Author's Note: So as we are once again under a storm warning (so big in fact that public transit has been pulled from the roads a DAY in advance!) and I don't want to lose power and not be able to give you guys the goods, so you get them early this week! And yes, if anyone's keeping track, my city has had a major don't-leave-your-house-for-2-days storm every week this year so far Oh Canada, eh? Anyway. Enjoy this short one from Anakin's POV!
Chapter VIII
Anakin pounded a fist against the window as the escape pod flew away. just like he felt his emotions pounding through his heart. Not again. Not again! I can't believe I let her go again! He pounded the door one more time… and the transparisteel cracked. Shocked at his loss of control, he stumbled back. Okay, okay. What does Obi-wan always say? Oh, yeah. "Calm down, Anakin." Willing himself to pull it together, he attempted some deep breaths, attempted to center himself in the Force, and all that other stuff. He gave up after only a moment though. It just wasn't possible right now.
So close. They had been so close! She'd remembered something on her own, and something as important as his nickname. It had given him hope. He rested his forehead against the glass, watching the pod till the last second.
It had been so long since he had heard that name. About two months, in fact. Two months till they found her and rescued her, and she'd been on the ship for about four days now. There had been so many times when he'd thought he'd never hear that name again, coming from the only person allowed to use it. He'd had to give up hope after a month and a half with no progress on finding his lost Padawan. He hadn't been able to take the heartache anymore.
Then Plo Koon had called, and Anakin had rushed to the coordinates as fast as possible, filled with a fire he hadn't felt since the abduction.
And now… now he'd been too late, again. One arm went across his chest, supporting the other that went to his forehead. His eyes shut tight.
A cough behind him.
"General - " Rex began, but Anakin interrupted him.
"Rex, please… don't." He held up a hand to his Captain, forestalling whatever he'd been about to say.
Pounding feet sounded down the hallway, and he didn't look up as Obi-wan's hand came to his back. "I'm really not in the mood for a lecture, Master." His mentor's hand stiffened slightly, his alarm sending spikes of warning through the Force. They both knew it was bad when Anakin slipped back to calling him "Master". The name Obi-wan had had Anakin's entire childhood, when he'd needed endless patience from his only friend at the Temple… and endless guidance.
"That's not why I'm here, Anakin." He paused, but there was something in his voice that made Anakin turn.
"What is it?" He asked, curiosity suddenly threading its way through the many other emotions running through him.
"Well, it seems that Rex had the foresight to install trackers on the escape pods. We're tracking your wayward Padawan even as we speak!"
Anakin swung around to face Rex, realizing that must have been what his Captain had been trying to tell him. "Rex…" Anakin was at a loss for words. "How - "
Rex smiled. "I like to think I know my commanding officers pretty well, sir."
Anakin grinned back, hope bubbling back up in his chest. "Well, let's go find her."
Author's Note: I just wanted to take a moment to thank you so much for all your lovely comments lately. I know it's what every writer says, but I really can't tell you how much they mean to me. I write fanfic because it's things I'd want to read, but really I write them for other people to enjoy too. So to know that you guys do... is just an amazing feeling. Tysm
Bit of a plug: if you're enjoying this story, I definitely want to suggest you go check out my other big SW work, "More Ways Than One". It's a very similar kind of story, except verbal persuasion and a bit of an in-depth look at a more rare side of Maul (the silver-tongued manipulator as opposed to the usual heavy-handed violence we usually see from him), where this work showcases more physical persuasion, and features different characters. Anyway! Enjoy your day!
