Disclaimer: This story includes excerpts of the movie Star Wars. The characters and idea of Star Wars is property of George Lucas. I'm borrowing the characters as respectfully as possible, simply to entertain myself and anyone willing to read this fanfiction.
AN; Well, I've been hit with the Fluent Writing Charm this week I think! To please all you readers who were begging for Obi-wan and Padme interaction, voila, chapter 16! I think that this is important break from the movies. From now on I'll still use a scene or two, but my own plot will become dominant. Hope you'll stick with me! Anyhow, drop me a line and let me know what you think. Mu-san
Admittance
With growing concerns Padme was watching the recording of Obi-wan explain about his findings on Geonosis. Although his discoveries finally revealed the aggressor behind her assassination attempts she could only worry about Obi-wan. He was deep into enemy territory, risking his life to protect her.
"The Commerce Guilds and the Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku, and are forming a…wait—"
She held her breath as Obi-wan hesitated in his speech. When he ignited his lightsaber and started deflecting laser fire her whole body tensed. She squashed the impulse to close her eyes in denial and shock when the droideka stepped into the image. In a daze she listened to the discussion on Coruscant. The only thing she wanted to hear was immediate rescue plans for Obi-wan. Talk about the clone army gave her a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"…that is your first priority."
Quickly she pulled herself together after Mace's last words to Anakin. They had said nothing about a rescue operation and this infuriated her.
"Understood, master."
The image fizzled out and she turned to Anakin, determined to make him see there was something they could do for Obi-wan.
"They'll never get there in time to save him, they have to come halfway across the galaxy. Look—," she pressed a button on the console next to her, "Geonosis is less than a parsec away."
"If he's still alive."
For a split second she thought she heard him wrong. It almost sounded like he was resigned to stay here and leave Obi-wan to his fate. He didn't, right? But the tone of his voice struck a chord in her and further enhanced her aggravated state.
"Ani, are you just going to sit here and let him die? He's your friend, your mentor, y—"
"He's like my father!" Anakin bellowed.
This made her confused about Anakin's feelings once again. Just the other day he was convinced everything was Obi-wan's fault and now he was professing a childlike love for him? Admittedly, he said those nasty things in a fit of grief ridden rage, but everything has a certain amount of truth in it. She began to understand Obi-wan's frustration with the boy, he really was affected by his emotions far more than was healthy for a jedi.
"But you heard master Windu, he gave me strict orders to stay here."
'So that's it, you don't want to lose face. You want to show the Council you are the perfect jedi on your first solo assignment. Well get your priorities straight mister, because I won't stand for this!'
"He gave you strict orders to protect me. And I'm going to help Obi-wan," she announced, not caring if he would object. Another thing she was proud of, her stubbornness, although she liked to call it determination. She gave him a little mischievous look over her shoulder, one that however accepted no discussion.
"If you plan to protect me, you'll just have to come along."
She turned and started the controls. When Anakin hopped into the chair next to her she looked at him and was pleased to see a grin on his features.
'Good, there's hope for you yet.'
- ∞ -
'Okay, so you're about to enter some arena where you'll be put to death under the gleeful watch of Count Dooku, Nute Gunray and the population of Geonosis…I can do that.'
They were standing on a carriage, waiting to be rolled into the arena. She could hear the crowd anxiously waiting for their arrival. Her disgust for such public displays of barbarism flared and she willed her mind to ignore everything except possible ways of escape.
"Don't be afraid."
She turned her head for a moment to look at Anakin. He looked calm and composed, but she knew that was his jedi upbringing. Luckily she was equally trained in matters of hiding emotions.
"I'm not afraid to die."
But that wasn't entirely true. Years ago, when she was just installed as queen, she and Sabé had had a long talk about life. Being queen brought a lot of risks with it and she had confessed to her loyal friend that she was more than a little afraid. They made a pact that day, swearing that whatever happened they would not fear death. Nothing good would ever come from such a fear. And she had kept that pact all throughout her days as queen. But years later, holding a dying Cordé in her lap after that horrible explosion, she couldn't help but feel the threat of death again. It invoked a primal response in her that didn't sit well with her desire for control. Right now, although she wasn't showing it, she felt afraid about what was going to happen. She didn't want to die. There were still things she wanted to do, see and experience. Almost casually the image of Obi-wan popped into her head. And before she knew it a confession passed her lips, one she never wanted to divulge before Anakin.
"I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life."
When the sound of her own words reached her ears she quickly clamped down her mouth to prevent another secret of the heart to escape her. Inwardly she cursed herself. But not for revealing this to Anakin, not really. She cursed herself for revealing this fact at the wrong time and to the wrong person. Someone else needed to hear this from her. Someone with beautiful blue green grey eyes and the most gentle soul she knew. He needed to know how much she had come to need his presence. How much she wanted him. How much she loved him…
"What are you talking about?"
