Only hours after I've resolved not to lose sleep to excessive worrying, I wake up sweaty and overheated. I throw the covers off and turn to sleep on my left side when I hear a sort of singing. It's familiar; I know I've heard it before somewhere. Then it hits me - the Force is trying to lead me somewhere or tell me something. It's the same intuition that kept screaming at me to leave the Jedi. Whatever it wants, my subconscious mind tells me that I should listen to it.
I start to make a plan in my mind since I'll be getting no more sleep tonight. Anakin's been missing for a little over six hours and there's still no word of the Jedi sending out a ship or some rescue mission. He's their Chosen One and they can't afford to lose him. I could probably stage a rescue myself. The only problem is that I don't have my lightsabers... That's it! Lightsabers... I recall the time that my lightsabers were stolen from me in the Underworld; the guy who told me who had taken them just saw that I was a Jedi and didn't ask any questions. If there're two lightsabers that've been stolen, the Underworld people will lead me right to them if I freak them out enough. If you have a cloak, a weapon, and a bad vibe about you, I'll bet they're going to tell you whatever you want. Seeing as I have the Force and can create an artificial atmosphere that feels menacing, whoever I ask will definitely tell me.
As for the transportation to wherever he is, which I can just find from his Force signature, I'll get there the same way that Padmé and I got to the Bonteri's. Just hop aboard a ship and smuggle my way through. Separatist droids happen to be immensely unintelligent anyway. Like Anakin said - they're meant to overwhelm, not necessarily to fight well. And I can use that disadvantage to get my friend out of Seppie hands...
I press the button on the holovision and its bright, blue screen projects from the device that's mounted on the wall across from the bed. I just need to check this quickly before I go rushing about in the Underworld. The first channel I click to is the news reporter, not the Rhodian woman this time, but a human man, announcing the gossip that the Council still hasn't configured a plan yet. Fine - if they're not going to make the first move, I will. I also check the crime reports for the Underworld. I've been in this area before with Master Sinube when an Underworld criminal stole my lightsaber. There's only been, what, fifty murders this week? I click my tongue and make a sound of disgust. Anakin would never let me go down there if I were still his Padawan, but I'm not, and he doesn't have to know yet. And there were lightsabers stolen last month - ones I should be able to find.
I turn off the holovision. I'll need some kind of cloak. I have the sneaking suspicion that just about every Underworld bounty hunter knows my face from the reward that was posted for my return to the Jedi last week. Last week... it's only been that long and look what new situation I've gotten myself into. Rather, one I'm about to get myself into. Not that I care. It's not like I'm going to kill anyone or anything...
The first thing I do is equip myself with everything I need. I should be back in the next few days, so I leave all my freshly bought clothing in the drawers. As for the comm link, I attach it to my glove with a soft click. They don't match the outfit but I don't really care. With that, I'm out the door before I can even start to regret what I'm about to do.
xXx
There's a massive indentation in the planet right in front of me. It's lined with metal and light and platforms coming from all directions and depths. I'm not afraid of it - that's pretty much all I know. I extend my fingers over the opening, breathe in the humid, warm air of the overworld; let the gentle breeze brush across my skin. Skydiving on Coruscant isn't the greatest idea in the world, but it's all I've got right now. I reach out for the missing lightsabers with the Force, I can hear their faint song. It's just darker, like they've been clouded by the Dark Side. The only thing that matters is that I can feel them; that they'll soon be mine. My booted foot is held out over the ledge that leads into darkness. Then I jump.
The wind whistles through my headtails as I plunge into the inky darkness of the Underworld. The air gets cooler and more stale as I fall, inhaling it is out of the ordinary. The Force guards me in a sense, or maybe it's just Anakin's lingering presence that I feel safe with. That's what we do, protect each other. And I know I'm doing this to protect him when nobody else will. The flow and song of the crystals, low and deep, sends chills up my spine. I'm definitely getting close.
I let the currents of air assist me to a landing platform for hover pods. I grab onto the railing, its icy temperature invading my fingers. Swinging up onto the platform, I land in a squat position. Sunlight filters through the dust and pollution above - it's a long way up. From here on, all I can count on are my instincts. I know where there's a metro station down here, so I dash toward it at full speed. I may not have money for a ticket, but I have other ideas.
People look at me questioningly as I stalk through the station, looking for the train that'll take me to the place where the weaponry thieves hang out. At last I see the number, Train 13, Platform B. I don't need a ticket to get on the train, but they'll check for one once I get inside. I'll have to be stealthy if I'm gonna pull this off - I don't have enough money on me to pay off a fine. My feet tromp up the steps casually like I'm not in any hurry at all. On average, according to all the times I've been on a metro line like this one, it takes the guards approximately five minutes to reach the hind car if there's no trouble. But on a day like today, I feel like I'll have a little more time. Someone's got to screw up so I have enough time to hide on the roof of the car while they monitor for tickets. I glance around. Not too many people, but enough to notice me slipping out of the car and disappearing. Not like they'd care, but just in case...
Through the window, I see the conductor in the car before mine. The people are all rummaging through bags and purses and pockets of theirs to get their tickets ready for scanning. With this opportunity at hand, I slip out the door of the car.
Wind roars past me as the metro thunders down the singular railed line, magnetic power keeping the train levitating. I gingerly skirt around the side of the train, out of sight for people looking out of the windows. There's a latter to the roof, which I climb with the help of the Force to keep me steady. My fingers make contact with the cool, gray metal of the roof and I boost myself up with all the strength I can conjure up. The only thing I can do now is hug the roof and try not to be seen or fly straight off of it.
