And That's What it's All About
Title: And That's What it's All About
Chapter: The Girl Likes Violence
Summary: The infamous Jedi duo with their ghostly escort enter the fray to save the trapped Chancellor…
Disclaimer: I own neither genre. Joss Whedon owns Buffy the Vampire Slayer. George Lucas owns the Star Wars franchise. I'm just a poor post-college graduate.
Spoilers: There are minor spoilers from both stories, especially Star Wars.
Notes: Ooh, lookie here, another chapter. Again, these are not beta-read. This story was written for my beta. So any mistakes, misspells and missed punctuation are my mistake and mine alone. This chapter contains elements from the film (mostly dialogue) and from the novel by Matthew Stover.
x-o-x
The Girl Likes Violence
I moved from my spot within the wreckage and joined the Jedi, unseen to all but them. But, just when I thought the odds couldn't get any worse…
… I felt him.
"Wicked power," I hissed under my breath, unaware that both Jedi were sizing up the advancing enemy and were paying little attention to my babbling. "It's so strong."
"I'll take them on the left," Anakin said, his mind focused on the task at hand. The lightsaber ignited, the bright blade casting a deadly light on the battle droids now running at them, their blasters arming.
"I have the right," Obi-Wan nodded firmly, feeling the Force flow through him as his wrists snapped up, the lightsaber a perfect line from the top of his head to his torso.
"I'll take the middle."
Two heads glanced at one another before peering back at the transparent form hovering behind them. "What?" I asked innocently. "I like violence, too."
"The girl likes violence, Master," Anakin said, barely able to contain his laughter. Obi-Wan's eyes held only a warning as he turned back to the fray.
"Then let us take care of it."
The two Jedi sprang forward, their lightsabers singing as they melted through battle droids. Artoo Detoo basically whirled around in a circle before finding his way over to one of the computer consoles and plugging himself in, likely on Anakin's orders to find the Chancellor. I just took the middle route, humming to myself as I swung through the dead droid parts. Finding one to play with wasn't hard, but my thoughts were elsewhere. While the two Jedi were cleaning up the remaining super battle droids, I used my feminine wiles to charm the computers into shutting the doors to the bay save one and securing them to prevent further incursions.
"Done," I said playfully, watching as Anakin used his hand and a push of the Force to knock down the last set of droids. "You didn't save me one?"
"Well…" Anakin glanced at the steaming pile of metal surrounding them. "There's always Artoo."
My eyes flickered towards the droid now beeping out something to the tune that he'd found where the Chancellor was being held.
"Uh-huh. How about not?"
"Come on, you two. We don't have time for this."
Anakin snapped off his lightsaber and followed his Master into the corridor through the only door that remained open. It seemed only a matter of time before the droids realized there was one entrance left into the landing bay. But they weren't going to give that chance.
Anakin quickly sorted through the gibberish Artoo gave him before starting at the console image that the droid held. "He's up here, in the tower. The only way up is through this elevator here."
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel," I murmured, before checking another console.
"What is she talking about now?" Obi-Wan asked. His back was turned as he secured the door we had just come from.
"It's a fairy tale," I muttered vaguely, not wanting to get into it any further. My senses were tingling about something else. "When I was in there, I felt him. Now that I'm out here, it's worse."
"Who, Buffy?" Obi-Wan asked me.
"I don't know. It's Jedi and it's strong."
"It's Dooku," Anakin said, his voice deceptively calm. His eyes moved to his golden arm hidden underneath layers of black leather. His next words were cut off as a blast landed next to him, striking the wall.
"Time to go," Obi-Wan said, glancing down the corridor away from the approaching droids.
"Artoo, stay here and stay out of trouble," Anakin shouted back to the droid who calmly opened himself a door and rolled into it. He paused long enough to catch the communicator Obi-Wan threw at him. Then Anakin and Obi-Wan ran while I stayed behind, the blaster fire moving harmlessly though my shapeless physique. "What are you doing?" Anakin shouted at me.
"I'm buying you the time," I replied, glancing over my shoulder at him. "Don't worry. Get the Chancellor and keep him safe."
"Are you—?"
I didn't really understand this myself. But I knew that just by acting the way I was about to… it was going to damage me. How I understood this, I didn't know. I just knew that my boundaries were slowly becoming more defined… and that I was soon not going to be able to do this without seriously damaging my body-less self anymore.
"I can't die, but you can," I retorted, watching Anakin retreat backwards, Obi-Wan's hand on his arm. "Now go. Be the hero."
"Be safe."
"Right," I muttered, turning back. "That's—" A sudden metallic arm swung through me. Another foot stomped through my leg and continued on. "Fabulous," I finished with a sigh. This was just what I needed. At the rear, another droid was moving. This was the one I wanted, I decided. So I took up residence, overthrew his programming and then set about to have myself a little violent fun.
