Disclaimer- I own almost nothing. Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Anakin, Mace, Yoda, Grievous, Dooku, and Sidious all belong to George Lucas. Obi-Wan's amazing lightsaber belongs to me.
A/N- I hope everyone enjoyed the interlude between Padme and Anakin. This takes place during Revenge of the Sith, and starts right about where the movie does. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Anakin have been working together through most of the war. The beginning sequence is all dialogue, and I think it is pretty clear who is talking when. If not, please contact me and I will specify. The scene during the opera in the movie takes place in Palpatine's office. Enjoy!
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Purity: Chapter Four
Starring: STILL-SELF-SACRIFICING! Obi-Wan, DEFINITELY-STILL-FATHERLY! Qui-Gon, and SLIGHTLY-LESS-ANNOYING-AND-IN-THE-STARRING-SECTION-OF-AN-ACTUAL-CHAPTER-FOR-THE-FIRST-TIME! Anakin.
Costarring: ATTEMPTING-TO-BE-MANIPULATING! Palpatine and PUT-OUT-BUT-STILL-AWESOME! Mace.
Appearances by: COUGHING! General Grievous.
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"talking"
'private thoughts'
/communicating through bond/
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"Flying is for—"
"Droids, right?"
"Or Anakin. He flies better than any droid."
"I'm flattered."
"What Obi-Wan means is you're a far more reckless pilot than any droid."
"I meant no such thing!"
"Okay, maybe that's just what I meant. Anakin, did you know that Obi-Wan used to enjoy flying?"
"I don't believe you."
"In my defense, I was much younger and more reckless."
"Reckless, oh wise Councilor?"
"Don't deny it, Master."
"Oh, I wasn't going to. I was merely questioning whether 'reckless' was the right word. It's a little… mild."
"Anakin, where are we headed?"
"Changing the subject, I see…"
"Straight ahead, Obi-Wan. The one crawling with vulture droids."
"Oh, this is going to be easy."
The two Jedi Masters and the Jedi Knight each piloted a starfighter through the airspace outside Coruscant's atmosphere. They were on a mission to rescue the kidnapped Chancellor from General Grievous.
"This is where the fun begins."
"Missiles, Anakin, they're coming right for you."
"Copy that. Artoo, you know the drill." They rolled the starfighter, and the two missiles hit each other and exploded.
"I'm hit," said Obi-Wan, sounding annoyed.
"Buzz droids, Obi-Wan, five of them."
"They're shutting down my controls," he replied calmly. "Master, Anakin, get out of here. There's nothing you can do."
"Obi-Wan—"
"The mission, Master. The Chancellor's safety is paramount."
Opening a comline that connected only his and Anakin's starfighters instead of all three, Qui-Gon nearly begged, "Please, Anakin, I know you can think of something."
"Give me a minute," the twenty-three-year-old sighed. He would do this, only because he knew what it would do to Qui-Gon is Obi-Wan died. "Alright," he reopened the line to all three starfighters. "Obi-Wan, move to the right."
Even as he did so, Obi-Wan said, "Anakin, you can't help me. They're shutting down my controls."
"We'll see about that." Anakin's face was set. 'I won't let you do this to Qui-Gon.'
He fired, blowing away two buzz droids and most of Obi-Wan's left wing.
"Umm…"
"I agree, bad idea. Here, move left and swing under, that's it."
Qui-Gon watched in fascination was Anakin swung his starfighter over and smashed a buzz droid with the wing. "Anakin," came Obi-Wan's patient voice. "I know you've heard the principle rule of combat a few hundred times. Survive. I appreciate what you're doing for me, but there's no sense in both of us getting killed. Just make sure to look after Master: he's always getting into trouble."
Anakin opened a comline to Obi-Wan's starfighter and spoke fiercely. "Don't. You. Dare.If you die, it will destroy Qui-Gon, and I respect him too much to let that happen."
There was a pause, then, "What do I need to do?"
"Just head straight for the command ship."
"Sorry, Anakin, but I can't. My controls are fried, and my cockpit is so fogged that I can't even see the command ship."
"I can work with that." It was better than his insistence on being left there. He flicked open a line so they could talk to Qui-Gon too. "Qui-Gon, go under Obi-Wan's right wing. We're going to steer him into the command ship. Easy now… that's it. Brace yourselves," he warned before slamming into the left side to keep them on course.
"It's working," said Obi-Wan in disbelief.
