Chapter 10 Mustafar
Anakin came out of hyperspace just inside the Mustafar system and guided the cruiser toward the center planet. Even from this distance, its volcanic environment was clearly visible as red hot fissures marring the planet's surface. For a moment, Anakin was struck with a feeling of deja vu but he quickly shook it off, attributing it to merely his Jedi foresight. Wondering why Palpatine had chosen this forbidding place to shelter the Separatists, he began his descent into the blistering hot atmosphere that was Mustafar.
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Obi-Wan took a deep cleansing breath, preparing himself for meditation. He hoped that through meditation, he might make some deep connection with his Anakin's sub-consciousness; failing that, he might at least find the peaceful, calm center he would need to face his troubled brother.
Zak tried and failed to enter a meditative state as concern for his master clouded his mind; he knew Obi-Wan did not intend to fight his brother….but he also knew that in Anakin's confused mind, his brother was his enemy and, in the end, it would come to blows. The memory of Anakin's nightmare filled his head and he shuddered to think that events might come to play that would cause the outcome of the nightmare to become real. The idea that two of the men he admired most would soon be dueling was difficult for Zak to imagine, the notion that one of them would be crippled by the other was overwhelming, and the thought of how it would devastate Obi-Wan was unbearable. It could not end that way, it just couldn't….but Zak could not shake the feeling that it would end badly in any case; how badly, remained to be seen. But Zak also knew he could do nothing but leave the fates of both men to the will of the Force.
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Padme's eyes widened in horror, "Mustafar?! Why would he go there?" She asked incredulously.
Ferri looked to Master Windu, who nodded, before answering, "He thinks that Chancellor Palpatine has gone there to hide with the Separatists."
"To hide from what?" Padme wondered.
Again Ferri looked to Master Windu, and again the Jedi Master nodded his consent to continue. Ferri looked at the floor for a moment, carefully choosing his words before answering, "Master Skywalker thinks there is a plot among some Senators to take control of the government and that Palpatine is afraid they might kill him, so he had to hide." He explained.
"That's ridiculous; there was a plan to force Chancellor Palpatine to step down, but it would have never been a violent take-over." Padme replied.
Ferri shrugged and Mace continued, "Of course not; but you must remember that this is all in Anakin's confused mind. Ferri also told us that Anakin believes the Jedi are controlling the Senators, particularly Chancellor Organa, and that we are actually behind the take-over." He answered.
Padme shook her head and began to cry again, "My poor Anakin." She sobbed.
"His brother he still has, Lady Padme." Yoda said gently, "Gone to find him he has."
"What if it's not enough? What if Anakin won't believe him?" Padme asked tearfully.
"Trust we should, in their strong connection through the Force. Help him Obi-Wan can, like no other." Yoda told her.
"No, there is another; I can help him." Padme corrected as she suddenly straightened in her chair, "I should go."
"No, it's too dangerous." Mace replied.
"But surely when he sees that I am alive and…" Padme began.
"Trigger that part of his nightmare it will; and events out of Obi-Wan's control may turn." Yoda interrupted.
"But, Master Yoda, if he sees that I am alive, don't you think he might remember everything?" Padme pointed out.
"No, too much like his nightmare it would be, seeing you come from your ship." Yoda countered.
Padme shook her head, "I think you're wrong; it won't be like his nightmare, don't you see? Obi-Wan will already be there, and I will not be carrying a baby…wait, what if I…" She started to answer.
"NO; no, you must not, you will not, take your children to that place." Mace cut her off emphatically.
"Then all you're going to do is just sit here and wait?" Padme asked, "What if Obi-Wan can't help him? What if they…what if they fight just as they did in Anakin's nightmare? What if…what if…if…"
"We are not going to just sit here and wait; Master Yoda and I have already agreed to go to Mustafar. Perhaps if Anakin sees that I am still alive, it will jog his memory." Mace told her.
"I pray that will be enough." Padme replied sadly with a shake of her head.
