting away the dark tendrils that swarmed him. Renewed, Obi-Wan called upon the last of his reserves. Imbued with the Force, he called to Garen's lightsaber.
It flew straight into his hand and, before the assassin knew what was happening, Obi-Wan pressed it against the assassin's midsection and ignited it.
Rage and shock ghosted the assassin's face. His fingers loosened and Obi-Wan slipped out of his grip and his feet landed with a soft drop. The assassin's chest burned with bright blue fire, the smell of melted flesh stinging the nostrils. Stricken, the assassin howled in a mixture of disbelief and agony.
Obi-Wan thumbed off the lightsaber and watched the assassin blink in utter confusion. Then, he tipped backwards into the pit. But he was not going to go down alone.
The assassin's hand snatched a chunk of Obi-Wan's tunics, pulling him into the dark abyss.
Obi-Wan wasn't quick enough to prevent the fall. He tumbled over, joining the dark when something snagged his hand. The jerk of the pull caused the assassin to lose his grip and he plummeted into the pit in an agonized, vengeful scream. It rattled the chamber, but it faded within the hissing sounds of the laser walls reactivating.
Free and surprised by his abrupt halt down the abyss, Obi-Wan looked up to see Garen's pained face over the edge. His hand was wrapped firmly around Obi-Wan's wrist.
Obi-Wan exhaled in relief and shock. "Garen?"
Garen grunted. "H-hold on…"
Together, their combined Force powers helped ease Obi-Wan back to the ledge. Once Obi-Wan was on solid ground, he gave no pause to reflect what happened. He crawled to Garen's side, still holding onto his friend's hand.
"Garen!" he said, staring at the long lightsaber burn that trailed up his friend's back. "Garen!"
Garen's eyes opened a little wider, but there was not much light left. The once vibrant colors dimmed and his face looked pale underneath his matted dark hair. "He killed… my master."
Obi-Wan's chest tightened at the image of Master Rhara's body. "I know."
Garen trembled. "I guess he killed me too."
"No!" Obi-Wan shook his head in denial. "Not yet. Stay strong."
Garen rolled his eyes from the melting pit to Obi-Wan. "I feel cold." The young, confident face contorted in pain. "Oh Force, Kenobi! What have I done?"
"You saved my life," Obi-Wan offered. "I am forever in your debt."
Garen's scoffed. "I don't… want your debt," he struggled to speak. His hand gripped Obi-Wan tighter as if it kept him grounded. A strong hold for someone fading. "I want your… forgiveness."
His words surprised Obi-Wan. "You have nothing to forgive, Garen."
"I do," he breathed as if he was coming to a slow stop. Tears leaked from the corner of eyes. "I was so mad at you… I blamed you," Garen eyes were round and glossy as he fixated on Obi-Wan. "But… oh Force!… I missed you, Obi-Wan. You were my friend and I missed you."
Obi-Wan blinked back some of his own tears. "I missed you too," he returned.
Garen winced, his face distraught as the pain escalated. "I-I wanted you to know that," he said, strained. "I had to let you know that."
Obi-Wan understood and stayed next to his friend as he drifted into a series of uneven breathing. Obi-Wan sent as much of Force healing he could to end his friend's suffering. It wasn't for another ten minutes that Obi-Wan heard the rapid tapping of running footsteps. He looked up to see at least ten Naboo security guards coming to him.
Obi-Wan quickly explained the situation, imploring for medical support. Obi-Wan stayed by Garen's side until he was taken by healers. Garen's hand had slackened and gotten colder as it slipped from Obi-Wan's hand.
Obi-Wan watched them rush his friend away. His friend's life was up to the Force. There was nothing more Obi-Wan could do. And it hurt to know the truth in that statement.
The parade of people cheering and hugging dizzied Anakin. Any time he tried to leave, to either go find Obi-Wan or Padmé, he was drawn right back into the centerfold of the jubilation. More people gathered. Chanting and squealing in delight. Not just pilots, but mechanics, security guards and citizens have rushed to share this monumental victory with the hero who destroyed the droid army.
While Anakin enjoyed the flattery and the attention, it soon drained him. He appreciated their happiness, but he wanted to surround himself with the ones who cared about him. And the one he cared for.
A pilot before him was throwing him question after question as eager audience members listened in to the conversation. "How old are you anyway, kid?"
"Nine… well, ten soon enough," Anakin replied.
The audience stared in awe. "Really?" gasped the pilot. "Only nine? You flew like you were some professional!"
"I am a professional pilot." Not really. Obi-Wan would state he needed a license to have that claim. But he was good enough to win a pod race and blow up a control ship. Experience was what made someone a professional. Not a license test. "I pilot a lot of ships."
