Oh dear, I have made a rather serious blunder; I had posted chapter 10, skipping the chapters between it and chapter 5! You all have probably been wondering how they figured out where Anakin was going! I'm so sorry, and to make up for my blunder, I've deleted that chapter and posted the correct chapter in it's place. I can't believe I did that, and didn't notice until I went in to post a new chapter. I hope you aren't too confused now...

Chapter 6 Nightmares and Dreams

Anakin's mind was in turmoil; he ran, not knowing where he was going, but just wanting to be away from Five Hundred Republica. He had killed all the Jedi in the Temple; why then, were there still Jedi Padawans alive? How could that be possible? He was sure none of them had escaped. How could they? He had taken an entire battalion of Clones in with him; there could have been no escape for any of them. He even remembered killing the dark haired boy himself; certainly at least he could not still be alive. Had he hallucinated seeing him then? And something about what Obi-Wan had tried to tell him seemed to ring true somehow; although his brain was so muddled, he wasn't sure what it was. He had to find Palpatine; Palpatine could straighten everything out. Needing a place to hide and think, Anakin headed for the underground; he had always been able to escape there when, as a boy, he needed to get away from the confines of his Jedi life. No one would no to look for him there.

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The Mon Calamari rushed out of his office, "Are you boys alright?" He asked as he helped Ferri, who was closer, to his feet.

"Yes, but you have to let us up there." Zak answered as he allowed Ferri to pull him up.

"Of course, I have already called the authorities, they will…." The Mon Calamari started to reply.

"Oh no, you should not have done that." Zak told him, shaking his head.

"But he is obviously dangerous; he should be stopped." The Mon Calamari argued as he entered the code once again into the security panel.

"Yes, but that's what we're trying to do. We don't want him hurt, don't you see? He's been in an accident; he's already been hurt and now he's very confused." Ferri said.

"That may well be; but he is still dangerous. He might have killed both of you." The Mon Calamari countered.

"But he didn't; and that's the important thing here. He could have, but he didn't." Zak explained, "Call the authorities off."

"I'm sorry, son; I cannot." The Mon Calamari answered.

"Fine, but Master Kenobi will have something to say about that." Ferri retorted, "Master Skywalker needs help, he doesn't need to be hunted down like a common criminal."

Zak nodded in agreement as the lift door opened, "Because he's not a criminal." He added as both of them entered the lift.

The Mon Calamari shook his head but did not reply as the lift door closed.

"Master Skywalker didn't kill him, did he?" Ferri asked.

"No, I still feel him." Zak answered, "Concentrate and reach out, you should be able to feel him too."

Ferri closed his eyes to a deep breath and reached out, "Oh yes; I can feel him now." Ferri confirmed, "But…"

"But?" Zak repeated.

"Well, I don't know how Master Kenobi….I don't know how any of us is ever going to be able to help him if he won't even listen to Master Kenobi. Master Maru said they were like brothers; if Master Skywalker won't listen to his brother, then who will he listen to?" Ferri wondered.

"I don't know, but he's got to be wondering why we're still alive; and I'm sure Master Obi-Wan told him about Lady Padme and his children, he must be thinking about that too." Zak answered.

The lift door opened and Zak stepped off first, heading immediately to the inner sitting area; Ferri left the lift slowly and was immediately caught up in the emotional confrontation between the two Jedi Masters as he began to repeat, verbatim, Obi-Wan's pleas and Anakin's wild raving. Zak knelt down next to the still form of his master, "Master?" He said as he carefully turned him over.

"LIAR, LIAR, LIAR!" Ferri screamed behind him.

"Master?" Zak repeated a little more urgently as he slapped Obi-Wan lightly on the face.

"You should not have come here." Ferri said over him, "I could kill you now, if I wanted to."

"Then why didn't you?" Obi-Wan asked as he opened his eyes.

Ferri blinked and came back to himself, "I…I'm sorry, Master Kenobi." He said.

"It's alright; it was Anakin not you. Can you tell what he was thinking when he said that, Ferri?" Obi-Wan asked as he pulled himself up into a sitting position.

Ferri's forehead wrinkled as he thought, "He was thinking about…it's hard to explain, really; he was thinking about what a good friend you used to be." He finally answered.

"Well, that's something anyway. The fact that he didn't kill me when he had the chance shows that he is not lost completely." Obi-Wan replied as he rubbed the side of his head, "I think we've done enough for the day."