"Why do you sound so surprised?" asked Anakin through gritted teeth, smashing into the starfighter once again.
"Nothing against your brilliance, but I thought it was impossible."
"Anakin has an eerie way of taking the completely impossible and turning it into something merely difficult" (Stover 36).
"Um, I hate to nag, but if one of you would get those shields, that would be lovely."
"Oh, right." Anakin shot out in front of them. "Ready, Obi-Wan?"
"Yes. Thank you, Master, I can take it from here."
All three starfighters just barely made it into the hanger as Anakin blasted the controls. "That was more fun than I ever want to have again," Obi-Wan remarked.
"Personally, I think ten years just got knocked off my life." Qui-Gon rubbed one hand wearily across his forehead.
Anakin smiled and was about to reply, but a shadow crossed his face. "I sense Count Dooku." He looked down and flexed his mechanical fingers.
"I sense a trap."
"Next move?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "Spring the trap."
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They strategized in the lift. "We should probably go in two groups," Obi-Wan mused aloud. "One to rescue the Chancellor, of course, and the other would have a crack at capturing Grievous."
"Anakin, would you get the Chancellor? You've known each other for many years, and after a trying ordeal it would be good to see a friendly face."
"Of course."
"Obi-Wan, maybe you should go after Grievous. Your views on politicians are no secret, after all."
"That would probably be for the best," he agreed cheerfully. "What about you, Master?"
"It depends on which of you think that you will need more help."
"Chancellor Palpatine is probably guarded by more than just battle droids. Count Dooku could be there, and… well, after last time…" he wiggled his metal phalanges again. "Let's just say I'd rather not fight him alone."
"Here we are; this is my stop," Obi-Wan told them. "I think a good place to find Grievous would be the control center, so that's where I'm headed. Force be with you."
Both returned the phrase, and Qui-Gon watched anxiously as he walked off. "Qui-Gon, if you'd rather—"
The tall Jedi cut him off with a smile. "Thank you, Anakin, but Obi-Wan can look after himself and won't appreciate my coddling." He paused a moment, then said, "You don't have to answer this, not if you don't want to, but… why did you work so hard to save Obi-Wan earlier? It's nothing against your integrity, I just know you aren't particularly fond of him."
"Is it obvious?" he asked with a little anxiety. "I have been trying really hard to get along with him…"
"And I can't tell you how very much I appreciate it. These missions we're constantly shipped off on could get very unpleasant if you didn't." He refused to let the conversation get turned. "But earlier…"
"I worked so hard to save Obi-Wan because I knew how much it would mean to you, and what it would do to you if he died. I may not," he gave a self-deprecating laugh. "like Obi-Wan very much, but I couldn't put you through that… not while I had a chance of stopping it."
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"Jedi slime! I have already taken care of your negotiator, General Kenobi, and now it's your turn." Grievous opened his cloak and stowed their lightsabers inside, saying, "Your lightsabers make a fine addition to my collection."
Qui-Gon paid little attention to him, seeing the lightsaber in the bottom row, second slot: Obi-Wan's lightsaber. He felt a stab of worry, but before he could do anything else, a calm voice came from behind Grievous. "I wouldn't count on it."
The droid-sentient hybrid whirled and coughed. "I thought you were taken care of!"
"You have yet to learn the first rule of dealing with Jedi: never leave one unattended." With a double snap-hiss, he activated his dual-bladed lightsaber, then extended his hand. "I'll just be taking those back."
His lightsaber flew to his belt, while Qui-Gon and Anakin's went to their respective owners. Grievous pulled out the remaining four lightsabers and held two in each hand; then, his arms split apart.
"Your move," Obi-Wan said boldly, holding his lightsaber across his midsection.
"You fool!"
Anakin and Qui-Gon fought off the remaining droids while Obi-Wan twisted and whirled to defend against four blades with two. The twenty-three-year-old tried to repress the bitterness he felt upon watching. 'He's just showing off, he thinks he's better than the rest of us.'
He was more than willing to stop watching and save the Chancellor, leaving Qui-Gon to be the spectator as he finished off the last of the droids. Grievous was down to two lightsabers and at a clear disadvantage against Obi-Wan's skill. The young Master feinted and flipped over the droid generals head. "Hello there."
" 'Hello there'?" asked Anakin incredulously.
"Obi-Wan's sense of humor is very… unique."
"I'll say."
