Chapter 8 Anakin's Final Destination

Zak shook his head but did not say anything further. Obi-Wan sighed and squatted down in front of him, "What do you suppose that Bith would have done if I had not mind tricked him?" He asked.

Zak was silent for a moment, "He would have reported Master Anakin to the authorities." He answered.

"And then what would have happened?" Obi-Wan asked.

Zak sighed, "They would have gone after him." He admitted.

"Yes, before we have had a chance to bring him back to this reality. When this is all over, Master Anakin and I will go back to that Bith, explain what happened to Master Anakin and make up for what Master Anakin did and what I did afterwards. It's just that right now…" Obi-Wan explained.

"I know, we don't have time. I see that now, Master." Zak finished.

"Good, now let's see where Ferri has got to." He replied as he glanced around and spotted Ferri tugging at his pants as if they were too tight.

Zak put a hand to his mouth and stifled a laugh, "I don't think that Bith's clothing fit Master Anakin very well, Master." He observed.

"It appears so; I wonder where he is heading now." Obi-Wan said, standing up to begin following Ferri again.

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"I dreamed 'bout Daddy last night, Mommy." Leia informed Padme.

"Me too, Mommy." Luke echoed.

"Really? What did you dream about?" Padme asked as she slipped a sock on one of Leia's feet.

"He wuz swingin' me upside down an' he was so happy; and Lukie wuz…." Leia started.

"I was hangin' on his leg and it wuz…" Luke finished.

"You both had the same dream?" Padme wondered.

Luke and Leia looked at each other, "Uh huh." The answered in unison, "Then Daddy saw you an' Haddie, Mommy, an' he was goin' to you." Leia continued.

"Then what happened?" Padme asked

"Then Daddy said 'Padme' and we woked up." Luke answered.

"Does it mean Daddy's comin' home soon, Mommy?" Leia asked.

"I sure hope so, baby." Padme replied.

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As Anakin approached the landing platform, he quickly realized that Padme's yacht was not docked there; in its place, the sun reflected off the metallic surface of a sleek black Naboo cruiser. Puzzled as to who else would have the authority to use this particular landing platform, he pulled the taxi up to the platform and decided to find out. As he pulled the taxi to a halt, the platform guard approached, "Excuse me sir, you cannot park this taxi here." He said.

"I won't be here long, I just want to know why a strange ship is parked on Senator Amidala's landing platform." Anakin questioned.

"Senator Amidala retired from the Senate over two years ago when she announced her marriage and moved back to Naboo to have a baby; this is Senator Salirre's ship." The guard informed him.

"NO, YOU'RE LYING!" Anakin screamed as he drew his lightsaber.

The guard backed off and pulled his blaster, "Look, I don't know who you are or where you've been for the last two years, but there is no Senator Amidala anymore. Now, I suggest you get back into your vehicle and go before one of us gets hurt." He warned.

"And it's going to be you if you don't tell me just what's going on. Who told you to lie to me? Was it the Jedi or the Senator from Alderaan?" Anakin demanded.

"I'm not lying; if you ask anyone on the street, they're going to tell you just what I told you. Now, back off." The guard replied.

"Well, if I can't use Padme's ship, then I'll just have to take this one." Anakin decided and with one swift move, stepped forward and sliced the barrel of the blaster cleanly in half, "Now, step out of the way and let me pass or my next move will be against you."

The guard dropped the blaster and stepped out of Anakin's way, "The authorities will come after you; how far do you…" He started.

"Well, not if they don't know it's missing." Anakin cut him off as he slammed the guard Forcefully against the hull of the ship.

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They followed Ferri to the taxi platform where the terrified taxi pilot was still huddled, "I need to borrow your taxi." Ferri said smiling and drawing his non-existent weapon.

"My taxi? Do I look like I still have a taxi? Someone has already beaten you to it." The pilot replied.

"No, you don't understand; I want your taxi. Get out, NOW." Ferri ordered.

"Is the boy crazy, or what? There is no taxi for me to get out of." The pilot insisted.

"Um…no, I don't think so; then you'll have the authorities after me. You just stay right where you are and maybe I'll let know where it is when I'm finished with it." Ferri went on.

"How long ago was your taxi stolen?" Obi-Wan asked as Ferri continued to 'brandish his lightsaber' at the pilot.

"I don't know; not long; and it won't be long before he'll be rotting away in some prison colony." The pilot answered bitterly.

Obi-Wan sighed, "The man who stole your taxi is not himself; he was injured and now he is very confused about what he is." He explained.

"Well, he'll have alot of time to figure things out when he's waiting for his trial to begin." The pilot retorted.

"There will be no trial; you will get your taxi back. But the man who took it is…" Obi-Wan started and then sighed, "I don't have time for this." He waved his hand, "Someone borrowed your taxi."

"Someone borrowed my taxi." The pilot repeated.

"And it will be returned." Obi-Wan told him Forcefully.

"And it will be returned." The pilot repeated.

"Master, there's another taxi coming." Zak announced.

"Good, we couldn't have timed that any better; where to, Ferri?" Obi-Wan asked.

Ferri looked a little puzzled, "Senator Amidala's landing platform…but I…well, isn't she Lady Skywalker now?" He answered.

"Anakin has gone back a few years; Lady Skywalker was still the Senator from Naboo then. He must be heading for Naboo's Senatorial platform." Obi-Wan replied.

"Naboo Senatorial platform; no problem." The second taxi pilot repeated, "Say Lido, where's your taxi? Aren't you working today?"

"Someone borrowed it, and it will be returned." Lido answered.

The other pilot nodded, "Oh; alright. Do you need a lift anywhere?" He asked.

"No, it will be returned." Lido assured him.

