Chapter 13: 'Till the Credits Roll
"What happened?" was the first question out of his mouth as he took the stairs two at a time, landing inside the basement where Lynn had Anakin lying on his side, pale and semi-conscious.
"You tell me," replied Josh from across the room.
Lynn looked up, frowning. "The kid just started seizing for a full two minutes before snapping out of it."
Kneeling by the boy's side, Obi-Wan ghosted a hand over the sweaty, ash-covered brown locks beneath his fingers. "Did he wake up yet?"
"No, but he kept muttering stuff under his breath," Lynn replied. "Kept saying 'they're gone, we're stuck, they're gone for good…'"
"What?" the Master's head shot up, eyes wide. "What did he say?"
"I don't know for sure, but it sounded like they're all gone, we're trapped, or stuck, or something…"
Oh, Force. Could he know? Was it possible? No, how could he? No...
"I need to tell you something," Obi-Wan said gravely. "It's about the ships."
xXx DATE: 5/10/45876 (Three Days Later) xXx
Jason Dean here, log entry… I believe it's number four. I can't really say – I've been mumbling to myself over the past day or two just trying to keep my head clear and in the game.
The clones are dead. Karis. That leaves the Jedi Anakin, Obi-Wan, and myself; the doctor and two scientists, Lynn, Nathan, and Inya; and the soldiers Derek, Josh, and Ax. That's nine of us in all; nine people are supposed to battle a whole world of monsters while fighting for a cure.
*sigh*
I want to be honest. I-I need to be honest… I'm terrified. Absolutely, wholly, with every fiber of my being terrified. Because our ships our gone, most of our supplies, and Anakin… he's had two seizures on our time here; and each time, he's said he's seen something. And… and we have to believe him now, because the last time we didn't…
First he said he saw the ships blew up before Obi-Wan even announced that news. And then…
*mumbling profanities*
Then he said he saw Death, the demon sitting on a stone throne, which floated upon a sea of blood. And lying in that blood were bodies of men, women, children… their bodies emaciated and maimed, cut open.
And then there were people, he said, not sick, not damaged; but their eyes were all white and hollow and they stood by Death's side. And one of them, they handed her a rope, and after pulling on the rope for quite some time, a little girl stepped up, with rope and a collar around her neck.
And immediately Death flew upon her, and bit her in the neck, and began to…
*damn it, damn it, damn it*
For such an abomination to occur, if not in a vision then a premonition of the future… for humans to feed this demon fellow people for her to feast upon… For some sort of entertainment? A deal made with the devil? A living horror… a horror… a damn horror show is what we are in now… a story for people to read about and shiver in their seats, tremble in their clothes, the story you don't read to your kids for they'll never sleep again…
A horror show… one that will never die until we all do. Until every last survivor, every last mutt, has turned to ash that blows in the wind. A damn horror show that will keep on going 'till the credits roll…
Until the credits roll.
"In memory of the lives lost to the sick joke of reality…"
Salutes to you, Death, and the greatest prank this galaxy has ever seen.
*hm*
A damn horror show…
/…:::SYSTEM MESSAGE:::TRANSMISSION ENDED ABRUPTLY:::REBOOTING SYSTEM:::ATTEMPT REBOOTING SYSTEM:::SYSTEM FAILURE:::…/
"Jason?"
As the comlink rapidly blinked a small red light, Anakin Skywalker poked his head through the roof door, eyeing the other Jedi curiously. "Are you alright?" he continued.
"Mhm." Not bothering to turn and face the younger man, Jason offered just a small nod of his head, gesturing for the other to come up all the way. He did, Anakin slowly climbing up onto the rooftop, and seated himself next to the older one just as the comlink shut down.
"Still doing those logs?"
Jason lowered his head and blankly stared at the dead machine in his hand. Battery's nearly dead. Once again, a simple nod of his head in response before he looked back out at the horizon. Yes there, just a tiny silhouette in the distance, was the Jedi Temple. If he tried hard enough, he could ignore the broken, toppled towers; and for a few moments, it would seem just like what it had once been. His home. He didn't even notice that his mouth was moving automatically. "People need some way to know what happened here."
A small shiver racking his body, Anakin drew his knees to his chest, despite the still warm air that lingered in the dull Coruscant atmosphere. From their position on the rooftop of Standards hospital, they could see a good portion of the once majestic planet.
"Do you think they're still okay?" the Knight whispered. "On Naboo I mean. Think… think they're still safe there? That the virus is keeping away…?"
"I think we'd feel it if something had happened," Jason replied slowly, voice lifeless.
"I wish we had some way of contacting them."
"We all do."
A pause.
"Think we'll ever find a real cure for this thing?"