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"I am well, Master Windu, thanks to your Jedi. They have taken care of both Count Dooku and General Grievous. However," he hesitated over his next words. "I'm afraid the war will have to continue."
"Why?" Mace frowned.
"I ask that you relay this to all members of the Jedi Council. I believe I saw the Sith Lord who you are searching for."
The Korun Master absently corrected to himself, 'Whom,' before the reality sank in. He stayed in shocked silence for a moment, then said. "You should have told this to Master Kenobi; he is reporting to the Council as we speak. I will not be back to the Temple for several hours, and the message could have been conveyed sooner."
"Oh," Palpatine laughed self-consciously. "My apologies. I had forgotten that Master Kenobi was a member of the Council."
The only sign of Mace's displeasure at this slight to his friend was the thinning of his mouth. "How did you know it was the Sith?" he changed the subject.
"Dooku called him 'Master.' Unfortunately, he was wearing a hood and a cloak, so I did not see what he looked like. I assure you, the Senate will vote to continue the war until he is killed or caught."
"Then the Jedi will make finding this Sith our priority so the war can end."
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"Anakin, wait a minute."
The Jedi Knight, repressed a sigh, turning to face he person he least wanted to see. Obi-Wan caught up to him, then turned to face the window. Anakin felt a slight sense of foreboding; over the years he had learned that Obi-Wan always had the common courtesy to address people when he was speaking to them. The only time he broke his unwritten rule is when he was saying something he would rather not.
"The Council has another assignment for you, one that is to be strictly off of the record. The Council…" he sighed. "Wishes you to report on all of the Chancellor's doings. They want to know what he's up to."
"You mean spy."
"Yes, if you want to put it that way." He still refused to meet the younger man's eyes. "Something is out of place here, Anakin, you must see it."
"You are asking me to do something against the Jedi Code. Against a mentor, and a friend, that's what's out of place here. Why are you asking this of me?"
Finally, Obi-Wan turned to face him. "The Council is asking you, Knight Skywalker."
As he walked away, Anakin felt his respect for the young Councilor increase marginally. If Obi-Wan could do his duty even as he plainly did not like it, then so could he.
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Qui-Gon did not even have to look up from his report as the door opened. "How did it go?"
In response, Obi-Wan flopped himself into his chair and groaned, covering his face.
"Oh, that well?"
"You have no idea," he replied in a muffled voice. "They wouldn't make Anakin a Master—"
"Of course not, he isn't near ready."
"Didn't stop him from just about throwing a fit. Then, they decided I should be the one to tell him he has to spy on the Chancellor. He didn't even like me in the first place!"
"It wasn't personal, it was business, and I think Anakin understands that (1). If he doesn't, then I didn't do my job nearly so well this time around."
As intended, the remark caused Obi-Wan to lift his face from his hands and fix him with a piercing stare. "Master…"
"I'm only messing with your mind. Continue."
"Of course you are, I don't know why it should surprise me. Anyway, Mace can sugarcoat it any way he likes, but the fact of the matter is Anakin will have to do something against the Jedi Code, on the orders of the Council. Am I the only one who thinks he is confused enough already?"
"His trust in the inherent goodness of the Jedi has been shaken by the war. Have you any more leads on finding Darth Sidious?"
"Not yet, but I think we're getting closer. This may come as a surprise, but I have a very bad feeling about the whole thing."
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"Anakin, I need your help, son."
'Don't call me that,' Anakin thought, but kept his mind guarded and his face neutral. "Of course."
"The Jedi Council wants control of the Republic, you must have seen it. With their left hand, they would use me as a shield against the Separatists, and with their right, they seek to supplant me so they can have power for themselves (2). If they have not yet included you in their plot, they soon will."
Suspicions began in the twenty-three-year-old's mind about the Council, but then he saw Obi-Wan resolutely doing his duty even against his better judgment, Obi-Wan stubbornly insisting that they leave him and rescue Palpatine, Obi-Wan saving Anakin's life time and again, and on every occasion refusing his thanks.
"I'm afraid you must be mistaken. The members of the Council strive only for peace, as do the rest of the Jedi."
"But surely you must have sensed that they do not trust me."
"They distrust you no more than any other politician. If I learn of a plot against you, I will certainly inform you."
Anakin was pleased that he had been able to avoid the questions without lying. Once he looked past his friendship with Palpatine, he could see why the Council was suspicious. The Chancellor seemed to be trying to feed Anakin's distrust of the Jedi.