Anakin and Obi-Wan heard the blaster fire at the same time they felt it through the Force. At Anakin's wince, Obi-Wan said softly, "You have to admit she enjoys the certain aspect of that."
"But this is the first time I felt it," Anakin murmured. "We haven't done that before."
They were then greeted by the sounds of silence.
"We should see to the Chancellor," Obi-Wan said, regret evident in his tone.
"Yes, we should," Anakin replied. Though he would have longed to see one of the droids attack its own squadron, the Chancellor meant more to him than anyone. Well, almost anyone. He was the absentee father figure that Obi-Wan couldn't be, as Obi-Wan treated him as a child. The Chancellor had seen him as an equal. Padmé was more than the most important person in this world. He would do anything for her.
Well, he thought as he darted off after the elder Jedi towards the elevator shaft at the opposite end, he would do almost anything for her.
x-o-x
I cleared my throat triumphantly as I stared at the poor droid whose life I forfeited just to save Jedi ass. It was a good feeling stepping out of the fray, but it was disturbing too. The Force linked me to all living things, or so said Master Jinn. The fact I was feeling the dead droid was just… odd.
What was happening to me?
Buffy…
At once, I felt Qui-Gon's comforting presence. I allowed it to soothe my jangled nerves, my focus slowly bending back to the task at hand.
You knew the risks when you chose your actions. Now you are beginning to see how deeply they affect you. Even those that possess no conscious thought still possess the means by which they are controlled.
Right, I thought to myself. They are controlled from a central station. One computer chip to rule them all.
Funny.
I pouted, making sure he saw my face before I felt my concentration returning. In my heart, I could feel the Jedi moving closer to the Tower. Every footstep echoed like a heartbeat. Every breath echoed like the tick of a clock. Both were solely focused on saving the Chancellor.
You can do this.
"I know," I whispered, sending him silent thanks for being there. Though I watched out for my Jedi, it was consoling to know that someone was watching out for me. As a Slayer, I never had that luxury. Even with Giles I was always the top, always the General, always forced to make the difficult decisions. Such as the one that led to my death in the first place.
Getting my senses back, I chose to move through the walls. Allowing gravity to take a hike for a moment wasn't the smartest thing to do, but it allowed me to sail through the deck plates with efficient ease.
I reached the shaft at the same time the Jedi were about to enter it. It was Anakin who noticed the look on my face first. "Is it done?"
"I got it done," I replied blandly.
The doors parted open.
"Here we go," Obi-Wan said in a low voice as he and Anakin stepped over the threshold. No sooner had the doors closed when the click of an activating droid weapon sound behind them. The Jedi exchanged a grim look before turning upon the droids. Within seconds they were nothing more than scattered bits of metal. The doors opened again as both Jedi pushed out the riffraff before the shaft door closed and the elevator powered up. The elevator began to move upwards at an alarming speed. The lights on the console lit up one after the other. But suddenly the light stopped, the cage froze and both Jedi pitched forward.
Anakin was the first to recover, glancing around the cage. Obi-Wan looked more shaken as he pushed himself to his feet. I could feel his irritation for my standing there and feeling nothing, even as I stared at the light, willing to move it again. Anakin calmly removed his lightsaber even as Obi-Wan opened his mouth to ask me to get the cage moving again.
"There are more ways than one," Anakin said with that quiet strength of his, activating the lightsaber and plunging the tip into the ceiling plates. I could hear the flame cutting through the metal, the soft shriek as the fibers melted and were pried away. Obi-Wan glanced at that for a moment before turning to me.
"Must we do everything around here?"
I just rolled my eyes. Obi-Wan sighed, removed his communicator and contacted Artoo, asking the droid to power the elevator. A smoldering chunk of metal suddenly fell from the top of the cage, landing heavily on the floor. Anakin disappeared two seconds later, leaping out with a jump that would make a frog envy. Obi-Wan pulled the communicator from his mouth, his eyes glazed over as he muttered, "Always on the move."
I could feel the elevator power up even as the brakes were loosened. Obi-Wan gasped and fell forward as I noticed the lights going in the other direction at a speed that I could only describe as a plummet. Obi-Wan quickly pushed himself back again the far panel and rasped in the communicator that it was supposed to go the other way. I could practically hear Artoo roll his eyes at that. But my senses were now in tune with Anakin who had managed to find himself in danger. He must've jumped off the cage to safety when it had pitched into its freefall.
"Artoo!"
Deciding not to trust a moody Astro droid, I took matters into my own hands. Calmly, I moved over and reached into the panel, my senses moving me through the hot wires and faulty connections. I could feel my mind send the impulse through my fingertips as the wires were touched by the Force. The cage ground to a halt and Obi-Wan fell forward again with a groan. Seconds later, the elevator moved back up at much the same rate it did before. Obi-Wan actually looked flustered as he picked himself up again.