"He saw us, Master." Zak said as he and Ferri pulled Obi-Wan up.

"Did he? Well, let's just let him think about that for the night then and have another go of it in the morning." Obi-Wan suggested.

"We can't, Master; the attendant down in the lobby called the authorities. They are probably looking for Master Anakin right now." Zak told him.

Obi-Wan sighed, "Well, that complicates things a little. Blast it! I should have been more careful; now, not only is Anakin out there again, injured and confused, but he has the authorities after him. However, we should still wait until morning."

"Where are we going to stay, Master Kenobi?" Ferri asked.

"We cannot go back to the Temple; that much is certain. I will speak with the Chancellor; I am sure he will be able to find a place for us to stay for the night." Obi-Wan answered.

"And what if they find Master Anakin in the meantime?" Zak asked.

"I will explain everything to Chancellor Organa; he will understand and call his people back. I just wish I had not been so foolish; I should have known what Anakin would do." Obi-Wan replied, shaking his head, "Come on, let's get out of here."

"Master Jedi; I am so glad you are alright." The Mon Calamari said as they stepped out of the lift.

"Thank you; but I wish that you had not called the authorities about this." Obi-Wan replied.

"Well, I had to didn't I? He was dangerous, out of control." The Mon Calamari answered, defensively.

"Did you see him attack anyone?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Well, he pushed…" The attendant began.

"He pushed us away from him; he didn't attack us." Ferri cut him off.

"Well, no but, he must have…" The attendant began again.

"Must have what? Attacked me? Since you were not there, you have no idea what he did up in those rooms, now do you?" This time, Obi-Wan cut him off as he crossed his arms in front of him.

"Well, no but I assumed…" He tried once more.

"Yes, you assumed; and because you did, a very confused, injured young man is now being hunted down." Obi-Wan interrupted.

"Well, he looked dangerous to me." The Mon Calamari insisted.

Obi-Wan huffed and shook his head, "More to himself than anyone else." He answered as he turned to leave.

Zak followed and Ferri turned to the Mon Calamari, "I told you he would have something to say about it." He said and then followed them out.

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This was where he belonged; the underbelly of Coruscant. Down here, existed the beings whom those above pretended did not exist; the thieves, the addicts, those not fit to mingle with decent society dwelled in the tunnels and passageways of the underground. This was where Anakin could hide, to think and to plan his next move. He wished he could find Palpatine; Palpatine would tell him what he should do. He still was not sure why he hadn't killed Obi-Wan when he had the chance. He had certainly wanted to; but something had stopped him…what, though? Why, when he had to perfect opportunity to kill his enemy, had he not taken full advantage of it? Palpatine would have called him weak and, in truth, he had been; he had been thinking about their past friendship, and that had caused him to falter. Palpatine would be disappointed, not to mention angry at his negligence in allowing at least two apprentices to escape….yet, it puzzled him to remember actually killing one of them. Unless he was mistaken, yes, that was it; that boy just looked like the one who had fought so bravely and asked him, "Why" before he died. And it was then that it dawned on him that he now actually remembered leading the Clones into the Temple….when had that come back to him? After he had seen those boys, he decided. But why, after Anakin had helped to destroy the Order, was Obi-Wan trying to convince him that it had not been destroyed? Anakin found a secluded corner and huddled into it, wrapping his torn cloak around him. He was tired, his body hurt and his head ached; he felt lost, alone and confused. He longed to be home, in bed with Padme and his chil…he shook his head, he didn't have any children; he had let Obi-Wan's lies go to his head. Palpatine, in the morning, he would find Palpatine; but right now, he needed to rest. He wrapped his arms around his legs, rested his head on his knees and closed his eyes. In the morning, everything would be clearer.

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"I will open one of our apartments to you, of course, Master Kenobi; but why can you not just go back to the Temple?" Bail said after Obi-Wan had put forth his request.

Obi-Wan sighed and looked down at the carpet for a moment, "I am in defiance of the Council in using young Ferri, here, to search for Anakin; if I go back now, they will not allow him to continue helping me….if they don't forbid me completely from even searching on my own." He explained.

"They would do that just because you went against the Council?" Bail asked, somewhat shocked.