Jason took his time thinking of a true but not dismaying reply, if not for his own sake then to at least lessen that look of agony that he now saw daily on the younger Jedi's face. "We have to keep hoping. If we lose hope in the cure and in Naboo, then we lose our last reasons to live."
"Hm. Do you really believe that?"
Did he? He couldn't answer honestly, couldn't lie… "I don't know." He hadn't realized he said it out loud until the words reached his own ears; and then he winced at the dark shadow that fell across Anakin's face. "I didn't mean…"
"Don't. I know what you mean," was the interrupting reply, murmured through pursed lips.
As sunset began to set on their fourth day on Coruscant, trained eyes could pick out the tiny movements along the broad city landscape. Small shadows scurrying down allies, roaming rooftops. The evening song began reverberating throughout the planet, a harmony of growls, howls, snarls, and screeches.
Behind them, the ceiling door once again opened, this time Obi-Wan Kenobi's exhausted face appearing. "Lock down time," he called over, voice sounding unusually distant and leaden. "We're sealing everything up now."
And by sealing, they meant ray shields, mines, locks, bars, and every other precaution they could imagine. Two heads nodded, and soon, three Jedi descended back into Standards before the door sealed, and then the entry point to Central locked the same way.
Central still remained the cleanest part of the hospital; but unlike the first night, its tiny air of safety had dissolved to bleak nothingness. A few torn blankets on top of extra jackets and clothing replaced cots. Crates had been destroyed, and were thus thrown out with the rest of the trash; which meant tossed off the rooftop into an already filled garbage alley nearby. Few supplies remained, weapons were scarce, and food was nearly out.
All in four kriffing days, Jason thought bitterly as he sat down on his own 'bed' – two jackets with a gray sheet strung on top. Let's see how we do at the end of a week.
Up ahead, Inya focused on opening the last of their precious food – five cans of processed meat, which she stuck one or two plastic spoons in and handed around for them to share.
He couldn't help but notice how every rather huddled together in moments like this – sitting in one tight group, no longer breaking off in separate parties as they had on the ships and their first night. They all shared 'beds' – or lumps, as Jason preferred – when sitting, and hushed whispers spread across them like an oozing puddle of oil. Once finished with her duty, Inya came and sat next to him, shoving a can of meat in his hands.
"Six bites, then pass it," she instructed quietly. "This is the last of it, and even if all our appetites left days ago, try to enjoy it." Not spoken harshly – rather a gentle suggestion.
"I'll do my best," he answered in the same manner. "Thanks."
"Mm." She gestured over to where Derek, a thick bandage wrapped around his upper torso, was conversing with Obi-Wan. "Derek's going over strategies – we're all gonna scavenge tomorrow apparently."
Perfect. Finally get this blasted place cleared out and now we're gonna go out there. "That will be fun."
Inya cocked an eyebrow at him. "Are you okay?" she asked. "Usually you're a bit more… positive."
"Guess that side died in that explosion."
"Wow. Now that is depressing."
Shoving the can over to where Josh was sitting nearby, Jason cleared his throat and turned back to her, shaking his head slightly. "I have to admit – I'm impressed how well you're handling all of this. You were Dr. Fuzio's assistant, right?"
"Correct. And I saw him rip open his secretary's throat with his teeth."
"And yet… you're managing to hold it together better than I am," said Jason with a wan smile.
Suddenly, a new voice interrupted, "Better than most of us," and Anakin came over, followed by Derek and Obi-Wan. The three sat down next to the conversing pair.
"We have a plan for tomorrow," Derek stated. "And it's not gonna be a walk in the park."
"Well, what do you call what we've been doing now?" Josh called over from where he was eating with Nathan. "A day at the playground?"
"Clearing out Standards will be a piece of cake compared to the fact that we're going out there tomorrow," Derek replied sharply. "We need food. We need supplies. And we can't get that here. Coruscant is… was… home to the Richie Riches of the galaxy – I'm sure one of those well-stocked hogs has got a stash somewhere in their fancy apartments yet to be tainted with mutt juice."
Jason twisted his lips in thought. "Will we all be going out?"
"No way in hell," was the sure reply. "Something happens out there, we can't risk the entire Colony. Team Alpha goes, Team Beta stays."
"And whose Team Alpha?" Inya asked hesitantly.
Obi-Wan spoke up this time. "We'll check with everyone; but main choices are Derek, Nathan, me, Lynn, and Jason." He pretended not to notice the sharp spark that shot up into Anakin's eyes.
"So that means me, Josh, and Anakin will stay here and watch over Standards," Inya finished.
"Basically."
A sigh. "Okay then." She got to her feet and cleared her throat. "I'm gonna clean up. I'll let you boys handle the rest." And she was gone.
Derek subconsciously moved over to Jason and they began talking; leaving Obi-Wan and Anakin to each other. For a moment, there was a beat of silence the Master knew was the calm before the storm. Then…
"You're not going without me" came flowing through the Force, riding along waves of anxiety and stubbornness.