"Must I do everything around here?" I asked, mimicking his picky tone. He just eyed me with that patented look of his before a blur dropped from the hole in the deck plates. Obi-Wan turned, activating his lightsaber as Anakin righted himself, all smirks.
"Oh, it's you," Obi-Wan said humorlessly, deactivating his lightsaber as both Jedi turned to me.
"When we get to the top," Anakin said, leaning closer to me, "stay clear. Stay as far from the fight as necessary."
"But don't you want my help?" I asked innocently. I knew better than to think he would refuse my help, especially when I could offer it freely.
"Your assistance would be most welcome in all instances but this," Anakin replied, frowning. "However, I fear that you may be sensed by Dooku. He is a Sith lord."
"Right," I said, shrugging. "So you want me to stay out of sight. I can do that pretty good. I am invisible." Oh, never mind the fact I'm a Slayer or anything… not that they'd know, anyway.
"We know," Anakin replied, amused.
"We are trying to keep your safe," Obi-Wan countered.
I scoffed, folding my arms and glaring at the doors, willing them to open whether we'd reached the tower or not. "You're just trying to keep me to yourselves." Though part of me wouldn't mind a new battle in the least, another part of me was curious. So far, I had watched the Jedi battle metal droids and oversized toads. Watching them face one of their own was something that intrigued me.
"Trust me," Obi-Wan replied, tucking his lightsaber in his belt as the brakes on the elevator clenched, the cage drawing to a halt, "if we were able to rid ourselves of you, it would not be our first choice."
"That was almost sweet," I muttered as the doors parted.
"Don't draw attention to yourself," Anakin whispered as I began to fade from view. Once I had sufficiently disappeared for them, I moved my invisible butt over to the edge of a wide veranda. Two sets of black steps led to a large room. It simply took my breath away. There were large plates of what I thought could be glass, but on the other side was the battle. I could only watch, captivated, as ships bearing green, red and blue laser fire darted back and forth. Explosions sent fiery bits of metal and debris into the air. It was quite a sight. This was definitely not Cato Neimoidia.
The two Jedi had calmly made their way down the steps, moving towards a figure seated in a black chair. His wrists were bound to the arms of the chair with glowing metallic rings. But other than that he seemed not to be a hostage. I felt my eyes narrow as I surveyed him. He was elderly looking, probably a decade or so older than Giles. His face was lined and fatigued, but there was something else, too. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was just something that mystified me about him.
His first words as the Jedi approached him were, "Count Dooku."
The door a few feet to my right had opened and three figures stepped through. Two were identical to the droids I had killed below. The other was throwing my spidey-sense into chaos. Usually I could pick out vampires and demons by intuition. But this was different. This man was no demon, nor was he a vampire. He was human, albeit one dressed like Dracula, and he was definitely the one I had seen on the holo-monitor on Cato Neimoidia.
His movements were ethereal as he reached the edge of the veranda. His elderly face split into a wide grin, his eyes mirthful. If I didn't know any better, I would call him a playful grandfather. But there was nothing playful about the malice I sensed from him. There was the hatred, so powerful it took my breath away. He hated the Jedi he faced. There was passion, too, and lust for the kill. I could practically hear him salivating from my hidden position way up here… With a flip like something of a Slayer's grace, he somersaulted to the bottom level, never once losing his composure.
Both Jedi parted, speaking quietly to one another as they took a stance on either side of the Chancellor. "You are no match for him," the Chancellor said softly, his eyes taking on a look of fear as he surveyed the formidable form casually strutting towards them. "He's a Sith lord."
"Chancellor Palpatine," Obi-Wan said, his lips curving into that teasing smile he so loved to show off, "Sith lords are our specialty."
I couldn't resist a smile at that one.
"Your swords, please," Dooku said, moving closer to the Jedi. "We don't want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor."
Both Jedi removed their cloaks, the materials floating to the ground. Both drew their lightsabers. Obi-Wan was the first to activate his blade, his eyes glowing. "You won't get away this time," he said quietly. Anakin was only a half-second behind him, his blue blade adding to the light. Count Dooku was no fool – he activated his and instinctively drew backwards as both Jedi pressed the first assault. The golden flash as the lightsabers touched was brilliant, as was the sound, like live electrical wires twisting around one another. There really wasn't a sound like it.
I could only watch as both Jedi assaulted the Count who was quite skilled despite his age. His formidable defense against both could only speak for his skills, but I couldn't deny he had style. His movements carried him with ease as he was able to fight Anakin on one side and easily defend Obi-Wan's sudden parry on the other. It was obvious that the Jedi fought using two separate styles. Anakin's strokes were more powerful and easily opened more territory. Obi-Wan had a more practiced style, one that spoke from years of experience.
