Chapter 4 – Deception

Author's Note: Welp, this chapter is the beginning of the very angsty part of the fic. :D I hope y'all enjoy Anakin and Rex's friendship, and try not to kill me for what Anakin did to Ahsoka. :')

To hiep16: I know this was supposed to be about Ahsoka being a Sith… but somehow, Anakin kinda took over. To be fair, we needed to establish more about what was happening with Anakin to build up to ROTS. ^-^ I hope you enjoy! :)

~ Amina Gila

Anakin had a bad feeling about this from the start. He didn't understand why. He hadn't, until his greatest fear became real. Until the sniper who was shooting at him and Obi-Wan – why out here on Coruscant? – somehow manages to score a hit on Obi-Wan. Until Anakin took him back to the Temple, only to hear...

He feels strangely disconnected from his body right now, not exactly an uncommon feeling. Everything is numb and void and empty. There's nothing. Obi-Wan is... he's gone. Just like that. The only father Anakin's ever truly known.

He doesn't remember the funeral, really, but Padme and Duchess Satine are there. So were a few others, but they were the only two Anakin took note of.

Now...

Anakin stumbles into his apartment, nearly collapsing as the door hisses shut behind him.

He can't... it's too much. It doesn't make sense. Obi-Wan was there, hardly any time ago, and now he's – he's gone. Like Qui-Gon. Like Hardcase and so many of Anakin's friends. Like... his mother.

It feels like the world should stop turning if this is really real, and it should because his master, his best friend is gone. It feels like a dream. Like some terrible nightmare he's going to wake up out of, and Obi-Wan will be there to laugh at him for thinking he could've been killed by a single sniper, and lecture him for being so torn up over it, because this isn't the Jedi way

Obi-Wan had been the one to suggest they split up, and Anakin listened. He wasn't even able to catch the assumedly bounty hunter. It should've been Anakin instead. It shouldn't have been Obi-Wan. All this time, he was the only one who was always there.

Anakin wants to cry. He wishes he could cry, but he feels too numb, and the pain runs too deep.

He reaches into the Force, nudging outwards, instantly overwhelmed by the feel of his former master permeating the apartment. This doesn't make sense. He can't be gone. Anakin should've taken the shot instead.

If he'd been fast enough, this wouldn't have happened. Obi-Wan would – he'd be here.

Anakin isn't sure how long he sits there, staring at a fixed point across the room without seeing it. It could be minutes. It could be hours. He doesn't even know.

He doesn't remember falling asleep, only waking up what couldn't have been more than a few hours later, if even. It takes a moment for the events of the past day to settle in, along with the crushing, overwhelming pain and confusion. His every thought is screaming with denial because that's not possible, but as much as he wants to deny it, he saw it happen. He carried Obi-Wan back to the Temple, and he saw – he saw his funeral. Like he did Qui-Gon's years ago. Like he did his mother's, at the beginning of the war.

He should probably get up and do something, but he doesn't have the energy to. He couldn't even if he tried. At least, not until the Council calls him with the information about Obi-Wan's killer. They've found him, apparently, and Anakin could probably have stayed in outright denial until that moment.

Then, the only thing Anakin feels is a cold, icy, blinding rage, because this man – Rako Hardeen, they'd said his name was – murdered his master. Anakin wants to kill him. He imagines how satisfying it would be to wrap his hand around the man's neck and crush it, but – but he's supposed to take him to prison, and Anakin knows that's what Obi-Wan would want him to do. Anakin pulls himself to his feet. He doesn't feel empty anymore, not with this rage burning in his veins, but he doesn't trust himself to keep it together, and even if it's unusual, there's one person he can always go to for help.

Rex.

**w**

Logically, Rex had known that even the generals could die, but to actually hears it happened hurts as much as it would to lose any of his closest brothers. Kenobi wasn't his general, but Rex knows firsthand how close they were.

Quite frankly, Rex is worried for his general. Losing close friends – brothers – is hard for anyone, and he knows how close General Skywalker was with his former master. Rex does nothing but offer his silent support as they arrest Hardeen and take him to the prison. He can feel his general's quiet rage the same strange way he always does.

He wishes there was something he could do to help, but there isn't.

"Let me know if he's any trouble," General Skywalker tells the Coruscant guards as they take Hardeen inside. "I'd be happy to straighten him out." He watches for a moment longer before turning away and stalking back to the speeder.

Rex follows him. "How are you?" he asks, though it's a bit awkward. He doesn't have emotional conversations like this with his general, but he feels duty bound to ask something.

"I should feel better now that he's in prison," comes the response, and the clone can hear the barely suppressed anger in the other's voice, "But I don't. I just want him dead."

"I understand, sir," Rex assures. How many times has he felt the same when his brothers died?