"Anakin…" He chose verbal usage; he was too tired to keep a Force conversation going at the moment, even if it meant that much less privacy. "You can't go out there. Derek and I agreed to that…"
"I'm going with you, Master."
"No, Anakin," was the sharp order. "No, no… you're injuries haven't even had the time to heal – your shoulder and your burns. And I need you here to protect Standards…"
"Swap me with Jason."
"I can't, Anakin…"
"You're not going where I can't watch your back!"
Oh, Anakin… "I would like nothing more than to be teamed up to you as we did during the War; but you must trust me on this, young one. Please." He scanned the boy's face, easily saw the exhaustion, the fear, the pains in ever curve and angle of his features. Yesterday I watched helplessly as you convulsed on the ground, screaming from whatever hell that demon Death plagued you with. I'm not letting you go out there into that wasteland. Not yet. "No." He braced himself for the arguments destined to come, the fervent protests he learned would always accompany Obi-Wan Kenobi being put in danger.
And so he was surprised when instead Anakin turned away from him, and got to his feet abruptly, moving over to the opposite end of Central. Mental shield slammed down, forbidding access to the young man's mind.
Anakin... Of course he followed, Obi-Wan getting to his feet quickly going to where Anakin was now on his lump, sitting with his face glaring at the ground. Obi-Wan sat on his own lump across from him and timorously reached out one military-gloved hand to grasp the trembling one across from him. "I need you here, Anakin," he whispered reluctantly. He could read the thoughts racing through his mind simply by gazing at the boy's face. "Don't you see – I need to protect you." Not spoken aloud, not needing to. He could see it, he could understand it.
"Do you trust Jason?" he asked gently.
Finally, blue eyes met his own. "Of course." Voice barely above a whisper.
"And you trust Derek?"
A moment beat by. "Yes."
"And Anakin, you trust me?"
Something between disbelief and hurt flickered in those eyes. "With my life, Master…"
The hand that had been holding him moved over to hover just above the younger Jedi's neck – a show of affection so uncommon to the Jedi Order, so forbidden by attachment. A move only this horror show could bring out of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Perfect Jedi. "Then, Anakin, trust my decision," he finished. "And trust that Derek and Jason will have my back when you cannot."
"But I can. You don't have to protect me."
"Yes I do," he replied firmly. "Yes I do, just as you feel you must protect me. Every single member of this Colony must protect one another now; and right now, you must protect Inya, Karis, and Josh."
But I can't let you go out there alone. I can't, Master. What if she finds you, like she always threatens to? What if Death manages to catch you? He wanted to protest more, protest so badly. Fight until the Master gave in, let him join Alpha.
And yet he knew it wouldn't happen. Because if Obi-Wan caved, there was Derek. Derek, who he knew had managed to grow what the Jedi called an 'attachment' to him; one that Anakin knew he didn't mind. Didn't mind at all the fact he wasn't alone, despite the loneliness that claimed his sleepless nights at times. But that's just why I have to go, why I have to protect them both. I can do it…
"Anakin." Obi-Wan's voice broke through his weak mental protests. "Please."
There was that look in those gray eyes he had never, truly understood. Where forbidden emotion came to surface in Kenobi, when a close call during battle or a false rumor on Coruscant caused that side of Obi-Wan, the side he kept locked up, surfaced. A side that came out so rarely, Anakin didn't know how to argue with it; nor could he find the heart to.
Don't make me do this – don't make me obey the order that scares me so badly. Please, Master… But the look remained, so with an agonized sigh, he lowered his head and bit his lip.
"Fine."
One word, but it screamed a promise Anakin prayed he wouldn't regret.
xXx DATE: 5/11/45876 (The Next Morning) xXx
They were gone when he awoke.
8:00 am, and Anakin arose to Inya and Josh restlessly straightening up Central, with no sign of the others beside Karis, asleep on her lump.
The first emotion to jump into his panicking mind was fear; and quickly following, anger. Sometimes I really hate you, Master. Quickly lying back down and throwing himself beneath the thin sheet so as not to alert the others, he squeezed his eyes shut and tried to block out that tiny little voice in the back of his mind, the one that whispered, 'This is it. They're not coming back. First Ahsoka, and then your Master and Derek. You're gonna be all alone, and you can't stop it…'
He slipped into the Force.
"Master, what the hell?"
"Anakin?"
Shifting his senses farther, he could sense his Master, nearby, but definitely not in the building. He could still feel tendrils of the other man's adrenaline, fear, and nervous thrill, despite how hard the Master attempted to hide it.
"I can't believe you snuck off like that"
"Anakin…"
"Where are you?"