"I've been looking forward to this," Dooku beamed, eyeing both Jedi as they stepped away, circling around the front of him. His eyes settled on Anakin as Obi-Wan moved to his left.
"My powers have doubled since the last time we met, Count." There was no love for the Count in his eyes. His golden arm twitched as he knew he was fighting to avenge the loss of his once-dominant arm.
"Good," the Count sneered, stopping in front of both Jedi. I could feel it in my gut – he was taunting them. How twisted was this man? "Twice the pride and double the fall." He baited them both and both Jedi leapt back in. Obi-Wan allowed Anakin to take the center, using his broad strokes and his carefully controlled swings in order to force the Count towards the steps. The three blades froze together for a second before the Count cheerfully broke the stalemate. He allowed Obi-Wan to dart again in front of him before he drew back, swinging his lightsaber over his head. With a mean little glint in his eye, he extended his hand forward, using the Force to push Obi-Wan and knock him from the fight.
Immediately, I drew forward, watching as Obi-Wan took a hard landing, groaning as he hit the deck. I longed to give him anything I could, even as their warnings sounded in my mind. I chose to risk it. After all, Obi-Wan was the reason why I was still here instead of just floating around in empty space.
The Count and Anakin swept up the steps. Dooku moved quickly for one of his age, but it seemed that Jedi just had more to them as they aged. He simply had something that Anakin didn't have. Grace. Anakin moved without it. Dooku oozed it. Again, their blades clashed furiously as Anakin backed the Count up the steps. The concentration shone in his face and behind every stroke, his effort. There was no way he would allow Dooku to escape. That much I felt certain for.
Obi-Wan moved with speed I had never seen from him and darted towards the other steps. The two super battle droids took the opportunity and fired upon the other Jedi. That was when I offered him my assistance which he took, despite his earlier warnings. Their shots reflected from the blade he held to protect his face. Both were soon full of their own blaster bolts and both were soon nothing more than smoldering bits of former battle droids.
"Yeah!"
I turned my head slowly to see the Chancellor sitting on the edge of his seat, watching the fight eagerly. As I turned back, I didn't notice that his eyes had moved from Obi-Wan's position to my own, widening ever so slightly as he felt the strength of the Force in the room, but there was a power beyond the Force placed between both fighters. But standing there was only empty air, but he had felt it.
Obi-Wan had just reached the fight, giving one blow before Dooku decided to strike with his normal edge of badass-ness. He used the edge of the foot and a bit of the Force to kick Anakin backwards away from him. His hand moved towards Obi-Wan's throat, stopping just shy but using just enough of the Force to administer a choke hold. Obi-Wan gasped as his body was lifted from the ground.
Anakin landed hard, slamming into a wall before collapsing. He never seemed to lose himself though as he glanced up, the blue blade reflecting the irritation in his face. Dooku held onto Obi-Wan for a moment, his eyes curiously sizing up the Jedi that nearly laid him waste before he simply moved aside and let the Force carry him. I watched as Obi-Wan soared past as a blur, landing heavily against the edge of the veranda near where I stood. He bounced harmlessly from the wired railing before landing on the deck below. I moved to the edge, horrified. He wasn't moving. There was another tremor in the Force and I felt the veranda beneath my feet give way. I could only move backwards towards the outer wall as the veranda collapsed, pinning Obi-Wan beneath it.
Anakin took that moment to strike. I reached out with the Force, attempting to find Obi-Wan but I found him unconscious and wounded. There was nothing I could do without revealing myself to him, despite my feelings. Instead, I turned my attention towards Anakin. I could see the darkness in his eyes as he moved to his feet and leapt towards Dooku. It was then that I moved towards him. I knew he could sense me and yet I could feel through the Force that he was pushing me away. He wanted to protect me, but I was not the one that needed protection. Instead, I offered him the Force.
Anakin felt the Force flow through him, mightier than any adrenaline rush. He landed before Dooku, kicking the older Count over the edge of the veranda before neatly flipping over it. He landed and immediately struck out, blue blade clashing against red. I stood at the edge of the veranda where he had jumped, watching the fight. I found myself unable to look away.
Now this was my type of violence – with fiery sticks.
Anakin's attack was more frenzied than anything I had seen before. Watching his movements only proved my initial theories of him wrong. The boy did know how to move gracefully. Dooku was still able to muster a defense and complete those refined, sweeping moves that allowed me to admire him.