The General nods, slightly, but remains silent.

Rex finds himself wondering if his general has even talked to anyone about what happened. It's... unlikely, he'll admit, because the only Jedi Anakin was close with was General Kenobi. And, maybe, he finds it touching how his general came to him when he needed help. They aren't equals, technically. Rex is only a commander, but his general doesn't seem to care much. He's unlike all the other Jedi in that way. Rank aside, they're... friends. It isn't something any of them ever speak of because it would be heavily discouraged by both their superiors, but it's indisputably there.

Now, there's nothing like that constant knowledge that he'll always have someone who will have his back. It hurts that now when his general needs Rex's help – or someone's – there is nothing he can offer, except being here however he can.

**w**

The planet is dark, and Anakin can't help but think it's appropriate for the coming confrontation. Hardeen had escaped from prison the night after he was put in, along with Cad Bane and Moralo Eval. The Council took the bounty off them the next afternoon, after which Anakin and Rex were sent on a lead to Nal Hutta to track them down. So, here they are.

"Look, it's Bane," Rex says, looking out the window to their right.

"Are you sure?" Anakin demands, twisting to look past the clone out the window. He only catches a fleeting glance, but both in the Force and the visual, yes, it's him. Anakin fires up the engines immediately, taking off after the other ship. They don't have guns on their ship, which is frustrating, but he's dealt with this before. Anakin rams his ship down into the other, flying after it, staying directly overhead. The best they can do is throw the bounty hunters off course. Except, the other ship lifts off again, undeterred.

It isn't going to work, not like this. Not unless he ensures the ship is disabled so Rex can come down and help him out. "Take over!" Anakin tells Rex, jumping out of his seat. "I'll bring them down." It might be reckless, but he doesn't care. All that matters to him is that they kill Hardeen, and the others.

Rex replies with a familiar "yes, sir" as Anakin sprints to the back. The ship jerks again as Rex slams them into the bounty hunters' ship. He opens the hatch, tightly gripping the side of the doorway as air whips past him. Gathering the Force around him, Anakin jumps over the edge, silently hoping that this won't turn out to be another one of those very messy landings. He slams against wing of the shuttle, ripping out his lightsaber and stabbing the ignited blade into the metal, cutting a deep slash across it. Smoke starts filling the air immediately, but the other ship doesn't slow. It was built well, and he has to cause more damage.

Anakin has only a second of warning before he spots Bane flying towards him, jet-boots activated. He instantly draws on the Force to keep himself balanced as he turns to deflect the shots back at the bounty hunter flying over his head. This is taking too long. A fierce, blinding rage consumes all his senses, demanding vengeance for his master's death. Anakin deflects one of the shots back into one of his jet-boots. The bounty hunter is sent off-course, slamming against the ship. Anakin leaps forwards, furiously, determined to end this here and now.

The bounty hunter continues firing at him with his blasters, scrambling backwards. Bane's jet boots suddenly fire up, and he starts flying backwards, firing with both his blasters. He disappears to a lower level of the ship, and Anakin gives chase.

The ship suddenly twists sharply to the side, and Anakin hastily catches his balance by bracing his left hand against the wing. It jerks again, and it only takes a second to realize that this isn't going to work. He has to stop the pilot. Anakin twists around to look over his shoulder. Hardeen. He's the one flying the ship.

Everything else zones out of focus on that moment. Forget the others; Hardeen is his focus. Anakin is about to lunge forwards, despite the violent rocking of the ship, when it suddenly starts firing at the structures ahead. Smoke floods the air, and he coughs against it, scrambling up the ship.

It happens so fast. Hardeen brings his ship up sharply the same second Rex brings his down again. The clone, no doubt, didn't see it coming until it was too late. Anakin has a split second of panic, knowing that they could easily all die here, before he and Bane are flung to the ground from the impact. He slams into the ground a few times, dropping his lightsaber somewhere along the way. Pain flares across his body, but he struggles to his feet. Smoke is everywhere, but he can sense the others, and his eyes fall on Hardeen where he jumped off the ship.

Anakin flings himself to his feet, ignoring the pain, ignoring everything, and bodily tackles the bounty hunter to the ground. They roll across the ground, and Anakin throws the other man away from him before scrambling to his feet. "You're going to pay for what you did," he snarls.

"You shouldn't have gotten involved," Hardeen retorts as Anakin rams him against the rocky wall behind them.

"This is for Obi-Wan," Anakin growls, grabbing his lightsaber with the Force and igniting it, raising it for the killing blow. A cord suddenly wraps around his arms, pinning them against his body. Anakin is hit by a moment of confusion through his rage because this was supposed to be the end, and he follows the cord with his eyes to see Bane standing atop the ledge.

"Thank me later, Hardeen."