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Anakin maneuvered the cruiser onto the landing pad adjacent to the main power control center. Palpatine had told him the Separatists would be in that building. He shut the ship down and lowered the boarding ramp; as he stepped out of the ship, the searing heat slammed into him and he again wondered why Palpatine had chosen this place to harbor those Anakin now knew were his allies. He continued down the ramp and headed toward the control center, then hesitated and looked back at the ship, "Stay with the ship, Artoo." He ordered.
Artoo wasn't with him; why had he said that? Anakin shook his head and continued toward the building, pulling his hood up as he walked….he shivered; something about all this seemed eerily familiar, "Chancellor?" Anakin called as the door slid open.
There was, of course, no answer and Anakin moved a little further into the hallway that led to the inner chambers, "Chancellor Palpatine." Anakin called again, puzzled that his friend was not responding.
"There's no need to hide from me, Chancellor; it's Anakin. I'm on your side, remember? I've done what you asked, the Jedi at the Temple are dead. Together we can do away with your other enemies and then I should be strong enough; please, Chancellor, talk to me." Anakin pleaded as he entered the inner chamber.
A guard droid approached him, "Do you have proper authorization to enter this room?" It asked.
Trying to control his impatience, Anakin answered, "I am looking for Chancellor Palpatine."
"Hmm…I am not familiar with that name; you will have to leave." The droid told him.
"No, I'm sure he's here; with Shu Mai, San Hill, Nute Gunray, Wat Tambor and Poggle the Lesser; the leaders of the Separatist movement." Anakin replied, as his patience began to slip.
"There is no one here; you will have to leave." The droid insisted.
"I think you're lying; the Jedi must have reprogrammed you." Anakin said.
"I do not think so; I do not believe I have ever met a Jedi." The droid answered.
Anakin's patience snapped; with one swift, graceful movement, he had his ignited lightsaber in his hand and before the droid could even react, Anakin had removed its head, "Now you have." He told it as he powered his weapon down and clipped it back to his belt.
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Obi-Wan came out of his meditation just as the ship came out of hyperspace close to the Mustafar system. He glanced over at his Padawan sitting motionless, staring out the front viewport, "I know you're concerned, Padawan; but it will be alright." Obi-Wan said reassuringly.
Zak sighed, "I hope so; but that's not the feeling I'm getting." He replied.
"I managed to sneak into his subconscious; maybe it will help a little." Obi-Wan told him.
"Maybe." Zak answered unconvincingly.
"Well, we might just as well put the ship down; the sooner I find Master Anakin, the sooner I can help him." Obi-Wan decided, "Under these conditions, perhaps it would be better if I landed the ship."
"You're right, Master; I don't think I want to land down there." Zak agreed.
"Neither do I; but Master Anakin has not given us much of a choice." Obi-Wan replied.
"Why would anyone want to come here, Master?" Zak asked as the planet loomed closer, revealing its forbidding environment.
"I don't know, Zak; for some reason, though, Chancellor Palpatine sent the Separatists here to hide just before I engaged General Grievous. It's not a very friendly looking place, is it." Obi-Wan answered.
"No." Zak answered as they entered the planet's atmosphere.
As Obi-Wan guided their ship to the only safe area to land, they noticed another ship parked on the tarmac near what appeared to be the only significant building in sight. Obi-Wan landed the cruiser next to it and shut the ship down. Zak closed his eyes and breathed deeply, mentally steeling himself for what was to come. Obi-Wan unbuckled his harness and stood up, "Why don't you stay with the ship for now?" He said.
Zak nodded, "Yes, Master; but if you are gone very long, I will come after you." Zak answered.
Obi-Wan smiled, "I hope that will not be necessary." He replied.
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Padme waited in the corridor outside the Lower Council chamber. She hoped that the two Masters inside would dismiss Ferri before leaving the chamber themselves; she wanted to talk with Ferri. A few minutes after she had left, Ferri emerged from the room.
"Ferri, can I speak with you?" Padme asked.
"Yes, I guess so; what do you want?" Ferri asked, warily.
"I want to find my husband." Padme told him.
"He's on Mustafar; he has already been found." Ferri replied.
"No, what is on Mustafar is what he has become; I want to find my Annie." Padme corrected.
"So, go find him; what does that have to do with me?" Ferri asked.