"Anakin, have you ever heard the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise?"
"No."
"I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you."
'There he goes again, trying to make me think the Jedi are keeping things from me.'
"Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create… life."
'How does he know so much about the Sith?'
"He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about… from dying." Palpatine looked straight into Anakin's eyes.
"Is it possible to learn this power?" The question tumbled from his lips before he could stop it. 'I can save Padme…'
"Not from a Jedi."
'Yes, I get that, it's a Sith power. Stop trying to make me hate the Jedi, I don't like it. And wait a minute, why is he telling me this? Somehow I don't think he has a habit of telling random Sith stories to Jedi Knights passing by. This would have meant nothing to me before I had that vision of Padme…"
"Tell me, Anakin, do you know why they won't make you a Jedi Master?"
"Well, I am very young. And I have yet to achieve the serenity and sense of balance between my personal nature and my duty that is essential to a Jedi Master."
"Did you come to this conclusion yourself?"
'Is that sarcasm I detect?' "No, that's what Qui-Gon told me."
"And you trust his opinion on the matter?"
'Way too far, pal.' "He is a Jedi Master, and has been as long as I've known him. I value his opinion above all others." 'And that includes you. I won't stand for you maligning Qui-Gon.'
"Yes, of course, but I know he relies too heavily on the Living Force, and doesn't place enough stock on hints of the future, such as your visions."
"How do you know so much about the Force?"
"My mentor taught me everything there is to know about the Force… even the nature of the Dark Side."
"You know the Dark Side?" Anakin parroted in shock, then came to a conclusion as the pieces fitted themselves together. He drew his lightsaber. "You're the Sith!"
"Are you going to kill me?"
"I would certainly like to."
"I know—"
"But that's not the Jedi way," Anakin cut him off. "I'm going to report you to the Council."
"Ah yes, but you're not sure what their intentions are."
"I will quickly discover the truth behind this."
"Remember, without me, you have no chance of saving your wife from certain death."
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Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan looked up from their respective reports as Anakin stumbled into the room, looking almost dazed. Giving a swift nod to Qui-Gon, the younger Master started too leave, but was stopped by Anakin's voice. "Need to report to Council."
"Report to the Council?" asked Qui-Gon in surprise. "Are you alright?"
"Please, it's important."
"You aren't in any shape to report to that lot, Anakin. Can it wait?"
"How about you tell me and I take it to them?" Obi-Wan spoke for the first time.
Gulping, the young man nodded and said, "Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith. He told me he knows the Dark Side. That's why he's always trying to get me to distrust the Jedi."
"Thank you for telling me this," Obi-Wan said in a very grave manner. "I will report to the Council immediately, then let you know what action we will be taking."
For the fifteen minutes he was gone, Qui-Gon helped Anakin calm his mind. "He was my friend, all this time," the young man said sadly.
His swami squeezed his shoulder, sitting in silent support (3).
Anakin looked up sharply as Obi-Wan walked into the room. "What's going to happen?"
"Master Windu, Fisto, Koth, Tiin, and myself will go to he Senate building to arrest the Chancellor— by force, if necessary. Anakin, we will need Senator Amidala's help."
"Why?"
"Under normal circumstances, the Jedi Council would take control of the Republic to ensure a peaceful transition. However, it is likely that you are not the only person to whom he has been spreading seeds of distrust about the Jedi. We don't want to take any chance of it appearing that we are trying to overthrow the Republic. We've decided that Senator Amidala and her two hundred friends who tried to stop the war earlier should be in charge during the transition period."
The young man nodded. "I'd like to come with you."
"You have strict orders from Master Windu to stay in the Temple until we return. If you'd like, you can wait in the Council Chamber."
Anakin was about to protest, but noted Obi-Wan's careful wording— 'strict orders from Master Windu'— and knew it would do him little good. "What are your intentions regarding the Chancellor?" he asked instead.
Obi-Wan frowned slightly, surprised by the question. "This is an arrest, not an assassination, if that's what you're thinking. But since he is a Sith, he will not relinquish his power quietly."
Nodding, the twenty-three-year-old stood. "I'd like to be alone with my thoughts for a while; I'll be waiting in he Council Chamber." As he left the room, he tossed seven words back over his shoulder. "May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan."
"Every so often he surprises me." He shook his head. "I'd best be going. Don't worry about me, Master."