Anakin struggles against it, uselessly, as Bane drags him off his feet and flies backwards, forcibly pulling him away from Hardeen. Anakin flips himself over, kicking the bounty hunter back and making him lose his grip. He snatches up his lightsaber and swings around to block the oncoming blaster bolts. He deflects one of the shots back into Bane's blaster, sending it flying from his grasp. Anakin jumps forwards, blade raised for the kill, only for Hardeen to tackle him to the ground. He scrambles up and lunges again, only for the bounty hunter to grab his arm and slam him against the ground again.

Pain stabs through his back, leaving him breathless. Before he can move to get up, Hardeen is standing over him, slamming his fist into Anakin's face. His head slams back against the ragged, sharp rocks, and he could almost swear the area feels warm and wet. It's bleeding.

Anakin twists, raising an arm to struggle to fend off the attack, but it's fruitless.

Panic swells within him, then, demanding that this not be how he dies. He can't go out like this, like Obi-Wan, before managing to avenge his former master's death. Afterwards, after he ensures the Chancellor is safe and Dooku is dead, he couldn't care less.

It gives him newfound strength, and he manages to get a grip on Hardeen's arm and twisting him, slamming him to the ground. His vision is going dark, the world spinning, but Anakin flings himself to his feet. He has to keep moving. Hardeen is faster, again, and he spins around Anakin, catching him in a chokehold.

"Anakin, don't follow me," he whispers even as Anakin struggles against him. The words don't make sense. They barely even register, but it's the soft, gentle nudge at that bond, the one that he thought was gone forever.

Anakin's last thought before the world blacks out is about how maybe he was wrong and that, somehow, Obi-Wan is still alive.

**w**

Rex's armor and helmet shielded him from the worst of damage, so he climbs to his feet immediately. His general will need his help if Hardeen alone was enough for a Jedi Master, and Cad Bane is extremely dangerous. He doesn't know enough about Eval to judge, but he won't tempt fate.

He moves as fast as he can, making his way through and around the structures covering the rocky surface. He can see the flashes of the fight from afar and draws his blasters while heading forwards soundlessly. He sees his general get knocked unconscious, and Bane moving to shoot him.

Rex knows how dangerous this is, and that it's a fight he well might not win, but he raises his blaster and fires. It strikes the bounty hunter in the shoulder, and he jolts, dropping his blaster. The clone stalks forwards, blasters leveled at the two bounty hunters when a third emerges from the smoke, waving the others to return to their damaged ship.

Rex is tempted to fire at them anyway, but he won't. General Skywalker isn't here to help him, and he wouldn't stand a chance against these bounty hunters. The moment they disappear into the ship and fire up the engine, he slips his blasters back into their holsters and crouches beside the general. "Sir," he calls anxiously, "Are you alright?"

His general groans softly, eyes blinking open. There's a heartbeat of silence in which Rex hears the bounty hunters' ship taking off, and he tries not to let himself focus on how they failed the mission. As long as both of them are alive, that's good enough.

General Skywalker slowly pushes himself into a sitting position. Rex is no medic, but he can tell the other is injured. "I don't..." he mumbles, then trails off.

"What's wrong?" Rex asks, because he can tell that, undoubtedly, something is very wrong.

"I don't understand this," he admits. "I... I sensed a connection to – to Obi-Wan." That he stumbles on the name is something they both ignore. "But he's not supposed to be..."

"We'll figure it out," Rex assures, "Let's get you back to the ship."

His general gives him a half-smile, but it's pained as the clone helps him to his feet ,and they slowly make their way to the ship. The general can't even walk on his own right now; he's leaning most of his weight on Rex, which is worrisome.

"I can fly while you attend to your injuries," Rex offers. He wishes General Kenobi were here, because he's the one person who can get General Skywalker to listen and take care of himself, but Rex hastily pushes that thought away. It will do no good for him to go down that line. There's not time.

"I'm fine," he replies irritably.

Rex sighs, disappearing into the back of the ship. He knows when to stop pushing, and now is the time. He pulls the first-aid kit out from where they stashed it in the back of the ship and drops it next to the General as he heads back to the pilot's seat. "I'll be convinced, after you use this," he orders.

**w**

Never, never has Rex seen his general so angry before. It's bad enough that he doesn't even seem to be bothering to try to hide it as he stalks in the door, as if the injuries left on him by Hardeen are nothing to him. Where the general really belongs right now is a two-week camp-out in the medbay. Nowhere else.

"Sir?" Rex asks warily, concern spiking through him. What could have happened?

"It was fake!" he all but snarls. "It wasn't real; none of it!" He pauses to gather himself, probably to suppress his raging temper. "Obi-Wan's alive."