"What kind?"
"A pod racer for one," Anakin answered. "I won the Boonta Eve."
None of the Nubian citizens understood and Anakin realized they may not know what a pod race is. It seemed not to matter though, the pilot kept asking question, prying into Anakin's life. Anakin gave very little details as Obi-Wan always instructed him to do. No need to advertise who he was. So looking around, Anakin realized he may have failed that lesson.
"You know? In about eight years, you should sign up to aviator school," suggested the pilot. "You'd enjoy it. Get to fly all over the Naboo and the galaxy. Plus, a few battles here and there," he added with a wink.
Anakin wasn't really paying attention to the pilot. His eyes kept wandering, searching for Obi-Wan or Padmé to enter the hanger again. It appeared he wasn't good at hiding his boredom.
"You looking for someone?" the pilot asked, looking over his shoulder to where Anakin was just searching.
Anakin blinked and looked back to the pilot. "Just my friends," he responded quietly. "Do you know where Padmé would go?"
"Padmé?"
"The Queen."
The pilot's mouth dropped. "You know the Queen?!"
Anakin nodded, proud to see the man's shock. "Of course. She's my friend."
The utter bewilderment on Anakin's face would have made him laugh if he wasn't so worried about Obi-Wan or Padmé's well-being. He reached into the Force for Obi-Wan, but what returned was something akin to greyness. A cloud blocked the light and it unnerved Anakin that he wasn't getting a good sense of Obi-Wan. His stomach turned turbulent and he held himself, still glancing to the doors in hopes that he or Padmé would walk through those doors.
"How did you befriend the Queen?" the pilot questioned.
Anakin forgotten the pilot. He flickered his gaze back to the absorbed pilot. "I saved her."
Not wishing to go into more details, Anakin excused himself and headed for the doors. He was done with the party. He was restless and needed to go find his friends. Artoo loyally followed, chirping in excitement that the invasion was over. Anakin was glad too. That meant things could go back to the way they were. He and Obi-Wan would live on Naboo, maybe move off the mountain to be closer to Padmé. Maybe Obi-Wan could get a job in security detail?
His hopes lifted and there was a bounce to his feet as he squeezed himself between hugging people. Artoo beeped to get the people to move, but with such a commotion, it was hard to hear anything. Another person recognized him and he was back to receiving appreciative pats on the back and strong handshakes. Anakin's fingers cracked under their grips, fingers bruised.
People were retelling the space battle, describing Anakin's heroics when to be quite honest, they made him see much larger than life. Most of the time he hadn't got a clue what he was doing. He and Artoo did what they needed to do to stay alive, learning the ropes together as a team.
Like he and Obi-Wan always did.
Anakin's shoulders slumped as he resigned, troubled. He really wanted to find Obi-Wan.
As he listened to others tell tales of the space battle and his heroics, a familiar presence warmed. A rekindling of a connection. Anakin shot up and saw Obi-Wan striding out of the far exit alongside a Naboo security guard.
It was Obi-Wan. It was really Obi-Wan.
Anakin couldn't contain his excitement. "Obi-Wan!"
His shout interrupted the pilots' stories. They all glanced at him, confused before following his line of sight and spying the disheveled and bloody mess of a man. Anakin cared less of their opinion. He shouted again, waving his hand up. "Obi-Wan!"
The pilots understood. They parted, making a straight path to the man. Anakin bolted. He sprinted down as people made way, clapping a hand on his shoulders as he passed or pumping a fists up in victory.
Obi-Wan stopped where he stood, tired eyes following Anakin's plow through the crowd. Once free, Anakin became aware of the distinct sadness in Obi-Wan's eyes. A deep regret that tinged the color to a desolate grey. Blood crusted his nostrils and upper lip, and there was a reddish-purple bruising along the neck. Something horrible happened.
Anakin clinically studied Obi-Wan for any life-threatening injuries as he approached. "Obi-Wan? Look—I know I said I wouldn't—"
Anakin didn't get very far in his apology. His words were muffled by Obi-Wan's sudden embrace. It shocked Anakin at first. He expected Obi-Wan to scold him or question his disobedience. Instead, he got a strong embrace. Obi-Wan pressed close and Anakin, relaxed, buried his face in the sweaty tunics, not caring about the smell. He returned the hug, both tied in an embrace neither were willing to untangle.
Anakin listened to Obi-Wan's heart. Each beat Anakin heard he counted. One. Two. Three. Each beat gave Anakin life. Strength. Security. It drove away the fears that gibbered the edges of his mind. Anakin squeezed tighter. Assurance—Obi-Wan was alive. He was alive. They were both alive.
They both survived.
And that was all that mattered.