Chapter Sixteen

Obi-Wan watched with trepidation as his glowlight began to dim. That would mean it had been at least four hours since their entrapment. Above him, he could hear the sounds of stones being moved and knew that rescue was coming. It was just going to take time.

Time that he didn't think Padmé had. Her pulse had weakened, and although he had been able to stop the internal hemorrhaging located in her lower abdomen, he was frightened for her. He tried to contact Yoda through the Force, but was only able to receive a short responsive message that help was on the way, and he already knew that.

Joining the workers above the rubble was Captain Panaka who had created quite a scene upon his arrival. Master Yoda had calmed the man, explaining that voicing his obvious frustration was not helping. Much to his benefit, the captain of security immediately went to work, removing boulders with his own hands. Mace joined him to assist with the heavier stones, using what he could of the Force. It was slow and tedious work, but they hoped to reach the young couple soon. Panaka just hoped that the air pocket in which they were trapped would last.

Once again, dust rained through the small opening in the crevice above he and Padmé's head and Obi-Wan shielded her face with his arm. The shaft of light shining into the cramped space widened and then bright light poured in. The first face he saw was his friend Bant.

"Obi-Wan! Are you all right?"

"Yes, but Padmé's hurt. Help me, Bant."

The Mon Calamarian helped ease Padmé's body up and out through the opening they had created, but it took the combined effort of several Knights and a Master to grasp onto the Force that seemed to skitter away out of their reach.

Obi-Wan quickly followed, lifting himself up and out with a groan. Two healers awaiting their retrieval hurried up and placed Padmé upon a hoverbed and took her away with Obi-Wan limping slightly behind.

Master Yoda watched the pair proceed with a wary glance.

"Find young Skywalker, now we should." He told Mace Windu.

Bacta tubes were inserted into the young woman's abdomen as well as a drainage tube to release the pool of blood that had gathered there. Healers worked diligently to repair the ruptured spleen, but there was nothing else they could do. Obi-Wan had already repaired the fractured skull and there was no damage to her brain, however, Padmé simply would not wake up.

Obi-Wan remained at her side the entire time, in the healers' way too often, but he refused to move out of her reach and kept his hand on her shoulder, mostly to comfort himself he realized.

Her breathing was erratic, but her heartbeat was strong. It was if something or someone had reached in and taken over her mind, and would not allow her to awaken. The healers were at a loss and so was Obi-Wan.

His young apprentice would not have the power to do this, would he?

Master Yoda entered the room moments later, looking slightly disheveled and worn.

"Unable to locate your padawan, we have been." The council member informed him. "Deep within the bowels of the Temple he has gone. Narrow are the passages there. In the darkness he hides."

Obi-Wan glanced back miserably at Padmé. He should get up and go search himself for the boy, but he cannot leave her. What if something happens while he's gone?

But Anakin is his responsibility, he argues, and finally convinces himself to leave her bedside and search out the boy. He grimaced upon rising and is immediately lowered back into the chair by a firm touch of the Force. Yoda's clawed hand is raised in the air and the council member's forehead creases with concern.

"A broken shoulder, you have, Knight Kenobi. Attended you, the healers have not?"

"There wasn't any time." Obi-Wan answered, running his fingers along Padmé's brow, sweeping back the dark curls that lay across her forehead. "Padmé's health is more important."

"Stubborn like your Master." Yoda harrumphed and then Obi-Wan felt the bones being knitted back together. He rotated his arm with less pain as Yoda's hand fell back to his side.

"I should go help find Anakin." Obi-Wan said, for the first time looking Yoda in the face.

"No. Stay with the queen you should. Your help she will need. Guard her mind. Master Windu and I, find young Anakin we will. Succeed in bringing him to the light, we must or awaken the young lady may not."

"What are you talking about?" Obi-Wan gasped, reaching out a protective hand to place on her arm.

"Attached itself to her mind, the darkness has. Take her with him, he will. If lost he is, then lost she will be."