"What?" he blurts out. How is that possible? Everyone heard of General Kenobi's death. Rex was the one who spent a day chasing down his killer, after all, and nearly losing his own general in the process. Besides, General Skywalker saw it. He said he did, and Rex knows it was the truth. He's simply too torn up for it not to be real.

His general drops himself a bit unceremoniously into a chair. He's favoring his right side, making Rex frown. At least one of his ribs must be fractured, if not entirely broken. Knowing the general, it's probably broken. "It wasn't real," he repeats, "They faked it. Obi-Wan went undercover as Hardeen. Master Yoda just told me."

The entire world could have stopped in that moment, as far as Rex is concerned. That means... the Jedi Council – General Kenobi, of all people, included – lied to his general. It wasn't Hardeen who hurt Anakin, and that... doesn't make sense, because while the generals may have had... disagreements, neither would ever hurt the other. Not like that. Rex wants to ask for something more, if he's really certain of this, but why else would he have said it?

The General drags a hand across his face before and straightening with a sigh. He's exhausted; Rex can tell as much by how he's holding himself. "I need to prepare for the Festival of Light. Master Windu and I will be accompanying Chancellor Palpatine."

"With all due respect, sir," Rex objects, "You belong in the medbay."

His scowl deepens. "Protecting the Chancellor is more important. He matters more than – than my feelings."

He's trying to put the mission ahead of his own emotions and necessities, per usual. Only this time, it's worse. Rex has never had someone outright lie to him before, and it's unsettling to see the Jedi taking such drastic actions, though he can understand why they did. The mission is always first, he's always believed, as have they.

What upsets him, is what it – they – did to his general.

"I understand," Rex replies, "But if an attack is eminent..."

"Do you really doubt I can handle it?" Normally, Rex would know he wasn't serious, but now, he can't be certain.

"I don't doubt you can handle," the clone assures, "Just your ability to remain unharmed."

The look on the other's face is nothing short of gratitude, but there's something pained in it. After a heartbeat of silence, he reaches out to lay a hand on Rex's arm. "Thank you," he murmurs. "If you want to come..."

General Skywalker has always been with the 501st through their hard times. He's always been there for Rex, and it's only fair for him to return the favor. "Of course."

**w**

Ahsoka tilts her head as she carefully studies the Mandalorian bounty hunter, Rako Hardeen was his name, through the screen as the bounty hunters make their way through the Box. Something about that man is sticking out to her as different, important. She doesn't know enough about Mandalorians, but he's far more skilled than most. It's to the point that something seems off about it.

That, coupled with the fact that he somehow managed to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi by a simple sniper shot, which Dooku was most unimpressed about, tells her something isn't right. Ahsoka may not know the full extent of Jedi abilities, but she knows nothing like that would be able to off even the most basic Dark Siders.

"Something seems... wrong about Hardeen," Ahsoka muses aloud.

"Indeed," Dooku confirms gravely.

She senses there's more he's not saying. "What is it, Master?" she asks carefully.

"I suspect Hardeen may not be who he claims to be."

"Then...?"

"I have told you I doubt Kenobi was killed in such a simple manner, have I not?" he queries, and Ahsoka nods. She questions it herself if she's being honest. The timing was way too convenient. Hardeen killed Obi-Wan only days before the Festival of Light, only to end up in the same prison as Bane and Moralo Eval, only somehow to manage to stick with them throughout their escape. It's... rather convenient, and if Ahsoka is being completely honest, she questions if the entire thing wasn't fake. It would make sense, after all, for the Jedi to send someone into the midst of this to feed them information.

"Hardeen may be a Shadow Jedi, then?" Ahsoka asks after a pause, because the chances of the Jedi hiring a bounty hunter to do their work is approximately null.

"Perhaps," Dooku replies, "But I question if he is not Kenobi himself."

Ahsoka's eyes widen. It makes perfect sense. "What do we do?"

"Nothing," Dooku replies. "We will take it into consideration in our plans."

As far as Ahsoka is concerned, it doesn't make any sense, but she won't question her Master's orders. It's not her place, and she knows he doesn't tell her everything. Even so, she vows to play closer attention to the bounty hunter. If he indeed is who they suspect he is, she'd like to know.

**w**

Anakin is grateful that he's managed to successfully hide the worst of his injuries, or at least the bruises that would've no doubt formed on his face. Bacta does have its usefulness, after all. As for the rest, well, he'll be glad he can still walk instead of stumbling everywhere like he was at first, and that it's doing a marvelous job keeping him out of his own head. It's good, because he needs to focus. He can't mess up and make a stupid mistake and let the Chancellor get killed. Plus, he still feels very detached from his body, so it doesn't hurt nearly as much as it ought to.