"Alright; as long as you're sure." The other pilot said.

"It will be returned." Lido repeated with a nod.

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Anakin lifted the cruiser off the platform and eased it into the passing traffic, slowly gaining altitude. He still wasn't quite sure why he was disobeying Palpatine's mandate to show no mercy. So far, three beings had resisted him, and he had let every one of them live….add that to the fool who tried to steal his lightsaber during the night, those two Padawans he had only Force pushed out of his way, not to mention his 'friend', Obi-Wan, and it brought the total to seven lives he should have disposed of. Palpatine would be very unhappy with him; but Anakin didn't care. All he wanted was Palpatine's secret to cheating death so he could save Padme; then he would show Palpatine the meaning of no mercy. After that, he and Padme could do whatever they wanted to…rule the galaxy if they felt like it. The ship rose into the upper atmosphere and then out of it completely as the sky darkened into space. He entered the coordinates for his destination, waited for the proper time and sent the stolen cruiser into hyperspace.

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"Has there been any word from Obi-Wan, Master Yoda?" Padme asked as she arranged several bowls on her tray in the dining hall.

"No word has there been, Lady Padme; concerned we all are that alone, handle Anakin he cannot. Sorry we all are that forced him to do this we have." Yoda answered.

"Why can't you just reach out, you know, with the Force to find them?" Padme asked.

"Evasive Obi-Wan is being; certain he is still that defied the Council he has. Shielding himself, his Padawan and young Cortis from us he is." Yoda replied, "Want to be found he does not."

Padme shook her head sadly, "I hope he can find Anakin before he does something terrible." She said.

"Faith we must have in the bond there is between them still." Yoda told her.

Padme sighed heavily and nodded, "Master Yoda, the twins had a dream about Anakin last night." She informed the venerable Jedi.

"Hmm…interesting; this dream, shared it did they?" Yoda asked.

"Yes, Anakin was playing with them and then he saw me with Hadrian and started to come to me." Padme answered.

"Hmm…reach you did he?" Yoda asked.

"No, Leia said he called my name and then they woke up; what does it mean, Master Yoda?" Padme asked.

"Know this I do not; perhaps reaching out to you part of him is." Yoda surmised.

"You mean without him being aware of it?" Padme wondered.

"Hmmm…I wonder if this dream he shared with his children." Yoda told her and then stroked his chin, "Hmm…ponder this I must."

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The taxi pilot pulled his craft up to the empty landing platform, "Blast it! We have missed him again." Obi-Wan stated in frustration.

"Excuse me sir, you can't park that taxi here." Ferri said, "I won't be here long, I just want to know why a strange ship is parked on Senator Amidala's landing platform…Senator Amidala retired from the Senate more than two years ago when she announced her marriage and moved back to Naboo to have a baby; this is Senator Salirre's ship."

Ferri hopped out of the taxi, "NO, YOU'RE LYING!" He screamed as he 'pulled out his lightsaber'.

"Oh dear." Obi-Wan exclaimed as he rushed toward the prone body of the guard.

"Not if they don't know it's missing." Ferri said, looking over Obi-Wan shoulder.

"He isn't…He isn't dead is he, Master?" Zak asked as he came to stand on the other side of the guard.

"No, thank the Force; only stunned." Obi-Wan answered and pulled out his comlink.

"What are you going to do?" Zak asked.

"Contact someone to let them know there is an injured man up here; that's all." Obi-Wan replied, "And then Ferri is going to tell us where to go next."

"I don't understand; why would he want to go there?" Ferri asked no one in particular.

"Where, Ferri?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Mustafar; he's heading for Mustafar." Ferri answered, "But that's one big volcano; why would he want to go there?"

"It's where the Separatists were hiding toward the end of the War; in his dream, Anakin went there to kill them under orders from Palpatine." Obi-Wan told him.

"Oh, now I see; he thinks Chancellor Palpatine is there with them." Ferri said as he the fragments of Anakin's thoughts started to come together for him.

"What do we do now, Master?" Zak asked.

"Hope that the Chancellor is willing to grant me one more favor." Obi-Wan answered, "Zak, it is time for you and Ferri to return to the Temple."

"No, Master! My place is with you; we agreed." Zak protested.

"I...I can't go back to the Temple; I…I've violated the Code again. They will send me away for sure now." Ferri said.

"No, Ferri; you have done very well and you did not violate the Code, I did. You were only acting under my orders; they cannot send you anywhere because of that." Obi-Wan assured him as he clasped his shoulder, "But you, Zak, must go with him; I do not want to take you to Mustafar."

"You have to; because it feels right for me to go." Zak told him.

Obi-Wan shook his head and sighed, "I hate it when you get feelings like that. Blast, I did not want to take you there." He replied and then turned to the pilot, "Take this boy to the Jedi Temple; your fare will be paid when you arrive. My apprentice and I will take Lido's taxi back to him."

"You got it, Boss; hop in, Kid, time is money." The pilot answered.

Shaking his head, Ferri returned to the taxi, "It's not fair to leave me out now; not after all I've done for you." He complained.

"No, but it is safer; you have no weapon and we are going to a very dangerous place. I will have to have all my wits about me just to protect myself and try to protect Zak, not only from the planet, but Master Skywalker as well." Obi-Wan countered.

"Well, it's still not fair." Ferri repeated angrily as the pilot maneuvered the taxi away from the platform.

Zak and Obi-Wan watched it as it headed toward the Temple; Ferri continued to face in their direction until the taxi was lost in the sky traffic.

"Well, let's go find Master Anakin, shall we?" Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, Master; it's time to bring him home." Zak answered.

Obi-Wan nodded, put a hand on Zak's shoulder and guided him to Lido's taxi.