It was as their blades clashed, the light burning against one another that Dooku leaned forward. "I sense great fear in you," he breathed, his eyes twinkling. Anakin held the stalemate, his own eyes darkening. The Force was strong in him, but it also spoke through him. He did feel fear. There were two lives other than his he needed to keep safe. If he died here today, Obi-Wan would die and Buffy would be found. "You have hate," Dooku continued, his voice rising as his passions flared. "You have anger. But you don't use them."
Anakin chose that moment to push Dooku away from him. As the Count turned towards him, the blade swirling playfully, he knew that Dooku was toying with him. But Anakin was done playing. Drawing on the Force, he surged forward. Taking the blade in his hands, he drew it above his head in a sweeping motion, feeling the lightsabers clash again. Even as ships and fighters raced through the view ports outside, the fight inside grew even more intense. Anakin was gaining the upper hand. He knew how to master the Force to flow through him, to guide his movements. He felt the Force guarding his anger but allowing his other intense motions to come forth. It was his pride on the line, now.
Dooku, on the other hand, was quickly tiring. The Force had grown stronger in Anakin during this fight. It was clear he was going to lose this fight, but he wouldn't give it up easily. With Obi-Wan out, he had this child to deal with. This is what his Master had commanded him to do; to fight Skywalker. He was fighting Skywalker. And the boy was more than his match, far more than he originally was on Geonosis.
Anakin suddenly drew his blade down. Dooku was forced into a bow with his arms extended. With a sudden jerk Dooku's hands were burnt from his arms, the lightsaber moving freely into Anakin's outstretched hands. As Dooku fell to his knees, Anakin moved both lightsabers into a cross and rested them above Dooku's shoulders. He was letting the Sith lord know in no uncertain terms that he was willing to kill him. But Dooku was wasted; the power of the Force had been with his hands, which were lying in bloody pieces a distance away.
At once, he turned to Anakin, his eyes begging for mercy.
But the deep, unsettling chuckle of the Chancellor behind Anakin sounded. "Good, Anakin, good," the Chancellor murmured, resting back in his seat now. He looked too pleased as Dooku stared up at Anakin. "Kill him."
I glanced at the Chancellor, my thoughts turning immediately to the defenseless man who knelt there, begging for mercy. But there was no compassion on Anakin's face, though he had more than avenged the loss of his limb and Obi-Wan's sudden defeat. If I could have cried out in this moment, I would have. Dooku lowered his gaze from Anakin's, glancing at the Chancellor.
"Kill him now."
"No," I whispered, floating through the wired fence and down onto the deck.
"I shouldn't," Anakin said quietly, shaking his head. His dark eyes were resting on the pathetic old man's face. I could feel his conflict, sensed his anguish.
"Do it." The Chancellor's voice had lowered to a harsh command, his eyes flickering. I turned again towards the Chancellor, seeing the light play across his face. Though I couldn't quite focus on it, there was definitely something behind those eyes.
Dooku seemed to sense his end had come. His fearful eyes gazed up at Anakin's, holding a quiet resolution, almost pleading for death. Taking a deep breath, Anakin brought his wrists together. With a small cry, I watched as Dooku's head was severed from his body, rolling quietly away before the former Sith lord collapsed. For a moment, all was silent.
Anakin slowly lowered his arms, deactivating both lightsabers. He was breathing hard as he attempted to come to grips with what he had done. I just stood, frozen, not able to believe what I had just seen. Anakin had taken a human life. Though Dooku had been a Sith, he was unarmed and defenseless. For a split second, his eyes met mine. He knew I didn't understand his motives. I could see the emotions across his face. I could feel every one of them. I could only shake my head at him before he slowly turned at the sound of Palpatine's voice.
"You did well, Anakin. He was far too dangerous to be kept alive."
"Yes, but he was an unarmed prisoner," he said, voicing my own concerns as his hand hovered over the Chancellor's restraints, removing him from his bonds. Palpatine glanced down as his bracelets released him and he slowly rose to his feet. "It's not the Jedi way."
"It was only natural," Palpatine replied, standing up as he massaged his wrists. "You wanted revenge. It isn't the first time, though, was it? Remember what you told me about your mother?"
Anakin still looked torn, refusing to meet the Chancellor's eyes. But when he spoke of Anakin's mother, I felt a twinge of guilt and anger from him. Even as the men spoke, I could feel the bond between them.
As they made to leave, Anakin moved towards Obi-Wan. I followed behind him. As he bent down over Obi-Wan, his eyes moved towards me. "If you want to help, now is the time."
I glanced behind me at Palpatine, who was surveying Anakin with shrewd eyes. But some innate sense of caution quieted my desire. I could remain invisible for a few more minutes. My attention turned to Obi-Wan, my hand passing down to the back of his head. "He's alive," I murmured. "But he's out cold."
Anakin nodded with my assessment, turning to roll Obi-Wan over gently, checking the man's pulse. Behind us, Palpatine told us that we needed to get off the ship and it was too late for the elder Jedi. "He seems to be alright," Anakin said.