It all works out smoothly the first night, all things considered, aside from Anakin being electrocuted unconscious by a bounty hunter. They manage to keep the Chancellor safe, though, and that's all that matters.

It's hard to remember that when he sees Obi-Wan again and is so freshly reminded of the betrayal. Of how Anakin knows, now, that he never meant anything to his former master.

"You did a good job," Windu tells Obi-Wan, because at the end of the day, it was him who did all the work of protecting the Chancellor, a job which was supposed to be Anakin's, but he failed. If he hadn't been so slow, if he'd been more focused, it wouldn't even have gotten as far as it did. Why, why does he always fail? Why can't Anakin ever do something good and right and worthy of recognition? Is that why he's not good enough and never will be?

He spins around and stalks away back to the speeder to ensure the two bounty hunters are successfully taken into custody. The moment Anakin can be assured everything is safe and sound for now, he slips away to find the members of the 501st he brought with them to Naboo. It was hardly necessary, but he needed the familiarity, the moral support.

And he can't spend time with Padme, not right now. He needs to stop asking questions, to stop thinking.

He needs to find and kill Dooku, and maybe, maybe take himself out in the process, and then everything will stop hurting. Everything will be... alright.

He tries to remind himself that it would hurt Padme and the boys, but right now, he's too worn out to care.

Rex is the first to greet him, and Fives congratulates him on his nonexistent success. It makes him feel better, but it also hurts that his clones are the only ones who actually seem to see it that way. They're endlessly, senselessly loyal, and he'll selfishly let himself have that right now, because he needs it.

He knows he probably shouldn't, but he can't refuse when they offer him to come with them for the evening, and some alcohol ends up getting involved. He knows he should probably be staying more alert, but he can't really get drunk anyway. At least not without drinking more than would even be humanly possible. Still, at least it takes the edge off the pain of the betrayal he knows will never go away, even if he can't even walk entirely straight by the end of the night.

He doesn't regret it, not even the next morning, when he's dealing with the after-effects. It's not pleasant, but at least he feels even more disconnected from himself. It distracts him from the crushing betrayal he'd be struggling with otherwise, so he won't complain.

Chancellor Palpatine and the rest of the security walk off, leaving Anakin behind with Obi-Wan. He has not been looking forwards to this... no doubt confrontation. "You look terrible," Anakin informs him flatly because that's been bothering him the most. At least if Obi-Wan, well, looked like Obi-Wan again, it would be so much simpler to pretend nothing happened and everything is... alright.

He doesn't want this. He doesn't want to talk about this. He's not ready. Honestly, he probably never will be. He doesn't understand. How? How could Obi-Wan hurt him like this? He saw his own master die; he must know how that feels, so how could he put Anakin through that? And – and how could he hurt him? Because, yes, Obi-Wan beat him, so badly Anakin couldn't even walk on his own. Bad enough that Rex and the boys have been nagging him non-stop about going to the medcenter, or at least letting Kix check him over, but he's been pushing it off only with the stubborn insistence of how he needs to be focusing on the Chancellor.

"Being a criminal's not easy work," Obi-Wan sighs.

This is it, there's no choice now. He needs to talk, to say what he needs to. But not what he wants to, because he can't let Obi-Wan, or anyone, know how badly this hurt him. He can't let them know he's falling apart because it'll mean he's not a good Jedi, that he isn't and can't be what they demand of him.

"If I had known what was going on, I could have helped you," Anakin says, and he tries to conceal the bitterness in his voice, though he doubts it succeeds. He doesn't understand it. Why? Why didn't they tell him, trust him? He's tried his hardest. Yes, he may be a bit... unorthodox, but he's never done anything to deem him untrustworthy, has he? "Too bad the Council didn't trust me."

"Anakin, it was my decision to keep the truth from you." What? That – that doesn't even... Obi-Wan touches Anakin's shoulder, but he flinches away. All he can remember was Orondia, and what his former master did there. "I knew if you were convinced I was dead, Dooku would believe it as well," Obi-Wan adds, but Anakin hardly even hears him.

It doesn't even make any sense, because how? How could this – putting him through this – have been Obi-Wan's idea? How could Obi-Wan have trusted him so little, to the point he didn't even think Anakin could keep himself together or whatever through this? "Your decision?" Anakin whispers, silently begging Obi-Wan to deny it, to tell him he heard wrong, because – because that can't be possible. He knew – he's always known – that the Council didn't trust him. They never have, and it would make sense if they decided everything and made Obi-Wan go along with it. That is something Anakin could understand, but this...

"Look, I know I did some questionable things, but I did what I had to do," Obi-Wan explains, much too coolly. "I hope you can understand that."