A jolt momentarily rocked them as the gate opened and the carriage was pulled into the arena. Immediately the din of the crowd overwhelmed them and provided her the excuse she needed to not answer him. They squinted their eyes for a second against the bright sunlight and tried to take in the whole scene. She knew Anakin quickly scanned the sides of the arena, counting the number of guards and looking for ways out. A small shiver ran down her spine as she thought about his previous actions down in the factory halls. He could definitely handle himself in combat, she grimly concluded.
The moment her eyes had adjusted to the light she began scanning the arena as well. She could make out the elevated area where most likely the real villains would be watching. Several guards were stationed around the arena. Too many to fight in her opinion. At least not in their current state. She knew the small metal pin she had in her belt could open the handcuffs, but the moment she would do that these Geonosians would be all over her. No, it would be better to wait for the right time and then—
Blue green grey eyes. All she could see were blue green grey eyes. Their carriage was still on the other end of the arena but she could see his eyes like he was standing next to her. Every sound around her vanished, the arena and all its occupants disappeared and all she was left with were blue green grey eyes. Her heart jumped out of her chest and flew to unimaginable heights. He was alive! Without conscious thought she poured every emotion, frustration and worry into her gaze and looked hard at him. Something just told her to do it, even though her rational mind was telling her they couldn't be communicating with each other across such distances.
But they could. His mouth didn't move, nor did his eyes change color or intensity, but she heard him loud and clear. Not like the last time though. When he let her see into his mind she could see him and hear the words in her mind. This time it felt different. She wasn't hearing his words or his voice, but she felt him. All of him. She could feel his surprise, his shock, the light scolding he had for her coming after him.
'But I couldn't leave you like this, Obi-wan.'
A surge of gratitude and affection swelled in her heart which she immediately recognized as Obi-wan. She could also feel a hint of guilt.
'Oh no you don't! This was my choice to come here, don't you go blaming yourself for that!'
His apologetic grin soothed her immensely.
'Are we going to die here?'
Not if he could help it. She almost laughed out loud at his statement, seeing as he was tied to a large pillar with the same handcuffs they had on. She settled for smiling internally, his smile adding to her own. Her fears of dying went out the window. Anakin's earlier reassurance suddenly seemed hollow. Obi-wan's words she could trust.
'So what do we do?'
Wait for the right time. She felt a little more confident when he affirmed her own assessment. She left out a quiet sigh and relaxed her shoulders. They would get through this, she was confident of that now.
'I'm really glad you're alive.'
To her it was a clear understatement, but it was all she could think of right now. The relief it brought her was overwhelming and made her feel like she could do anything now. Together. She felt him nod in agreement and they continued to stare at each other. But no real thoughts were flying around in her head. She was just feeling. Feeling his presence, his support, his soul. A tiny part in the back of her mind was yelling 'I told you so' and laughing at her sudden sappiness. She simply ignored it.
The carriage had finally reached the stone pillars and she was guided to the one on the right by a guard. She had to break eyecontact with Obi-wan, but it didn't matter. Her arms lifted when the flying creature attached her cuffs to a long chain and a ring high on the pillar. But it didn't matter. She heard Obi-wan's remark to Anakin and almost smiled. He didn't really mean it like that, bless his little sarcastic streak. Then the guards unleashed the three beasts on them. But it didn't matter. He was here with her. They could do anything, together.
'Bring it on.'
- ∞ -
In a large arc Mace brought his lightsaber round to the front and deflected two laser blasts. Drawing lightly on the Force he jumped up to avoid fire from yet another droid. He landed on the other end and started running in the opposite direction. With an elegance gifted by the Force he swung his lightsaber to the right and behind him, in a move most sharla ball players would have envied. The droid's upper casing sparked as the deflected bolt hit home. But Mace didn't need the acknowledgment of the hit and ran on. He sighted Obi-wan to his right and headed towards the knight. In a flurry of sparks and hisses the two stood back to back in the middle of the raging battle. Laser fire was coming from all sides, but the two moved expertly and no bolts ever threatened them.
"Glad to see you alive, Obi-wan!" Mace shouted over the din.
Obi-wan parried another two bolts and cut down a droid. "Not as glad as I am to see all of you!"
Mace grinned and took the head off another droid. Yoda had been right. Their adversaries had multiplied greatly. And it didn't help there were only a handful of jedi available to combat this separatist threat. He mentally shook his head. Focus on the present, as his old friend Qui-gon would say.
"Obi-wan, take off to the left and help Yunop-Da and Soja, I'll cover your back."
Without question Obi-wan swiveled on his left leg and jogged off towards the two struggling jedi Mace had spotted. A quick flash of admiration ran through Mace as he saw the young knight cut a path through several droids to help his fellow jedi. He wondered if Obi-wan was ready for the next step in his life. He stored the thought away to ask Yoda, if they survived this battle.