"I don't know; but I cannot take the chance that they would. Anakin needs my help; and I fear for him if he does not get it soon." Obi-Wan answered, "And there are two other things I would ask of you; one as the Chancellor and the other as a friend."

Bail smiled, "I am at your disposal, Master Kenobi." He replied.

Obi-Wan nodded, "First, it seems that the attendant over at Chancellor Palpatine's old residence was overzealous and reported to the authorities that Anakin had become dangerous; I would like for you to call of the hunt for him." He requested.

"Then you think that he is not dangerous?" Bail asked.

Obi-Wan sighed, "Anakin is injured already and he has no memory of this reality; I believe he is more dangerous to himself than he is to anyone else. I fear that if he is cornered, though, he will fight and then he will be killed; I think he should have the chance to remember what he is." He answered.

Bail nodded thoughtfully, "You are right; I will have those searching for him stand down." He said, "And the other favor?"

"As a friend, I would ask that you not let the Council know you have seen us." Obi-Wan replied.

"You want me to lie to the Council?" Bail asked.

"In that you would be withholding information, it seems so." Obi-Wan admitted.

Bail sighed, stood up and walked toward the bank of windows, "That is a great deal to ask of me." He said.

"I know this, Chancellor; and that is why I asked you as a friend; and as Anakin's friend." Obi-Wan answered.

Bail massaged his forehead and sighed deeply, "I will not lie to the Council." He told him as he turned around.

Obi-Wan nodded and looked down again, "I understand; it was too much to ask." He replied with understanding.

Bail smiled and shook his head, "I do not think you do; I meant I would not lie to them if they asked me if I had seen you; I will not contact them." He said.

Obi-Wan smiled back, "Thank you, Chancellor; however, what will you tell them if they ask where we are staying?" He asked.

"In that case, I will have to tell them. But I am very good at steering a discussion in whatever direction I wish; I will be sure to steer it away from that subject." Bail assured him.

"I am in your debt, Chancellor, thank you." Obi-Wan said gratefully.

"For what you have done in the past for me and for my family, it is I who is indebted to you, many times over." Bail told him as he extended his hand.

Obi-Wan nodded and shook his hand without hesitation, "Thank you again, Chancellor." He repeated.

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In a split second, Anakin came awake as his Jedi senses alerted him to some danger, near at hand; before the would-be thief could pull his hand away from the weapon he was trying to steal, Anakin had wrapped his prosthetic fingers around it and squeezed it so tightly he crushed all the bones in it. The thief screamed in surprise and agony, trying to pull his hand from Anakin's grip. Anakin looked up at him, grinning maliciously, "Please! So sorry….big…mistake." The pointy-eared thief cried. Anakin squeezed a little harder and the thief dropped to his knees, still trying to pull away, "Please!" He cried again. The thief's eyes grew wide as he watched Anakin's eyes turn from turbulent dark blue to sickly yellow and, with renewed vigor, tried once more to pull away. Anakin laughed and then released him, causing the alien to fall backwards. With his crushed hand dangling uselessly across his chest, the alien scooted back, terrified that Anakin would come after him. When he had put several meters between them, he scrambled to his feet and, clutching his damaged hand, back-peddled until he was out of Anakin's sight. Anakin laughed again and then looked around, noticing the frightened looks of those who had witnessed what he was capable of. When he was satisfied that they understood how dangerous it was to threaten him, he wrapped his cloak around him once again and laid down.

"Do it 'gain, Daddy; do it 'gain." It was a dark-haired little girl pleading with him to play with her... Who was this child and why did she call him Daddy? Suddenly there was another child, this one a boy, hanging onto one of his legs and giggling happily. He looked up and there was Padme, holding a baby in her arms, smiling at him. "You're so good with them, Annie." She told him. Anakin smiled back at her and, with the little boy still clutching his leg and the girl dangling upside down from his arms, he walked toward her….

"Padme!" He heard himself cry and awoke with a start. Damn Obi-Wan, now he was having fantasies about children that he did not have.

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Obi-Wan sighed, sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed; plagued by nightmares for the third time that night, he finally gave up on sleep and walked out on the veranda that extended from the room he was sleeping in. As he watched the post mid night traffic flow by, he wondered where Anakin was and when he would finally emerge from his waking nightmare. He ran his hand through his hair, "I will not give up on you, my brother." He said aloud, "I will not give up on you." He repeated through the Force.