It crashes on him in that moment, that Obi-Wan never, never cared for him, not the same way Anakin does him. It was a delusion, another lie. All the time they spent together, all the missions and battles they've fought together... and apparently, it all meant nothing. He tries not to let himself think of the very personal reason this upsets him, because it's un-Jedi-like and it doesn't matter. The mission always comes first, Obi-Wan's told him over and over, so he tries to shove everything else aside, but the emotions threatening to crush him aren't letting him.

"You lied to me." His anger and fury start smoldering, but he doubts anything could compare to the pain. It doesn't matter. Honesty among the Jedi always has been of upmost importance, but – but they... they lie about things as simple as this, breaking all rules of common decency. "You lied to me," Anakin repeats again, and it feels like he's being crushed, like he can't even breathe because this is too much. "How many other times have you and the Council lied to me?" And used me like some sort of tool for your convenience? "How can we even work together if you lie to me? How do you even know you know the full truth?"

He stalks away without looking back, because there's so much more he wants to say but can't.

**w**

It's nighttime now, and Anakin is accompanying Palpatine through the darkened halls of the palace, not unlike how he has been all day. It's nice, if he's being honest, because it gives him something – someone – else to focus his attention on. It's something to make himself stop thinking. "We will leave as soon as Queen Neeyutnee's banquet is over. I also want to say goodbye to Senator Amidala. She has been a very gracious host," the Chancellor tells him.

"Padme didn't mention a banquet to me," he remarks.

"Perhaps she meant it as a surprise."

Of course, she did. She likely knows that Anakin hasn't eaten anything since before... everything. It's the best way to make him. It's a touching reminder, again, that he does have someone to care for him, even if he feels lost and empty.

There is a moment of silence before the Chancellor starts talking again. "I must say, the lengths the Jedi will go to is nothing short of incredible. I assume the brilliant plan to disguise Obi-Wan Kenobi was yours."

The mention of it ignites another wave of crushing pain and betrayal, even if he's grateful the Chancellor thought it was him, despite... everything. "No, it wasn't, sir," he replies, somehow succeeding in keeping his voice relatively steady even though he's certain there's a note of anger creeping into it. "I was in the dark as much as you were."

"Really? Interesting. I was under the impression the Jedi always worked as a team."

"So was I," he mutters, stopping in front of the door to the banquet hall as it slides open. Apparently, those rules don't apply, or at least not to Anakin. He's always the exception, and it doesn't make sense. He is human, right? So, why does his Chosen One status demand so much, more than he can give? Or is there something wrong with him, that he can't do what they ask of him? Before he can give word to the bitterness and betrayal consuming him, the doors slide open, and Anakin's gaze instantaneously zeroes in on the much-too-familiar figure at the front of the table.

"Welcome," Dooku's voice rings through the room, and all of Anakin's anger at Jedi is refocused on this man in an instant. Dooku, who started the war, who caused all this to happen even if the Jedi did it, who cut off his arm and tortured him countless times and –

"My gracious, it's a trap!" exclaims Palpatine.

"Chancellor, stay back!" Anakin warns as the Force hums in warning behind him, pushing him back as two Manga Guards appear from behind a pillar, swinging their electrostaffs. One of them lands a blow on his back, and he vaguely registers the pain tingling through his nerves, but he's disconnected enough to hardly feel it even as it jars the injuries already covering his body.

It angers him, is what it does, and Anakin straightens, turning to glare at the Sith Lord. "You should have quit while you were still alive, Dooku," he growls dangerously.

"Fighting off the entire Jedi security force would have been difficult," Dooku replies smugly, rising and igniting his blood-red blade. "But now that they are gone, defeating you alone will be an easy task."

Anger burns through him, violent and all-consuming. It shouldn't matter what Dooku thinks of him – he's his enemy, after all – but Anakin isn't in his right mind, and he's so, so unbearably tired of people treating him as if he's nothing, as if he doesn't matter and is something to be cast aside as worthless. He's meant to destroy the Sith, this Sith, and that's what he will do. Anakin reaches into the Force, drawing on it, letting it control his movements. It will protect him.

Anakin ignites his lightsaber, and he feels the droids coming at him again. He dodges beneath its blow, spinning around it to cut it in half. Droids first, he remembers from their last encounter on Naboo. He made a stupid mistake there and got himself captured, and he won't repeat the same mistake twice, especially not if the Chancellor is depending on him.

As the first droid falls down, he spins around towards the second. Something tingles at the edges of his senses; there's someone else here. Someone else is working with Dooku. He lifts the other droid with the Force, crushing it. It's satisfying to hear the sound of the metal caving in on itself and grinding together and tearing apart. He flings it to the floor and turns around to face Dooku. "Chancellor, get out of here," he warns, stalking towards Dooku.

As their blades crash – Anakin took the fastest route of going over the table before the Count could run – he flips over the other's head and lands on the ground, attacking him full-force. This is his opportunity to end this here and now, to put a stop to the war and to prove himself. If he fails, everything will fall apart, and he can't let that happen.