"You're about to confront a Sith Lord, Little One. What I am I supposed to do, worry for Palpatine?"
"Hey, whatever floats your boat." Obi-Wan smiled. "I'll be fine. What's he going to do when faced with five Jedi Masters? I'm personally rooting for maybe the scream and swoon, but well… not likely."
"I'd feel better if I was there."
"So would I. And so would Mace. You're a far better swordsman than either Master Tiin or Master Koth, but they're on the Council, and they don't like you."
"I knew all that Council-defying would come back to haunt me someday." Smiling sadly, he hugged Obi-Wan. /Stay safe, Little One. I am only a thought away./
/I'm counting on it./
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/Anakin?./
Qui-Gon felt a shiver of unease. Anakin was still supposed to be waiting in the Council Chambers, and therefore there was a very small chance that anything favorable could come from his arrival at the Senate.
'This can't be good.'
He rapidly made his way to the docking bay, commandeered a ship, and headed to the Senate building. Eeth Koth, Saesee Tiin, and Kit Fisto had all been killed, but Mace and Obi-Wan were more careful— and more skilled, Qui-Gon thought with pride. Their bond allowed him to witness everything that was going on.
'What is Anakin doing?' he thought in shock as the young man prevented Mace from killing Chancellor Palpatine.
When he was almost there, he saw Mace get Force-shoved out of the broken window, and grimly headed for that side of the building. 'You owe me big, Mace.'
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"Anakin, only I have the power to save those you love. If I die, my knowledge goes with me!"
"That's enough," Obi-Wan said calmly, activating his lightsaber. "You are under arrest, Chancellor. Do you yield?"
"Never!"
"Then I have no choice."
The blue lightsaber came down in a neat arc, but was stopped by a green one (4). Desperation had filled Anakin's eyes. "You can't kill him. It's not the Jedi way!"
"Anakin, he is a Sith! I must end this!"
"Come to your senses! He has control of the Senate and he courts. It's too dangerous to let him live!"
"I need him!"
Shaking his head sadly, Obi-Wan replied, "He is a Sith, Anakin. Anything you need from him is of the Dark Side. I'm doing this just as much for your sake as for that of the Republic."
Before Anakin could react or stop him, Obi-Wan had killed the last Sith. The younger man stood in shock for a moment, and the Force around him began to grow blackened and convoluted. "You always take everything from me!" he seethed through clenched teeth. "You've always thought you're better than me. Do you feel high-and-mighty now that you've killed a Sith, Master Kenobi? I'll fix that now!"
Obi-Wan looked back at him in anguish. "The Dark Side surrounds you, Anakin. Would you really do this to Master Qui-Gon? I really thought you had more respect for him than that."
The anger slipped a bit, and Anakin paused. He did have nothing but respect for the man who had taken him from slavery. "Qui-Gon will understand," he justified to himself.
"Yes, he will. Master understands a great deal about having a Padawan Turn to the Dark Side," Obi-Wan said bitterly. "Let me tell you something, Anakin. When I met him, I was ten years old. Everyone in the Temple had heard about how his Padawan, Dorjan Dubhgall, had Turned on their last mission. He blamed himself for Dubhgall's Fall. Do you really think he will do any differently if you Turn?"
"The Jedi are wrong!"
"And that justifies Turning to the Dark Side?"
"Stop lecturing me!" Anakin exploded in anger. "You always thought you were better than me, but you're wrong!"
"Anakin, I never thought I was better than you. What do you have to gain by doing this?"
"He could have saved her! That's why you killed him! You're jealous of me!"
"Saved whom?" Obi-Wan asked cautiously.
"She can't die, I won't let her!" Anakin rambled on. "I don't need him, I can save Padme myself!"
"Anakin, the Dark Side cannot save her, it has only the power to destroy" (5).
"STOP LECTURING ME! I HATE YOU!"
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Qui-Gon ran up the stairs, desperate to help Obi-Wan. He could feel his anguish, and feared the younger Master would allow himself to be killed before striking Anakin down. Though he had briefly toyed with the idea of telling Obi-Wan through their bond to do whatever was necessary to stay alive, he thought it would distract him.
Just as he burst through the door, the blue end of Obi-Wan's double-bladed lightsaber sliced through Anakin's chest. Immediately Obi-Wan dropped the deactivated hilt, which hit the floor at the same time as the younger man. "Master," he whispered in a raspy voice. "Forgive me…"
Qui-Gon crossed the room and pulled Obi-Wan firmly against his chest. "Hush, Little One," he said softly. "You did what you had to."
