Safety in Numbers
Obi-wan was trying to keep Anakin out of his mind as he made his way to the Utapau system, which was proving itself to be a harder task than he'd expected. The boy was reckless, stubborn, and at times he was difficult to work with. Yet, Obi-wan still kept his faith that Anakin would continue to be loyal to the Council and the Republic. Despite the rising tension between him and his master prior to this mission.
Obi-wan didn't need the Force to tell that Anakin had been conflicted. Not just about the task Anakin was given before this. There were plenty of things swarming through the boy's mind that were completely blocked off by Obi-wan's access. It seemed simpler to ask Anakin exactly what had been troubling him. But closing himself off to others he cared about was something he did out of habit. Even Padme didn't seem to have a direct answer.
It didn't matter now as Obi-wan made his way to find Grievous. While he was in hyperspace, he had the distinct feeling that someone was contacting him through the Force. Whoever was doing so hadn't been close by. It was coming to him so faintly that it made him think he was only hearing things. That didn't happen often.
Not now, he thought as he hovered over the gathering of Separatist leaders while Grievous was unveiling a new plan. This was a highly crucial point in the war. He didn't need any distractions.
Throughout the battle, Obi-wan kept himself in balance with both his mind and body. Quantity of lightsabers over the use of his Jedi training and his own saber-fighting skills. He was tossed, shoved, and nearly fell to his demise, which lowered his assurance that he could win this fight. The Jedi Master wasn't one to underestimate his opponents, which was a mindset that kept him from battles he couldn't win. This one was different, however.
When it was over, he brushed the dirt off from himself and felt fortunate enough that the odds were in his favor.
And just when Obi-wan thought he could walk off peacefully, believing that things for the Council would be much easier with Grievous gone, his mind was struck with a force much stronger than any he's ever encountered.
When one was hit with a message from the Force, oftentimes it was difficult to interpret. It was like walking into an end to a conversation and trying to piece together its meaning with only a few words. The events playing out before Obi-wan's eyes happened in clusters. He heard someone tell him "it's not the Jedi way" without being able to clearly see the context. He could feel himself growing weak at the knees when it all was happening. The voice was familiar enough that he didn't need to see who it belonged to. There was a young man screaming at him. His own Padawan with his lightsaber drawn and his eyes full of hatred.
"Anakin..." Obi-wan spoke into the air.
The young man he'd cherished and protected since he was a child lay on the ground before him, his limbs separated from the rest of his body.
"I HATE YOU."
Words he didn't think he'd hear from the boy. He saw Padme pleading for him to stop. He saw Anakin holding her at the neck. Obi-wan wasn't sure which event happened when, or whether these events have yet to take place. All he knew is that everything he just witnessed had given him an even worse feeling than any battle or struggle he'd been through.
Ahsoka sat cross-legged on the cold surface of bridge on the Venator, her eyes and mind closed to all of her surroundings. She'd just spent the past couple of minutes reaching out to someone that would be effected by these visions. Everyone had been difficult to reach, especially Anakin. She'd already tried getting to him, to try and tell him to be safe or that she would speak with him when she returned to Coruscant.
It was as if his mind was shut off. Before she left the Jedi Order, she could sense his feelings without as much effort as she'd been putting into this time. The time she'd spent on her own had disconnected her from the Force. But only slightly as she could still tap into someone's emotions if she wanted to. She decided not to on principle. A non-Jedi shouldn't be taking advantage of Jedi attributes, she told herself.
When she'd given it all she could, she stood up, a bit unsteady from the use of energy.
"Let's hope he got the message." she whispered to herself. When Ahsoka turned, her nerves rose and she jumped. In her time of absolute silence and concentration, she completely forgot about Maul standing right behind her.
A small laugh escaped him. "I did not know I was feared so much by you, Commander Tano."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes and turned away from him. "Shut up..."
It had taken all of her persuasive skills to convince Rex to follow through on her proposed, incomplete plan. She even tried looking as desperate as he had when he practically begged her to join him. Rex and the others were reluctant to comply until Ahsoka told them that they would be able to deal with Maul in their own way if he misbehaved. Now Rex, Jesse, and several others from the 501st legion stood behind the two of them, eyes on Maul like a hawk. Their blasters were resting snuggly against their chests, not directly pointed at a specific target, but in a position to strike if necessary. Jesse was especially distrusting of the man and rightfully so. He was closest and most eager to shoot.
Ahsoka didn't feel comfortable that Maul was standing so close to her. He kept his awful eyes on her like he was plotting something, and he very well may have. He was unpredictable. If the clones hadn't been watching him at such a close distance, she wouldn't have her back turned. She wouldn't allow him to keep his lightsaber. But in this time, anything was possible, including an attack on this ship. Everyone needed to be prepared for that.