Anakin knows he's using the Dark Side as he unleashes a violently flurry of attacks on Dooku, but he doesn't care. He wants to end him, end this. It hurts. Everything hurts, but it's fueling him, making him stronger. He loses himself deeper in the Force, letting it guide him and his movements. He doesn't feel anything anymore, not physically, as he focuses on Dooku, searching for an open spot somewhere.

Dooku suddenly throws him back with the Force. Anakin lands on his feet and stands again, anyway. He can feel Dooku starting to use the Force, likely to throw something at him, and Anakin jumps at him.

It happens so fast. Something – someone, actually – slams into him mid-jump, throwing him off-course. He's thrown sideways and rolls to his feet, looking up to see a snarling Togruta standing there, lightsabers ignited. So, she's here, too.

Anakin is all over her in a flash, their blades clashing wildly. She's scarcely fast enough to block his blows, even as she alternates between both lightsabers. Ahsoka flips backwards barely in time to avoid being beheaded, and Anakin ducks under something – he's fairly certain that was a chair – that Dooku threw at him. He spins aside as Dooku lunges at him again, swinging his blade up to meet the red one.

Anakin knows he is quite literally a whirlwind of fury right now, moving in an almost-blur as he fights. When Ahsoka comes back around, he throws the acolyte far across the room. She yelps as she slams into the wall. Maybe it was a snarl, he couldn't tell and doesn't care.

Dooku is backing away from him now, almost as though he's leading him down the palace halls to... somewhere. It doesn't matter. He is Anakin's sole focus right now. He'll handle the girl later.

Anakin has the Sith cornered at a staircase when he finally manages to knock him backwards. Their blades slam together in a saberlock. Anakin switches the hilt from his right hand to his left, shoving against it while strangling the Sith with his prosthetic. Ahsoka releases a cry of outrage, and Anakin dives aside barely in the nick of time to avoid being impaled by Ahsoka's flailing lightsabers.

He swings around, anger pulsing through him. He could have killed Dooku, but she stopped him. Anakin slashes at her again, and she meets his blade with her own crossed, snarling furiously. They trade blows rapidly before Anakin lifts her in a Force-choke. He's so, so tempted to crush it, snap her neck and be done with it. He would have, too, if Dooku hadn't suddenly unleashed a barrage of Force-lighting on him.

Raw agony runs through his body, and Anakin staggers back, dropping his hold on her. It muddles his mind, breaking his focus for a moment, but that's enough.

"Run," he hears Dooku telling Ahsoka, as even as Anakin's flung against the pillar. The lightning lets up, finally, and he feels himself crashing to the floor a good distance back. It feels like one of his ribs is pushing up against his lungs now, given how he can barely draw in a breath. Only now is the full extent of his injuries starting to sink in, but he delves into the Force again, trying to siphon it away. It doesn't matter. He needs to follow them, regardless of what condition he's in.

Smoke is lingering, the sickening smell of electricity still hovering in the air as he slowly forces himself back to his feet. Anakin staggers upright, breaking into a run down the hall. He senses Obi-Wan approaching, but he can't and won't wait for his former master.

Anakin catches up when they're on a landing platform, and instantly crushes the MagnaGuards standing by the Chancellor, throwing them at Ahsoka. He lunges at Dooku again, who shoves him back.

Anakin hears the snap-hiss of a second lightsaber behind him seeing Obi-Wan moving forwards, only to be intercepted by Ahsoka. Dooku Force-shoves Anakin, and he skids a few feet backwards. It gives the Sith the opportunity to turn his attention to Obi-Wan while his apprentice jumps on board.

Their blades clash a few times before Dooku Force-leaps onto the ramp and moves inside. Anakin finds himself instantly contemplating following, judging the risks. If he could kill Dooku, even with the droids that are likely on the shuttle... "Well done, Master Kenobi," Dooku says, "You are a worthy adversary. I cannot say the same about your young apprentice."

It's foolish, unreasonable that his words sting so deeply. He tried. He tried so hard – he nearly killed them both at once – yet it doesn't seem to matter. Anakin longs for nothing more than to kill him, but he can't. It's like the Sith somehow knows his worst fears and insecurities, and is intentionally rubbing them in.

He doesn't understand. Why? Why is everything he does so meaningless, pointless? It's like –like there's something wrong with him because he can't be good enough. Every time he tries, it's not enough and he's a constant failure. He should've been able to kill Dooku, but he failed. Again. He tries to remind himself of Padme, that he knows she loves him, but – but that pales in comparison to this most recent betrayal, because Anakin doubts the pain of it will ever become any less acute.