Gradually, the ragged gulps of air steadied out, and the young Master made tentative peace with himself. At that moment, however, a hoarse moan sounded from the floor. "I feel," Anakin said thickly, "like I crashed a starfighter, was run over by a herd of banthas, then hit repeatedly by Master Yoda's stick."
Both Jedi Masters stared at him in shock for a moment, then dropped to the ground by his side. "Anakin, you're alive!" Obi-Wan pressed his hand against the Knight's chest, checking for a heartbeat.
"Why wouldn't—" his words cut off and his face paled as the memories came rushing back. With more strength than he thought he possessed at that moment, he lurched to his feet and stumbled across the room, at which point he was violently ill.
"I'm sorry," he gasped, staggered back over to them and sank to his knees, covering his face. "I'm sorry."
"What do you remember?" Qui-Gon asked gently.
"I got angry, and it was like I wasn't in control anymore. I said things…" he looked at Obi-Wan with tears in his eyes. "I don't hate you, Obi-Wan, I don't." He took a steadying breath. "I never did, I— I was jealous."
"Of me?" Obi-Wan asked in confusion. "For what?"
"It started on Naboo when I childishly saw you as getting all the attention I deserved. Then, as I began to train, I was resentful because you are the epitome of a Jedi and everyone knows it. I was afraid that everyone was comparing me to you, when I was the only one to do so.
"I never released those feelings because I wasn't supposed to have them in the first place, so my bitterness grew and grew, triggered even by small things. I have a hard time feeling comfortable around new people and you get along with others so well, silly little things like that.
"I felt like I would be betraying my mother if I let myself get close to Qui-Gon, but at the same time I was bitterly envious of you for having someone like family.
"You never thought you were better than anyone, but I was always afraid that I wasn't good enough. I'm sorry." He dropped his head in defeat. "There's something else you need to know. Padme and I… we're married."
"Married?"
"When?"
"Three years ago, when I brought her back to Naboo." He closed his eyes and took the plunge. "She's pregnant."
Unable to find words, they stared at him in shock.
"I've been having visions, and she's going to die in childbirth! Please, I have to save her."
Obi-Wan's Master side took over. "Tell me exactly what you saw."
"I saw Padme in a medbay, not on Coruscant. She was in labor, but something was wrong. It was artificially brought on, and she was sad."
"Sad? With the promise of a child?"
"Extremely. You were with her, telling her to hold on, but she couldn't… and she died."
The red-haired Master looked thoughtful. "When did you first have this vision?"
"The first night back after we rescued Palpatine."
"I felt… I guess the best word is tremors, in the Force that night. I— I believe your visions were induced."
"Induced? By whom?"
"By someone who wanted you to Turn to the Dark Side, and knew how to make that happen."
"Palpatine?" Anakin blanched. "I trusted him for all these years, and he was using me. I— I think—" he swallowed. "I don't know what to think."
"Understandable." Qui-Gon patted his shoulder.
"I don't think he liked either of you very much," he said slowly. "and he was always fueling my jealousy. How could I be so stupid!" He gripped his hair in frustration.
"He manipulated you, Anakin, and you know what Yoda always says about the way of the Sith."
"Treachery," Anakin finished, then looked pleadingly at the Masters. "Please, may I see Padme? I have to… she deserves to know what happened."
Obi-Wan stood. "I have to report to the Council. They'll be pleased to hear about the Fall of the Sith, I'm sure. I'll tell them you needed time to cope with what happened." He smiled. "It's the truth, after all."
"The Council would be appalled to know how much like me you're turning out to be."
"Naturally. But, as you observed repeatedly in my younger days, they don't need to know everything. I'm sure half of them thought Master Yoda had gone off of his rocker when he suggested appointing me after Master Raghnall joined the Force." He frowned slightly in thought. "What did happen to Mace? I know you were close when he fell…""
"He's in the Healer's wing, probably submerged in bacta by now."
"Then I guess he owes you big. Again."
"Obi-Wan, are you going to tell the Council what I did?" The question burst out of Anakin; he could restrain it no longer.
"No, I'm not." He looked at the younger man very gravely. "But I expect you to do so when you're ready. If it would make you more comfortable, I can ask Master Yoda to speak with you privately when he returns."
"Yes, please. Um, could—" he hesitated. "Could you come too?"