"Leave him, or we'll never make it."
"No! "
Anakin shot me a quick look. In my mind, I could hear his voice. "Don't be stupid. I'm not leaving him."
"His fate will be the same as ours," Anakin replied evenly to the Chancellor, drawing Obi-Wan up and slinging him over his back like a sack of potatoes. I drew up beside him and we made our way towards the elevator. "The elevator's not working."
I quietly turned around, noticing that the ship seemed different. It shuddered beneath our feet, but with my keen Slayer sense of hearing, I could hear the sound of its massive batteries firing. "We're under attack," I whispered.
Anakin took Obi-Wan's communicator and drew it to his mouth. "Artoo, activate elevator three-two-two-four."
The ship shuddered beneath our feet. As I saw the immense plumes of smoke from the view ports behind us, I also noticed that bits of our ship's hill were seeping out into space. "It won't help," I said quietly, turning back to the elevator. "Main power is offline."
It was then the ship rumbled and both Anakin and the Chancellor fell forward, catching themselves on the wall. I just stood there as the ship began to switch angles. It appeared the ship was going down. A loud whistle sounded, more like a siren than anything else. Both Anakin and Palpatine were forced to correct their steps to the angle the ship was now moving at, but neither could do it fast enough. As the shaft doors opened, both Anakin and Palpatine lunged forward, wrapping their fingers around the outer edge and pulling themselves through as they fell flat on their bellies.
The ship was now moving straight down. Both men managed to climb through the opening, running down the elevator shaft. I could hear the sound of something coming online, but until I reached a panel of some kind, I wouldn't be able to tell what it was. As far as I knew, the ship was in a major freefall towards Coruscant.
The ship began to switch directions again, leveling out from the ninety degree pitch. Both Anakin and the Chancellor were forced to slow down as the angle of their current path was suddenly pushed down again. Without anything to hold onto, they began sliding downwards, picking up speed. As the ship leveled out, I watched in horror as Anakin and Obi-Wan plummeted towards their deaths.
Anakin's hands searched the shaft and finally found a hold. His body jerked to a stop. The Chancellor clutched at Anakin's legs as he dangled below, eyeing the endless pit nervously as he gazed up.
Obi-Wan seemed to come to, his head brushing against the wall. His eyes glanced out and saw nothing more than a grimy metallic wall. He glanced down and felt all the blood rush to his head. With a gasp he bent up, his arms encircling around Anakin's chest.
"Easy," Anakin said, annoyed at the sudden choke hold placed on him by his former Mentor. "We're in a bit of a situation here."
"Really?" Obi-Wan asked, gazing down and gulping. "Did I miss something?"
"Hold on," Anakin said, turning his attention back to the problem at hand. Both the Chancellor and Obi-Wan were weighing him down. He gazed at me, floating next to them without a simple care at all. His eyes held a look that clearly said, 'you have got to be kidding me'. I just hovered, staring around until I heard a distant rumbling sound. It wasn't large, like an explosion. No, it was coming from above. Anakin's eyes followed my gaze and he froze.
"What's that?" Obi-Wan asked dazedly.
"Oops," Anakin said, remembering his last command to the droid. "Uh, Artoo, Artoo, shut down the elevator…"
"No time," Obi-Wan said as the elevator fell towards them at an impressive speed. "Jump!"
Anakin released his hold on the rung as the three sailed down in a single file. Obi-Wan released his hold on him and they both reached for their grapple hooks that had been attached to their belts. They both were able to fire the hooks and make contact. Using the lines, they swung through an open door just as the elevator sailed past them, whistling.
Anakin and Obi-Wan were the first to recover. As I dreamily floated through the doorway before touching my feet to the deck, Obi-Wan gazed at me. "Let's see if there's something in the hangar bay that's still flyable," he said quietly, turning away from me.
"Artoo," Anakin said, using the communicator again. "Get up here right away."
"This'd be our best chance," Obi-Wan said, nodding down a longer corridor. Their only other option was taking one where the lights had yet to come back on. The three men took off running and I quietly followed behind them. When I saw something to my right, however, I forked off the main corridor and headed in a different direction.
Suddenly, the three were stopped as a glowing white light surrounded them. They glanced as spirals of energy flickered around them. Drawing to a stop, Obi-Wan glanced around them in disbelief. "Wait a minute," he said, glancing at Anakin. "We're smarter than this!"
"Apparently not," Anakin said, glancing around them. "The oldest trap in the book and we walked right into it. Well…" His eyes darted to his former Master. "You walked right into it. I was just trying to keep up."
"So now this is my fault?" Obi-Wan murmured.