"You know," she began, carefully. "You never told me what your master's plan is for this 'new law and order'." She turned to face him.
Maul's expression looked like he was at a loss for words. He lowered his eyes to the ground, his brow furrowed in thought. Ahsoka could feel her fists curling at her sides. "Please tell me you know something."
"My master never kept me in line with his vision," Maul began, turning to gaze out the windows. "Only those by his side knew the entirety of it."
Ahsoka clenched her teeth behind her lips. "The only reason I agreed to help you was because I thought you could give me something useful." she spat out, trying to keep her anger in check. "How can you be so sure of something when you don't have anything to backup your claims?"
He looked at her, his impatience starting to show in his face. "All you need to know is that he is the most powerful Sith Lord existing in this galaxy." He crossed his arms. "It'll require the combination of us all, including those in your Jedi Council, to face him."
"That's it?" Ahsoka asked as he crossed the room to the other side. The clones raised their weapons in response. "If he is as powerful as you say, then he'll have his own resources at hand. He'll at least have an army." She calmed herself. "Did he mention something like that?"
When Maul turned his attention to her this time, she could see that he was at least considering it. He looked at each of the clones and only responded with one word, "Perhaps..."
"Great..." Ahsoka shook her head. "Risking my life for something that might happen..."
She saw his eyes glow in anger. "You'll require my strength when the time comes." he snarled at her. "You can't see it now, but you will."
"And then what?" she answered, walking closer to him. "What's your endgame here? Why do you want to take down Sidious?" She should have already known the answer. The Sith were known for their interest in one thing: power. And the fact that they stopped at nothing to obtain it. She had been foolish to think he would have cared about restoring the Republic. She could tell by the way he rested his hand against his saber that he'd clearly been caught. She mimicked the action with her own weapons. But neither attacked. They were locked in a stalemate as the clones pointed their guns towards the renegade and waited. A part of Ahsoka doubted him completely, but still believed him when he said they would need him and all the help they could get in taking down this new threat. She could tell he was thinking the same, even for his own interests. He couldn't defeat his master. She couldn't, either. But they had a higher chance if they did together.
A clone burst into the room. "Commander. There's a message for you from Obi-wan. It sounds urgent."
Ahsoka gave Maul a nasty look before she left the room.
Obi-Wan appeared bruised and beaten on the hologram. Ahsoka was concerned for a bit and asked him if something terrible had happened to him.
"It's just a scratch," Obi-Wan answered as he wiped the sweat off his brow. "I'm fine." He straightened his posture. "I received some... disturbing visions. Were they yours?"
Ahsoka nodded. "I think Anakin might be in trouble." She tried to find the way to describe the epiphany without releasing this flood of knowledge all at once. "The chancellor isn't who he says he is. He is Darth Sidious. And he's planning to take Anakin as his new apprentice-"
"Hold on a second," Obi-Wan rubbed his forehead as he was processing the information. "Chancellor Palpatine is Darth Sidious?" His face rendered pure disbelief. "How can you be sure?"
Ahsoka blinked. "I got some information from a reliable source."
Obi-Wan squinted at her. "And... you're saying that Darth Sidious is taking Anakin as his underling? That can't be right..." His voice didn't sound as sure as his words. "Who told you this?"
She sighed and closed her eyes. "Maul did."
The Jedi Master was not amused. "It's in his nature to manipulate, kill, and possess. You can't have any faith in anything that monster has to say-"
"I know," she interrupted him. "But I saw Anakin... I heard him. I could see it before Maul showed me those visions." She fiddled with her hands. "I tried reaching out to Anakin, but I couldn't. He's blocked me out or something."
Obi-Wan knew Ahsoka well enough to know that she wouldn't have taken Maul's words seriously if there was no reason to do so. She was trying to make that clear in her voice.
"Then perhaps we should go and retrieve him before all of these events have a chance to take place." Obi-Wan said, his back turned to her. "I sure hope you know what you're doing if you've decided to partner with Maul."
"I..." Ahsoka lowered her gaze. "I don't know if I am. But if I have a chance to save Anakin, I'll do what it takes." She took in a deep breath. "I know you would, too."
He faced her again and nodded. Then Ahsoka heard the sound of a hundred voices and saw that Obi-Wan's lightsaber was lit and he was dodging blaster fire before the hologram call ended.
"Master?" Ahsoka asked much too late.
When she returned to the presence of the others, everything had gone eerily quiet. Ahsoka saw that the clones no longer had their complete attention on Maul.
"Rex?" she asked. "What's going on?"
He was shaking without a word. She looked over at Maul and he gave her a look that said he was just as confused as she was. The next few minutes happened faster than she had time to think.
Rex, her beloved friend, had pointed his blasters at her.
AN: Cyberpunk 2077 but as a Star Wars game. Yes.