A couple moments before the train arrives at the station, I slip back into the car unnoticed. It's just my luck that as a passenger leaves the train, their cloak still lays on the seat. So what do I do? Pick it up and put it on, of course. I then casually walk out like a totally didn't just break every rule in the metro system. I know exactly where the "shop" is and I can feel the Force pulling me toward the stolen lightsabers. They feel exactly like a living, breathing creature, but different at the same time. The Force must know that I have to do this; that I'll stop at nothing until I can save my friend. My closest companion's life may be at stake and there's no time to waste.
I navigate my way under bridges, through crowded alleyways, and between buildings. At last I find my stop. Sure enough, there are two people there - a man and a woman. The man is on the shorter side, but he's as physically fit as Anakin. He has wild black hair which sticks out from his head in curly tufts, light brown skin, and icy blue eyes. Not to mention the jagged scar that runs down his arm. The woman is tall and curvy, a Twi Lek with green skin, and looks like she could kill me. This should be fun.
I walk up, trying to pretend like I'm part of this little, horrifying crew. "I heard you'd seen, or should I say stolen, two lightsabers." I speak in my most menacing voice, like I'd done when I'd told the Zyggerian queen to stay the kriff away from me.
The woman speaks first, her tone matching mine, maybe a bit darker: "Yeah. Why are ya askin'?"
"Because," I reply, trying to stay mysterious, "I want them." I pull my hood further over my head so it covers my eyes.
"And how do you suppose you're gonna pay fo' that, missy?" The man asks, leaning his arm on the vending stand's metal surface.
I click my tongue and look up at him, trying to act like I know my way around this business. After inspecting my fingernails, which, may I note, have been filed to perfection, I let a smirk permeate my lips. "Let's make a bet." Boy, have I just gotten myself into some deep trouble. Never have I ever betted on anything before.
"What kind of bet?" the woman asks, stepping forward a little bit.
I stare her right in the eye with a glare as cold as I can possibly muster up. "Let's say we have a fight..." I take a few diagonal steps to my right and inspect my fingernails again. "You have your weapons, including the lightsabers, and you two fight against me. If I win, I get the lightsabers fair and square. If I lose, you can kill me - no witnesses."
The man stares at me with a contemplating look. "What's the catch?"
"There is none. I need the weapons and I'm a considerably good fighter; it seems fair."
The woman smirks menacingly and says, "We'll take you. And we'll win. No lightsabers for you, little girl."
"I'm not so young anymore," I reply, recalling the phrase that I tend to use often.
Without a moment's hesitance, the woman lunges at me. The man grabs a blaster and shoots at me, sending three lasers my way. I manage to dodge them and flip over, landing on my feet. The woman latches her fingers onto my shoulders and shoves me onto the ground, her foot on my chest. Before she can push down and suffocate me, my feet kick up and nail her directly in the back, sending her flailing overtop of me, landing roughly. I flip backwards onto my feet and chase after her. The man trails me and shoots at me, almost hitting me. Not much for hand-to-hand combat, I observe, but definitely a good gunner. The woman reaches for the lightsabers she's clipped to her belt and activates them. She swings them threateningly, aiming for my more major extremities. Like my legs - I kinda need those. I manage to drop onto my hand and spin around, knocking both people off their feet. I tackle the woman and grab one of the lightsabers.
The first thing that I notice is that the hilt is curved. It feels unnatural in a way. I'll definitely be constructing new hilts later.
I swing the blade. It just feels so... right. Finally, after days of being lost, I know what I'm doing. The only thing that's off is that the blade is red. That could be easily fixed.
They both look up as I swing the blade, reverse grip as always. The woman activates her half of the two lightsabers as I charge at her with restored confidence that I'd never have imagined to be returned to me.
I use the man's shoulders as a boost, launching myself straight over their heads and adding an extra flip before landing. My cloak settles back over my eyes before I smirk and laugh at them. It starts out soft and then I kick it up a notch to sound more mysterious and crazy. Nothing scares people like crazy. Anakin has taught me well...
"Who the hell are you?!" the man demands of me.
I look up and raise my hand, summoning the Force which whips the second saber into the currently cruel hold of my fingers. I don't let the darkness take me over, though, because this is just an act to scare them. Looking up, I say simply, "What? Aren't you going to kill me?"
The two just stare at me in terror. Oh. The red blades? Maniacal smiling? Use of the Force? Crap. Well now I guess they think I'm some sort of insane Sith or something.
I jump up onto the roof of another building. I press two fingers to my forehead, flick them at them in a salute, and announce loudly, "Thanks for the workout! Oh, and the weapons." I turn and see them staring at me, seeming utterly confused. I can also feel their waves of anger and panic hitting me like a boulder through the Force. Well, honestly, I have cheated them. "Watcha staring at?" I ask simply, then jump over the building, dashing for the nearest port.
Now I'm going to find and rescue my best friend; I'll do it if it kills me.
Hey peoples! I really had fun writing this chapter and I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to all of you for the amazing support and reviews over the past few updates. *Internet hugs* I know I've been irresponsible and haven't updated for the past two months before the previous chapter, but I have more time and inspiration to write now. Also, yes, I will be adding Anisoka in the future, but it's a surprise!~ I've been brainstorming ways to incorporate it into the plot and listening to a lot of heart melting music (Alan Walker's Faded and Sing Me To Sleep, Christina Perri's Human, and Demons by Imagine Dragons *cries*). I'm dead on the inside. Yep. But I'm back! Thanks, guys - love ya! -Pluto