"Everything; I want you to come with me and the children." Padme answered.
"You were told not to go there, and not to take your children." Ferri reminded her.
"I have to go, and I have to take the children with me; it's the only way to help him." Padme said persistently.
"Well, I guess you can do whatever you like, you're not a Jedi; but I am, and if I mess up one more time, I will be sent off-world." Ferri told her.
"Please, Ferri; I'll need to get into Anakin's head, and you are the only Jedi I know of that can do that." Padme pleaded.
Ferri sighed, "I can't, Lady Skywalker; I'm sorry." Ferri replied, "And you shouldn't be going either."
"Alright, I guess we will just have to do this alone, then." Padme decided.
"How do you think you're going to get there? The Jedi aren't going to give you a ship, you know." Ferri informed her.
"I don't need one of their ships; I have my own." Padme answered.
Ferri shook his head, "Well, I can't let you go alone, I guess." He said.
"Thank you, Ferri." Padme replied gratefully.
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Mace and Yoda remained in the Lower Council Chamber discussing what their plan of action would be when they reached the volcanic planet. After a brief debate, they decided to seek out Anakin together; they hoped that seeing Mace would trigger his memory, and both of them along with Obi-Wan, if he was able to, could help Anakin deal with the aftermath of his temporary excursion into the Dark Side. When they exited the chamber, Padme and Ferri had already left the Temple, bound for Padme's ship docked on a platform nearby. The two masters headed for the Jedi docking bay and boarded the small ship they had instructed be ready for them. They exchanged no words as Mace maneuvered the ship out of the bay and turned its nose to the sky; guiding the ship up through the late morning traffic, the upper atmosphere and into the dark quiet of space. Slipping the ship into a hyperspace drive ring, Mace sent it into hyperspace toward the destination Yoda had set in the nav-computer; neither knew or even suspected that Padme and her family, along with the reluctant Ferri had already left for the same system.
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Obi-Wan entered the building cautiously, he could feel Anakin's presence, confused and fearful, nearby, "Anakin?" He called tentatively as he moved forward.
There was no response from his troubled brother and Obi-Wan continued down the hallway toward the inner control center, "Anakin, I am not here to hurt you; come out so we can talk." He said calmly.
Still, Anakin did not answer, and so, taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan slipped slowly through the open doorway and into the control center. He stepped over the headless wreckage of the guard droid and glanced around the room, "Anakin, I know you are here; the ship you stole is sitting outside on the tarmac." Obi-Wan said.
"You should not have come here." Anakin's voice said.
"You are like my brother, Anakin; I cannot let you remain as you are right now." Obi-Wan answered.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Anakin replied, "And don't start spouting that nonsense about a family."
"It's the truth, Anakin; and if you search your feelings you will see it. You have three beautiful, Force sensitive children." Obi-Wan told him.
"You're such a liar, Obi-Wan; how did you find out about Padme and me, anyway?" Anakin asked.
"You told us, after you killed the Chancellor." Obi-Wan answered.
"Another lie; you've probably been spying on us." Anakin said.
"No, Anakin; search your heart and you'll find not only Padme, but your children too." Obi-Wan replied.
"Leave, Obi-Wan; leave now and I'll tell the Chancellor that I've killed you." Anakin urged.
"Chancellor Palpatine is…." Obi-Wan began.
"In my mind the Jedi are evil." Anakin cut him off.
"Oh dear; I was going to tell you the Chancellor is dead, he was evil, yes, but he's dead, Anakin. Listen to what you're saying." Obi-Wan countered, "You're repeating what you said in your nightmare."
Anakin laughed, "You must think I'm a fool if you think I believe anything you say; I see through the lies of the Jedi." He said as he stepped out of the shadows in front of Obi-Wan.
"You do not fear the Dark Side as I do; is that what you were going to say next, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin drew forth his lightsaber and ignited it, "If the Chancellor is dead, then you must have killed him; and now, I have lost any chance of saving her. I will kill you for that." He declared.
"Padme's life does not need saving, my brother." Obi-Wan assured him, "I will not fight you."
"Oh? Then you will die, my brother." Anakin vowed as he advanced toward him.