Mace followed Obi-wan redirecting the laser bolts coming at them. He was pleased to see Obi-wan's presence had shifted the situation quickly and Yunop-Da and Soja were able to carry on. He quickly found himself back to back with Obi-wan again and fleetingly wondered if this was what it was like for Anakin. He came to the conclusion that Anakin was damn lucky to have someone like Obi-wan looking out for him.
Heavy vibrations made them look to one side and they saw the earlier released reek charging right at them. Mace sensed no other way but straight ahead and he started running. In a millisecond he could feel a laser bolt racing towards his back and realized he couldn't react quickly enough to deflect it. Then a hiss informed him Obi-wan had swung his lightsaber high and stopped the bolt from hitting him. He almost thought Obi-wan had stayed in the path of the reek too long but the knight jumped out of the way at the last moment. When the beast came up close enough to him Mace rolled and swiped upwards. He sliced off part of the beast's horn but was propelled backwards by the force of the creatures charge. Quickly rolling to the side he retrieved his lightsaber just as Jango Fett jumped at it. He had no idea where the bountyhunter had come from but it didn't matter. The angry reek charged again and handled Fett like an old rag doll.
'Good, saves me the trouble then.'
But when he saw the reek getting killed by the bountyhunter he quickly ran again, determined to take the vicious man out of the picture. He deflected one, two, three, four, five laser bolts, before turning into a tight turn, deflecting the sixth shot and slicing the weapon in half in one move and finally beheading the bountyhunter with one large sweep.
Mace looked down at the lifeless body and hoped the Force would absorb whatever evil the man had done and bring it back to balance. Then more droids asked for his attention he was off again. Swinging, cutting, deflecting, surviving.
- ∞ -
"Then, I am sorry, old friend."
Dooku's words made her skin crawl. This was it. They had fought bravely but it had been in vain. So many jedi already lay dead in the sand of this arena, and so many more droids. But the difference was they had more droids coming in every minute. The jedi here were all there was.
A lump in her throat formed as she saw and heard numerous droids clicking and whirring, aiming their blasters at them once more. She realized that the moment she had been dreading since the day Cordé had died had finally come, death was here to claim her. A swell of fear for herself and sympathy for those around her threatened to overwhelm her. She felt Anakin besides her taking on an aggressive stance, determined to sell his life dearly. She turned her head to her left and saw Mace Windu standing straight. His very being exuded power and defiance. He was still looking up at Dooku.
She was about to close her eyes and pray for the onslaught to be over soon when Obi-wan's eyes caught her attention. Instead of holding up his lightsaber and going down fighting he was almost calmly standing there, his lightsaber at his side, looking at her. His brow and a few locks of his hair with slick with sweat from the fight. He was still breathing a little heavy. She couldn't help but think how beautiful he was to her. And right that moment with a rush of excitement and love she felt his presence coursing through her again, just like it had done when they had entered the arena. Strangely enough she felt no words from him, no distinct feelings. He was simply there. She pursed her lips together and tried to hold the tears at bay.
'I don't want to die.'
He kept looking at her, no questions and no words.
'I don't want you to die either…'
His eyes changed from a deep sea green to a soft grey blue, the color she found the most calming. She took a deep breath when she heard another round of clicks from the droids. Her body tensed up and instinctively the time was now or never. Her logical mind was telling her this was too little too late, but her heart was the voice she was listening to right now. And it was demanding action, just to set the things in her universe right for a change. With great effort she kept looking at him and allowed her heart to speak.
'I—'
But he knew. She didn't have to finish her thought because he knew. And she could see he did as well. No doubt about it. He knew, and he did. She did, and now knew as well. The ghost of a smile graced her lips with this realization and she had to blink away tears of happiness. Obi-wan nodded and she felt a new wave of strength, confidence and defiance flow through her. She nodded too and they both turned towards the droid army. He raised his lightsaber in defense and she held her blaster up, ready to start blasting if she wasn't shot down in the first wave. Suddenly a low grumble from the sky interrupted the moment and on impulse she looked up. The sight of several impressive looking war ships greeted her, bearing down on their position. For a split second she thought it was more droids but the situation had suddenly changed drastically and she recognized it.
"Look!"
All eyes of the jedi around her lifted upwards and witnessed how the droid army unexpectedly had to deal with a whole new force. Immediately the firefight continued, but luckily for them most of the droids were shooting at the ships. Quickly lowering her blaster she started shooting again, making each shot count. With renewed vigor she wanted to fight, to win. She had something to come home to.
- ∞ -
"Anakin and I can handle this."
'At least I hope we can.'
At full speeds they were pursuing Dooku. He knew that there was no time to inform another part of their force and send them after Dooku. By then he would be gone. This was the only way this could end right now before it had really begun. They needed to capture Dooku, dead or alive. And a part of him wished it could be alive. The information the old jedi held was too valuable to go to waste, they needed answers.