"You're the Master," Anakin said, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"Right," Obi-Wan said dryly. "Joke around at a time like this." He gave a sigh as he stared at the ray shield surrounding them. "This is the Dark Side. Our instincts can't be trusted."
"Well, I say patience."
"Patience?" Obi-Wan asked, glancing at Anakin incredulously.
"Yes. In a moment or two, Artoo will come through that door and raise the shield."
"Patience," Obi-Wan frowned, crossing his arms as he thought over their predicament. However, when the door opened and Artoo sailed through, smashing into another wall, he turned back to Anakin, who wore a humbled expression.
"See? No problem."
There was the click and sudden mechanical voices to their left. Both Jedi turned and saw two destroyers loading their weapons and setting their shields. As other droids continued to swarm around them, taking out Artoo, Obi-Wan turned to Anakin. "Is there a plan B?" he asked with a knowing look.
Anakin casually glanced around them, but he couldn't feel the girl's presence. "I sure hope so," he murmured under his breath. The Chancellor just sighed resignedly.
x-o-x
I remained quietly watching the droids take the Jedi and the Chancellor into custody. I was not yet willing to reveal myself yet, mostly because I didn't altogether trust the Chancellor. Another reason was Anakin – I was still too befuddled from his actions before. But I could sense that they were searching for me. All I could do was remain still. I would reveal myself when I was ready… and save their sorry butts again. Why were they always getting into such trouble? They were worse than Dawn!
x-o-x
Facing odds was bad enough, but facing two droids neither Jedi had seen before was worse. Anakin peered intently at the two figures that moved elegantly through the thick lines of metal. Eight destroyers were armed and surrounding them. Twice that many numbered the super battle droids, their cannons lifted over the destroyers' shields, prepared to fire if necessary. These two new droids moved in a completely different manner. It was almost as though they were human.
"I've heard of them before," Anakin whispered. "In the intelligence files… they're General Grievous' personal bodyguards. They were created to kill Jedi."
Obi-Wan could clearly see that both bore the marks of lightsaber wounds, but neither was hurting because of it. In fact, both droids seemed to be positively unscathed. The fate of the Jedi that attacked them, on the other hand, was most certainly ill news.
"Surrender," the Chancellor said softly. "Surrender now and perhaps you two can negotiate our release."
Obi-Wan glanced at the Chancellor for a moment before forcing himself to look into their circumstances. Right now, he was willing to take that chance. He felt the Force surrounding him. His lips curved as he surrendered his lightsaber to one of the bodyguards. The droid took it, its fingers gently grasping the tool before pulling it out of reach. The others seemed solemn as the bodyguards led the march to the command bridge.
As they crossed the threshold, Obi-Wan remained calm and focused. But instead of tapping into the Force, he felt the Force tap into him. Every sensation, every molecule, every emotion reigned in his mind. From the heat of the electrostaff humming behind him in the hands of the guards to the duranium ribcage protecting General Grievous, he felt it all. He was it all.
The darkness that had shrouded his instincts seemed to melt away. It was like being released from a long-dark prison into a memory of childhood where things were simple, free and clear. The Force was allowing him a pure moment of clarity, returning him to the light.
Now, Obi-Wan Kenobi feels strong.
"Rare trophies, these," Grievous said in his mechanical wheeze, accepting two lightsabers from his bodyguard. "The weapon of Anakin Skywalker and the weapon of Obi-Wan Kenobi. I look forward to adding them to my collection."
"That's not going to happen," Obi-Wan said calmly. A cold yellow stare pinned him down, the skull-mask's eyes promising him nothing short of death. But even as he stared into the abyss, he felt nothing. There was no death. There was only the Force.
He felt Anakin shifting aside, nudging the Chancellor out of the line of fire. Grievous took a moment to stomp forward, peering intently into the solemn gaze of the Negotiator. "So confident, are you?"
"Not at all, actually," Obi-Wan replied, a hint of cheer in his voice. "I am willing to accept your surrender, should you give it."
The General stared at him a moment before spluttering in mechanical laughter. "Does this I will accept your surrender talk ever actually work?"
"Sometimes," Obi-Wan replied. "When it doesn't, people get hurt. Sometimes people even die. I hope you realize that I speak for you."
"I think not," Grievous replied, igniting both lightsabers and throwing back his cloak, flashing off a pair of others. "I shall strike you down with your own weapon. I am going to kill you."
Obi-Wan's smile grew as his eyes hardened. "No," he said quietly. "I don't think so."
"Artoo!" Anakin suddenly shouted. This drew Grievous' attention from Obi-Wan as the astromech suddenly released its booster rockets, its claw arm and its cable gun. In the moment it took for the droid to react, Obi-Wan used the force to reverse the hold the General had on their weapons. His lightsaber went into his hand; the Force took care of the rest. Anakin colorfully pushed the Chancellor from the line with his shoulder while lifting his bound hands. A moment later Obi-Wan's blade had set them free.