Obi-Wan looked at him for just a moment in surprise. "I'll be there."
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"You made good time from Kashyyyk, Master Yoda."
"Concerned, I am, about Anakin Skywalker. Made a point of coming back quickly, I did."
"He'll be here very shortly. They're on their way back right now."
"Where were they?"
"Again, that's his to tell."
"Hmm, said that a lot, you did, during your report, Obi-Wan. Displeased, some of the Council members are." He smiled suddenly. "And care you do not. Proud, Qui-Gon would be."
"Absolutely," came a voice from the doorway. "What are we talking about?"
Rolling his eyes, Obi-Wan replied. "Irritating the Council. I did, after all, learn from the best."
"Why thank you." Qui-Gon switched to a mental, more serious communication. /Anakin is very nervous about this. Yoda has been against his training from the start, and he's afraid it will just confirm all of his earlier suspicions./
/Don't worry, Master, I won't let Master Yoda go too hard on him./
/I don't suppose it's any use telling you that, as a Councilor, you are my superior in rank, and my name is Qui-Gon./
/None whatsoever, Master./ The thirteen-year-old "argument" was a standing joke; Qui-Gon had been trying— unsuccessfully— since Obi-Wan's Knighting to get him to call him by his name. /How did Senator Amidala take the news?./
/She was very understanding. Obviously, it disturbed her that Anakin Turned in order to save her, and she told him that she would rather die than live knowing he had sold his soul on her account./
/I always thought she was very wise. Especially for a politician./
/Indeed./
Obi-Wan shot him a sideward look of concern. /There's something else, isn't there, Master?./
/That's Anakin's to tell you./
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The two Councilors listened for over an hour as Anakin poured out the whole story, starting from the very beginning. He confessed to his jealousy, marriage, and brief touch with Darkness. At the end, he told them the news that had been troubling Qui-Gon.
"I'm going to leave the Jedi. Padme's going to deliver soon, and Qui-Gon says we're having twins." He looked Obi-Wan in the eyes for the first time since he entered the room. "I'm grateful for everything you did for me, I know the Council only agreed to my training because you supported it. This whole thing has made me realize my vulnerability and weakness as a Jedi, and…" he smiled shyly. "I'll be away more than I want to once the babies are born."
Yoda regarded him for a moment, then said, to their great surprise: "Proud of you I am, Anakin Skywalker. Opposed your training I did because uneasy I felt about it. Realize I did not that meant to train as a Jedi you were. Needed to discover the danger of the Dark Side yourself, you did, or possibility of Turning would remain whether you were a Jedi or not. Balance, you have brought, not be with your family you can."
Obi-Wan blinked, then smiled slightly. Anakin took a moment to organize his thoughts and said, "Thank you, Master, but… Balance? Me? Obi-Wan was the one who killed Darth Sidious."
"Made the decision not to Turn, you still did, or killed you would have been."
The young man frowned in confusion, looking utterly perplexed. "What?"
"Twenty years ago," Obi-Wan started. "I had a vision of my Master being killed on Naboo. I built a double-bladed lightsaber, as you know. But because I built it for the sole purpose of saving my Master's life, it can never be used for an evil intent. If there had been only Darkness left in you, you would have been killed. In order to truly bring Balance, you had to conquer the Darkness in yourself."
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A/N- Sorry about the wait. It took me a very long time to type this, because school got out of hand. I hope everyone enjoyed my interpretation of Anakin's Turn to the Dark Side. A few footnotes from the story:
(1)— This is an allusion from The Godfather, probably everyone recognized it.
(2)— This is an allusion from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Denethor says this to Gandalf.
(3)— This is just me being silly. I am obsessed with alliteration, so I had to find all S-words. Swami means spiritual mentor in Swahili.
(4)— In the movies, Anakin's lightsaber was blue because he modeled it after Obi-Wan's and had great respect for him. Here he does not like him at all, so I thought he would model his lightsaber after Qui-Gon's.
(5)— Another allusion from Lord of the Rings, this time from The Fellowship of the Ring. Frodo says something very like that to Boromir.
There is an epilogue left, which I hope to have up soon now that school is almost over. After that, I have begun writing a prologue about Obi-Wan's time as a Padawan, how he and Qui-Gon met, basically my version of Jedi Apprentice. It stars cute little ten-year-old Obi-Wan, who can resist? As always, comments and constructive criticism welcome.