A pause, which he guessed was Obi-Wan double checking his surroundings. "We only left a few minutes ago. Passed the old science lab, the one with the sky bridge. We're about to enter an apartment building – the small one with the blue tinted windows"
"You wanna tell me how I slept through the four of you preparing and leaving without waking up even slightly?"
He could almost see his Master's hesitant smile. "Not really"
"Not impressed, Master. Force-sleep suggestions? That's petty, even for you"
"As if you haven't had your fair share in the past, my Padawan"
Hearing the title, the lightness with which the other man spoke even if it was a just a façade the Jedi was putting up so that his former pupil wouldn't worry… it almost worked. For a few brief, blissful moments, if he kept his eyes shut, he could pretend everything was back in the past; back to the normal he'd grown up in. He was in the med-bay, and that confounded partner of his had used an old trick to keep his friend in bed. Obi-Wan had snuck off to the Temple, no doubt to give his report and then oversee Anakin's fleet while he was bedridden…
"I may have had my fair share, Master" he spoke, anger melting away to concealed warmth. "But I at least have the nobleness to confront you, not run off with your hooligan friends looking for trouble"
He could actually hear the other man's snort. "Mhm. I believe you are mixing yourself with I. I didn't not 'run off'. I went to get the job done. And what do you mean, hooligans? They're your friends too"
"Not after this stunt"
"Anakin…"
"Relax, Master. Just… get back here in one piece"
"Why, so you can kill me yourself when I return?"
"Exactly"
"Alright, just don't do anyt… shit…"
He didn't miss the profanity muttered beneath suddenly labored breaths. "What happened?"
"Anakin, I've got to go"
"Why? Master, what happened…?"
"Ax awoke some friends"
"What?"
"Anakin, I'm cutting off now. Just protect Standards, and be safe"
"Master, wait!"
Nothing.
"Master!"
His eyes flew open when once again, he could not stretch his senses strong enough to penetrate his Master's now blocked mind. He flew into a sitting position, prepared to simply grab his lightsaber and go to wherever the hell the older Jedi managed to get himself into trouble.
But then he was met with the stained walls of Central, with Inya and Josh still moving around in the background; and he stopped.
There was no speeder to take him to his Master. No way he even knew which route to take.
"Damn it!" Hands flew up to clench his hair, and he released his frustration into the Force.
Up ahead, Inya and Josh spun around. "Anakin, are you alright?" the soldier called out, frowning. Both made their way over to him, Inya dropping to her knees beside him and gentle untangling his fingers from hair. "Anakin, what's wrong…?"
"They're in trouble," he gasped, wincing. His Master was strong with the Force; but not as strong as he was. He could feel Obi-Wan's – and Jason's and Derek's and Nathan's – signatures, and the horrifying fear that told him they were in trouble. Deep trouble.
Josh's eyes widened. "What, you had another vision?"
"More like heard Obi-Wan tell me himself in not so many words," he replied quickly as he got to his feet.
"Wait, where are you going?!"
"Where do you think I'm going?" he snapped back at her, grabbing his jacket from beneath the lump.
Josh took a step forward. "You're not going out there. Derek made me promise him to not let you out there – any of us out there!"
The scream came from the Force so suddenly that he doubled over, wincing at the intensity of the emotions that suddenly crashed against his mind in a typhoon.
"Anakin, help me!"
"Master!"
Nothing.
"I'm going!" He didn't care that he shoved Inya so hard back that she hit the wall, ignored Josh's feeble protests. He grabbed the weapon that now felt more home in his hand that his lightsaber once had. He heard arguing in the background, struggled to ignore it, couldn't, so turned around in anger and thwarting. "I said I'm going!"
Josh faced him, a blank expression on his face. "I know," he said, monotone. "I was saying that we're coming with you."
Huh? "What?"
"We're all in this together," Inya said quietly, adjusting her own jacket. "And if you're right, if the others need help… you're going to need backup, Anakin."
"Protect Standards. Stay safe. Promise me that." Obi-Wan's voice rang through his mind, and just slightly made him waver in his reckless decision making; but then it was interrupted by another wave of panic coming from Team A, and he closed his conscious down.
"Come on, then."
xXx (Half an Hour Later) xXx
"Anakin!"
The young Jedi jumped forward at the sound of his Master's voice, knocking him out of the way of a charging mutt.
Somewhere in the background, an old oil can exploded.
And then, his Master's grateful gray eyes transformed into pools of black, beard and hair fell of and then grew into greasy, silver strands, and his body morphed into a skinny skeleton clad in a tattered black dress.
Bloody lips drew close to his face as abnormally strong hands gripped him with claws, immobilizing him to the ground as Death stared at him, grinning with maroon fangs.
"Oh, dear Chosen One…" she hissed, mouth hovering just above his face, black saliva dropping onto his cheek.
"…you were always so easy to fool."