Beneath the marble walkways, columns and stairwells of the massive building that is known as the Jedi Temple are a series of narrow caverns, dark and dripping, heavy with moisture, filled with thundering echoes of activities going on far above.
In this neglected, albeit historical place that serves as the foundation for the original temple, which Yoda himself had supervised the construction of, hides a young padawan, trembling, crouching in the dark, hands grasped about his drawn up knees.
Large rats dare to come out and inspect the intruder, only to shriek and run away to the safety of their nests as the young boy's head rises, the glaring yellow of his beady eyes issuing a threat to strike down anything that would come near him.
At the apex of this forgotten place, a chasm in a crumbling rock wall surrounded by shining durasteel girders that now support the structure overhead peers a set of narrowed green eyes.
The wizened Master is stunned by the hatred and anger that radiates through the ancient catacombs. He seeks out the distraught boy along the Force and grapples the darkness that is bold enough to be so aggressive against him.
The dark side, consuming you it is, Skywalker. Let go of your hate. Come to those who care about you.
An evil laughter that is only slightly reminiscent of the small blonde-headed boy echoes along rocky corridors littered with cobwebs and dust.
Like my Master? Comes the sardonic reply. He doesn't love me! He never loved me! He only loves Padmé! Well, he can't have her! I won't let him have her! She's mine!
A crouching Mace Windu meets Yoda's gaze, his dark brown eyes revealing his wilting hope.
Let her go, you must, Anakin.
No! I want to keep her!
Coming to you I am. Help you, I can.
Stay where you are! The young voice deepens and crackles with dark energy and Yoda slows his stride just before a comlink sounds out behind him and Obi-Wan's panicked voice fills the air.
"What do I do? Ask Yoda to tell me what to do! She's dying!"
Healers rush in to revive the young woman who should in all rights be recovered in full. They are shaken to discover her sunken features, dark circles shadowing underneath her closed lids, the med units wailing warnings of her cardiac arrest.
Several minutes into resuscitative efforts, the three healers draw back, stunned at what has happened. They look on the young knight who has stayed vigilant by their patient, expressing their sorrow for his loss and pull the light-covered sheet over the lifeless face. Slowly strolling out, they each lay comforting hands upon the young man's shoulders, leaving him alone to give him time to come to terms with her passing.
The coppery head begins to shake slowly in denial and a shaky hands reach out to pull down the blue cloth.
"No." He murmurs. He can't allow this to happen! He can't just sit here and do nothing!
A frantic call to Master Windu had revealed that his apprentice had been discovered but was refusing to cooperate. Refusing to communicate.
Well, he wouldn't refuse him. He was his Master after all.
Sinking into a deep meditation, Obi-Wan framed Padmé's pale features with his hands and sought along her silent mind, searching out the dark tendrils that had taken hold there, peeling them away one at a time. When just fragments remained, he was blindly struck by a power so evil, he reeled from the shock of it.
She's mine! The voice that held just a trace of familiarity hissed inside his head.
Anakin! Let her go! If you love her, you must let her go!
No!
Then you don't truly love her. Love does not do this. Love does not kill.
What are you talking about?
She's dead Anakin. Padmé's dead.
Shadowy wisps of darkness trail away from the depths of Padmé's soul as a silent whimper fills their training bond.
I'm sorry, Master. I'm so sorry. The boy's clear young voice once again rings out.
The darkness has retreated, but in its place is left an open and gaping wound on her soul that he must repair quickly, no matter what the consequences. Obi-Wan pours his life force into the young woman, repairing the damage that had occurred with the Dark Force occupation. Attaching his own living energies to her mind, her body responds and spurs to life again, her heart palpitates on its own, and the young woman arches off of the bed, gasping for breath.
Slowing respirations leads to awareness of her surroundings and the warm body that now lies next to her, a hand stilling next to her face.
She turns her head to see a most wonderful sight.
"Obi-Wan." Padmé whispers, but the name goes unheard.
The recoil of his actions has put the young man into psychic shock. He's alive and is in a small amount of discomfort that is quickly receding and will regain consciousness soon.
Confusion knits her brows as Padmé discovers she has not laid hands on him to check any vital sign to know this. But somehow, she just….knows.