A.N. I don't own Star Wars sadly. If I did I'd already have Seasons one through five of the Clone Wars on DVD… Warning. This is a completely random idea that I slapped together so I could put out my own take on Zigoola, even though several other authors have done a wonderful job. I hope it holds up against their wonderful works.
Anakin's meditations had started off peacefully for a change. He had been thinking of Padme on Naboo, of his beautiful wife on their wedding day, when his beloved wife transformed into his mother. She was crying and sobbing in her slave tunic, but she wasn't dead yet. The memory was from when they were under Gardulla's control. He remembered the events perfectly, as he had been forced to serve the Hutt like a slave girl, with a chain and a barely covering loin cloth the only protection from the leering stares of her disgusting patrons. Serving drinks to the Hutt and her friends was one of the easier jobs though, and he was doing well until his chain doubled up under his feet, tripping him and causing the tray to spill on the great Hutt herself. Gardulla had roared like a Krayt Dragon and had thrown him across the room, decreeing that he would be beaten and thrown out into the desert to die.
Bloodied and terrified after the beating and deposited into Sand People territory, his only chance of survival was to create a sand storm to prevent the sand people from venturing from their huts. The particles had whirled around him like a tornado, almost shielding him completely from view. That was when the vision had started to go wrong.
The tornado began to get larger than Anakin could have ever created it, and a malevolent voice started whispering die Jedi die Jedi die Jedi die as the storm made his meditation self cover his eyes and look away. When it finally cleared, Anakin wanted to retch.
Obi-Wan, scared, terrified, blood pouring down his face appeared out of the settling sand, looking for all the Force like he had been captured by Grevious and beaten within an inch of his life. A Sith voice was screaming SUBMIT! all around him, so loud that Anakin thought that he was going to die with the pressure. Through blurry vision he could see Obi-Wan still fighting desperately, but it felt like his master was losing his hold on his self control…
They are back on Lanteeb, and he is standing next to Obi-Wan as his Master pours everything he has into the village leader, Rikkard, so that they won't be forced outside of the shield and made to face the droids. He sees the little girl, Greti, trying to pull Obi-Wan away as the older mans breaths become harsh pants for air…
Geonosis now, and thousands of Jedi dying around them as Obi-Wan battles desperately to save those who came to rescue him. Then in the hangar where Dooku took his arm and wounded Obi-Wan, seeing his own face over and over again as it pinches in agony with the loss of his limb…
Master Siri Tachi as she breathes her last and gives Obi-Wan one last trembling smile before the light in her eyes dulls and her body stills…
The gentle and kind Qui-Gon Jinn as the Zabrak assassin strikes, the dignified face shocked and pained as it slowly crumples to the floor…
Thousands of clone bodies covering thousands of battle fields with their blood as his Master stands and surveys the area for more Separatist troops even as his face twists in grief for the dead…
Jangotat's final message playing on the ships holo-display, as a woman wept against Obi-Wan's shoulder …
The anger from his inability to protect his clones at the Landing on Geonosis and the sickening feeling that he and Trapper were the only ones alive…
Carrying an unconscious Satine over rocks, running from the bounty hunters and only dropping her when he can longer hold himself up…
And then a cloudy vision of the future where the Jedi Temple was burning and a crushing, overwhelming grief as the universe collapses around Obi-Wan…
Vision after memory after nightmare, running again and again until it feels as though the dying and screaming will never end and all Anakin can think about is that these aren't his memories…
They are in the desert once again. Obi-Wan, struggling to catch his breath, is now trembling on hands and knees. The Sith voices swirling around continue to mock and tease. Mostly Qui-Gon and the other dead jeer, but when he listens he can hear all the people he has seen in Obi-Wan's visions so far. They taunt him, telling him that if he really cared for the people that he loved he'd be able to save them.
All Obi-Wan does is shiver in the sand as they pour on the abuse. The voices grow louder. The Dark Side, Obi-Wan, they coax, It's the only thing that will save us. You do want to save us don't you?
"No… won't use… Dark Side…" His Master chokes out.
So you don't love us enough then.
"No… love… can't love… have to be… an example… for Anakin…"
Yes, but Anakin's already in love. You're too late! Again, you are late, Obi-Wan Kenobi, just as you were too late for us, and so let us DIE!
"No…" he hears Obi-Wan whisper, "No…!"
Anakin opens his eyes. Startled, he looks quickly to his side, but his former Master looks as calm as ever. Then he feels a change. Obi-Wan's perfect Jedi mask starts to fall apart, and he can see the strain in his face as he fights against his visions…It feels like there is a black cloud around his Master oozing with anguish and denial as Obi-Wan's face tightens and meaningless words start to tumble from his lips.
He wastes no time grabbing his Master and shaking him. "Obi-Wan!" He calls. There is a visible flinch, and then Obi-Wan's eyes fly open. It feels like everything is trying to escape through this one outlet as they become a haunted and sorrow stained gray.
"Yes?" His Master asks. Anakin is lost for words as he sees his Master slump out of his meditative pose.
"Are you… alright?" he settles on. Obi-Wan leans back and sighs.
"I will be." Obi-Wan says, tired.
"What was that? Where were you in the visions?" he asks, pushing for answers. Obi-Wan needs to get this out whether he likes it or not, because someday, there isn't going to be an Anakin Skywalker to pull him out of whatever vision he's having.
"I was on Zigoola." Obi-Wan starts resignedly, "And those were the memories I had to relive."
"What? Obi-Wan…" Anakin had read the Council report, but he had had no idea that this was the kind of monstrosity Obi-Wan suffered through.
"Yes?" It's soft, almost whispered.
"But you're-" Obi-Wan's comlink chirps, breaking the question. Looking like he welcomes the distraction, Obi-Wan Force-pulls it towards him, and puts back on his impenetrable, stoic Jedi mask.
"Kenobi." He says crisply, all General in Command once more.
"We have a Council debrief that's starting in five minutes. It is requested that you be there." A tinny voice rattles, sounding like Mace Windu.
"Of course." Obi-Wan replies, all formal politeness and respected Council Member. "I'll be there as soon as possible." He turns, facing Anakin. Only a hint of shadows lurks in his eyes now. "I'm sorry if you saw anything…" he pauses, looking for the right word, "…unpleasant." He says finally, meeting Anakin's gaze. "Can we talk about his later?" At Anakin's nod he smiles gently. "I'll be fine, Anakin. I promise." Anakin can only watch as his mentor walks out the door, in awe of the devastation he has just seen. It seems as though there is much he doesn't know about Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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