The two droid ships behind Dooku's speeder suddenly broke off and disappeared from sight. A second later they were under fire and the ship started swaying as the pilot tried to avoid getting hit. He silently thanked himself on telling Padme to hold on. But he didn't feel so well when he saw a large sand dune come up before them. He intensified his hold on the side of the ship when the bottom of the ship grazed the top of the dune. Another blast rocked the ship even more and he had to swiftly change his footing in order to stay upright. When the sound of Padme's cry reached his ears he quickly turned and saw her falling out of the ship. His heart stopped beating for a moment before his astute sense told him she would only fall a few feet before landing on the dune, nothing life threatening. She could very well survive that fall. Also his heart told him she wasn't dead or in any other danger. He couldn't really explain it, but he knew. Like that instant in the arena, he knew. It was something he just did.
"Padme!"
Anakin leaned to the other side to see where she had landed. Then he turned back to Obi-wan.
"Put the ship down!"
Sensing this was going to be immensely important Obi-wan jumped to the other side of the ship to face Anakin. Truth be told his apprentice's behavior had troubled him for a while now, ever since they were assigned to guard Padme back on Coruscant, and this was just another indication the boy's emotions were running the show instead of his mind. It was time to remind him what it is to be a jedi. A twinge of guilt shot through his mind as he remembered the unspoken admission Padme and he had just shared, declaring their affection for each other. For a second his heart had screamed at him to save Padme from that fall, but he knew he had a different job to do now. In a clear flash he realized that was exactly what set them apart. They both loved her, but Anakin was willing to push everything aside for her while he knew that life and love was so much more than simply bliss. It entailed the negative feelings, the consequences and the responsibilities as well. He knew Padme would say and do the exact same thing and it gave him the mental assurance he could speak to his padawan like he was about to.
"Anakin! Don't let your personal feelings get in the way!"
He turned around to the front. "Follow that speeder!" he instructed the driver again.
But Anakin apparently still disagreed with him. "Order the ship—"
Obi-wan cut him off before he could finish that sentence. "I can't take Dooku alone, I need you! If we catch him we could end this war right now." Why could he not see this, why would Anakin not see past his own emotions and desires and recognize the greater good. Had he not taught him to do that very thing! "We have a job to do!" he forcefully added, hoping it would knock the sense in him, seemingly where years of training, mentoring and caring had failed.
"But I don't care! Put the ship down!" Anakin replied.
Obi-wan was taken aback with his answer, although he knew Anakin was not thinking straight. A small part of him still held the hope that Anakin would finally show his full potential in the Force and fulfill the prophecy. And not just his physical prowess, but also some of the wisdom he had tried years to make him see. A note of exasperation colored his voice.
"You will be expelled from the jedi Order!"
"I can't leave her!" Anakin shouted back.
'Then you don't love her, you're obsessed by her! Blast Anakin, can't you see! As much as I love her I can't allow this ship to land, we have to catch Dooku! You are not the only one who has to choose between love and duty, but why are you the only one who complains he doesn't have the choice! I love Padme, maybe even more than you do, but not in a way I'm willing to sacrifice the fate of the universe just to be with her!'
"Come to your senses! What do you think Padme would do were she in your position?"
When Anakin stared at him without responding Obi-wan had a glimmer of hope his padawan was finally coming round. The moment he looked away he knew the realization had struck his apprentice and he would do his duty as a jedi.
"She would do her duty."
That proved his feelings and he was relieved Anakin had overcome his emotions. Not that it excused him from his outburst, but right now he couldn't deal with that. If they were to bring in Dooku they needed all their concentration and wits about them. For the elder jedi was a magnificent swordsman. Obi-wan turned away from Anakin and saw Dooku heading for a formation of cliffs. Tightening his hold on his lightsaber he tried to calm himself and let the Force flow through him in preparation to the inevitable fight. But a small nagging feeling in the back of his mind kept distracting him. It gave him the feeling this was about the get infinitely worse.
- ∞ -
The intense din of the battle didn't prevent Yoda from hearing, or rather feeling, the ripples in the Force. Two bright peaks in the Force gave off two similar signals, which coursed back to him. He was surprised to recognize the two as Obi-wan and his apprentice. But the feeling in the Force surprised him. A light frown appeared in his forehead as he identified the particular signals. In all his years of service to the jedi Order he had come across such feelings rarely, but the two were strongly presenting them. And this caused him great concern and sadness. One because of its intensity, the other because of its inevitable consequence.
But the Force told him these things could wait. Dooku was the bigger issue now. And if he was not mistaken, they were going to need his help.
"The droid army is in full retreat," the clone army commander reported.
Yoda nodded. "Well done, commander. Bring me a ship."
- ∞ -