He turns off his lightsaber, turning to the Chancellor as Padme and some others – Rex included, of course – arrive on the scene. "Chancellor, are you alright?" Padme asks worriedly.

"Yes, thanks again to the heroics of the Jedi," Palpatine reassures, "That's the second time today." He's alright, at least. It's the one good thing that came out of this ordeal, Anakin realizes as he senses himself spiraling back into a crushing depressing. He's not good enough and never will be.

"We specialize in heroics, Chancellor," Obi-Wan replies.

"As long as I live, no harm will come to you, Your Excellency," Anakin promises, and he means it. Not only because Palpatine is the Chancellor, but because he's his friend, the only one he's ever had. And maybe, maybe because Anakin knows he won't betray him, not like Obi-Wan has, and Palpatine is the only other person he has that's something of a father.

Rex catches Anakin's attention next as the clone commander approaches him, and Anakin turns to him after a few more words with the Chancellor. "General, you should go see the healers."

Must they start with this again? "I'll be fine, Rex," Anakin insists frustratedly. He's not, not really, but he doesn't want to go. He doesn't want to take the time, and – and the pain is dulling his thoughts, stopping his mind from focusing on all those things he can't and doesn't want to think about.

"Kix said you shouldn't be walking, much less fighting."

Anakin almost sighs, but the sharp pain constantly radiating through his body – which only seems to have gotten worse. Ahsoka kicked him, he remembers, and it probably badly jarred his already broken ribs – reminds him that he needs to be careful. He still feels disconnected from the shock of it all, and he's not looking forwards to when everything comes back. That's probably why his physical pain is being dwarfed so much. Normally, it would be worse than this, he thinks.

Now that Anakin is actually thinking about it again, he notices that the aches throughout his body have worsened – likely from the lightning. Plus, his head is throbbing again. He doesn't even remember hitting it. Maybe when Dooku threw him into the wall? He didn't even notice. Slowly, he reaches back to touch it, fingers slipping through his hair to find the gash. It's not as though Rex doesn't know he was injured already, and the others are inside.

"Really, I'll be okay," Anakin grumbles, even as he pulls his hand away. It's wet with blood; he can see as much in the moonlight. Never mind that.

He looks up sharply as Kix appears through the door. Rex's doing, no doubt. "You are going to the medbay," the medic commands, and the glare he gives Anakin is enough to make him cave immediately. "You haven't slept since this happened, you were beaten by Hardeen, and you fought Dooku, which is a reason enough alone."

"Fine," Anakin concedes reluctantly, shooting Rex his best betrayed look as Kix drags him away.

**w**

Anakin has been in the medbay recovering for several days now when Obi-Wan shows up. No, he doesn't want to talk to him right now. He's not ready to deal with it all, to face the betrayal all over again.

It's too soon, and he can't go back to pretending everything is normal yet. He doesn't bother to suppress the bitterness swelling in him again. Because he knows that that is exactly what the Jedi are expecting him to do, to pretend that they didn't use him like that, to pretend that he didn't realize how meaningless he was to Obi-Wan and how he never even trusted him at all.

"Anakin..." Obi-Wan begins. This would've been easier, Anakin can't help but think, if he was still as injured as he was back on Naboo. At least the pain was distracting him, but now it's nothing but a dull ache that's easy to ignore with all the times he's been injured in the past. "How are you?"

"Fine," he tells him flatly. Because what else is he supposed to say? That he's still recovering from when Obi-Wan literally beat him?

"Then why are you still in the medbay?"

What is he hoping to hear? "Because Kix won't let me out."

Obi-Wan sighs. "I'm sorry for hurting you," he says finally.

Anakin tenses. He doesn't want to talk about this. He can still almost feel the force of Hardeen –Obi-Wan punching him over and over again, the feel of his head ramming onto the rocks and bleeding everywhere afterwards. "I'm the one who chose to follow you. You did what you had to, for the mission," he answers at last, certain he doesn't manage to keep all the bitterness out of his voice.

"I understand why you did," Obi-Wan replies, then hesitates for a moment. "Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?"

"No," he responds immediately, maybe even too quickly. Yes, a million things that he doesn't think he even could talk to him about, not anymore. Something broke and died the moment he saw Obi-Wan get shot and fall from the roof, the moment he saw his coffin lowered into the ground. Maybe his former master is still here, but Anakin is mourning anyway, mourning what he thought they had and lost. "Is there anything else?"

Obi-Wan shakes his head. "That's all." He moves to go, then hesitates for a moment. "You can talk to me if you ever want to, you know."

Sure he can. His master doesn't even trust him. He never truly cared about him, at least not the way Anakin did him.

Anakin opts to remaining silent as his former master disappears out the door, and he can't shake the feeling that something between them is irreparably broken.

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