It was through the Force that Anakin recovered his own lightsaber, clutching it in his metallic arm, hidden only by a simple glove. But the Force guided his lightsaber as the two stood back-to-back, taking stock of their situation.
"You have time to reconsider my offer, Grievous," Obi-Wan said, lifting his weapon before his face.
"And this is my answer," Grievous replied, stepping back as his bodyguards stepped forward, whirling their electrostaffs menacingly. "Open fire! Kill them! Kill them both!"
There was a consecutive moment of clicks as the droids prepared to fire. A second later, the bridge exploded into a firestorm.
x-o-x
I moved along the periphery of the battle scene. My job was not to intervene but to observe. The Jedi, both in the Force, had the situation well in hand. I used that time to turn to their enemy. He was kind of skinny for being such a big bad and all. He was more droid-like than human, but he certainly acted more human than droid. I guess not all computer chips are built alike. His bodyguards – I thought that the General had called them MagnaGuards or whatever – were doing their best on Obi-Wan while Anakin was single-handedly dispersing everything else. Even the poor, pitiable Neimoidians fell prey to that lightsaber but it was not at the insistence of the Chancellor. That man had been dragged out and was surrounded by plain old security droids.
As super battle droids kicked in, Artoo rolled forward with his cable claw, dragging droid after droid to its back and blasting it gleefully with some wicked-looking tool that emitted blue sparks or electricity.
The General remained behind a web of freaked out Neimoidians who did little more than flail as their death came to them from the white-hot blade. Anakin moved much as he had in the battle with Dooku with speed and agility akin to that of a Slayer. If he'd been a girl, he would have been a perfect Jedi. It was almost a delight watching him kick droid behinds… if they had behinds.
And then there's Obi-Wan. I had never seen him with so much quiet confidence than when he allowed the Force to overflow him. His mind moved from one tactical scenario to the next, anticipating the next move by his adversary. Each blow was blocked but there was effort to his defense. Each time the MagnaGuard lost a limb, it seemed to compensate. Finally, Obi-Wan gave up and just drove his lightsaber through the center from bottom to top, watching as the thing disintegrated in front of him.
My attention then turned towards the Chancellor, but Anakin was already moving to destroy the two droids that held him hostage. Even though I didn't really know if I liked him or not, I wasn't going to go out of my way to save him and reveal myself. I felt like something was holding me back from doing that. But Anakin seemed more than happy to down two droids and save the Chancellor. Again.
The General suddenly started forward, his amber eyes glittering wickedly at the sight of the eight droidekas now rolling into the foray. Anakin was the first to notice, his eyes every wary of danger. "Master!" he shouted as he moved behind a stack of droid parts to mount a defense as the destroyers quickly mounted their shields and lowered their weapons.
Obi-Wan was at his side in seconds. The older Jedi fought to drown Grievous' cold cackle, but he also knew the Force was apt to help them in this situation. Otherwise the two would never survive the onslaught of droidekas. They were the one he could worry about. The MagnaGuards were no more, the Neimoidians were dead from cowardice and the General basically watched as his minions were cut down one by one by the two Jedi entrusted in his custody.
Someone was so obviously working against him today.
He had fought Jedi and had beaten them. He wasn't considered an enemy of the Republic by deception only. He had counted on crushing the life from both Jedi, but nothing would satisfy the General more than to crush Kenobi. The thought of besting the negotiator was one that left him positively humming with anticipation.
His desire grew as the Jedi managed to defeat the last of his security. Eight droidekas were reduced to nothing more than cinder. All eight had been pushed back into the wall, shorted out and fell apart.
With a growl, Grievous' foot struck out, catching an electrostaff lying freely in the midst of debris. Spinning it with flair, he turned to face Obi-Wan. The Jedi stared him down, his face showing the absence of fear. The lightsaber drew back, hovering a few inches from the Jedi's head, but there was no doubt in Grievous' mind that this would be a victory worth savoring.
But fate seemed to not be on his side this day. He heard footfalls of the other Jedi as Anakin Skywalker leapt behind him, his own lightsaber ready for battle. Grievous drew his eyes from Kenobi with a snarl as he faced down Skywalker. Fighting Obi-Wan was something he looked forward to. But Anakin was the better Jedi. Once Kenobi was dead, he would be faced with Skywalker. As odds were not with him today, he decided it would be best to take his fate into his own hands.
He could survive space; his body had been created for it. The Jedi could not; they were only human.
Obi-Wan and Anakin waited in expectation for Grievous' next move.
It was all I could do to not turn away.
x-o-o-x
Edit copy two – I went back through and fixed a few errors, including the last section. Happy reading!