He had failed his apprentice. He had failed his master. Qui Gon's last words resounded in his mind: "Promise me, Obi Wan. Promise me you'll train her." He had given his word, though he hadn't wanted to—it shamed him to admit it, but he had been jealous of the girl. He had been so young and foolish, so arrogant and selfish.

He had quickly come to understand what his master had seen in her. And she had taught him so much more than he had taught her. She had taught him to go beyond the words of the mantra and truly trust his feelings. It was a lesson Qui Gon had tried to impart, and it had taken Obi Wan much too long to learn it—now that he finally understood, it was too late.

Standing beside Master Yoda in the ruined Temple, he had watched the security recordings with a broken heart. Watching Anneke leading the clone troopers to kill the Jedi was the hardest thing he had ever had to do. Until now.

"Twisted, consumed by the dark side, young Skywalker has become." Yoda's voice had never sounded so old. "Find her you must. Destroy the Sith we must."

"No." Obi Wan had never defied a higher-ranking Jedi before, but he had not hesitated. "I cannot do it."

Yoda's ancient eyes had met his, reflecting the sorrow and grief of betrayal. "To fight this Lord Sidious strong enough you are not. No time there is. Go you must."

Obi Wan had bowed his head, too weary to argue. "I don't know where she is."

"Use your feelings, Obi-Wan, and find her you will. Visit the new Emperor my task is. May the Force be with you." Yoda's voice had been gentle, even kind, but he couldn't truly know what he was asking of Obi Wan.

He had failed the principles of the Jedi Order. Attachments were forbidden, and he had allowed himself to grow attached to his apprentice.

Now, as she begged him to leave, he could feel the struggle that raged within her. And yet she had chosen the dark side. He had a duty to Yoda, to any Jedi who remained, to everything he believed in, to stop her.

"Don't make me kill you," she whispered.

"Anneke," he begged her, "don't do this." Though he knew that neither one of them could turn back now. It was too late for that.

He felt her reach out and draw the darkness close, wrapping anger around herself like a cloak. He remembered that anger—when Qui Gon had been defeated, that same darkness had promised him vengeance upon his master's killer and, for a few moments, he had allowed it to surge through his veins—but it had betrayed him, and he had nearly died with his master. Only after he had found the peace inside himself had he been able to defeat the Sith who had murdered Qui Gon.

He tried to tell himself that the figure who was now turning toward him, glowing blade in hand was only another Sith, another enemy to defeat, but no matter what she had chosen, or what she had done, Anneke would always be his family. Even as she advanced upon him and he raised his own blade in defense, he loved her with every atom of his being.

Despite her denials, he could feel her pain and distress. Something was very wrong. Even as she attacked, he sensed that she was drawing on the Force heavily for the strength to stay on her feet. He never considered taking advantage of her weakness, though—and when she fell on the rocky shore of the river of lava, he didn't hesitate to run to her side, lifting her into his arms.

She had passed out and her head fell against his chest as if she still trusted him as she once had. His heart constricted painfully. She would never trust him like that again. There was no turning back from the choice she had made.

And yet he found himself gently cradling her in his arms and carrying her to his ship. He was unsure what he would—or could—do, but he could feel the Force leading him, so he followed.

With nowhere else to go, Obi Wan landed his ship at Polis Massa, where he was to rendezvous with Yoda and Senator Bail Organa. When he disembarked, they were waiting for him on the landing pad. Seeing Anneke's unconscious body in his arms, Senator Organa's eyes widened, and Yoda frowned.

"Brought her here you should not have done, Master Kenobi," Yoda admonished him while Bail called for a medical team.

"I am sorry for my disobedience, Master." Obi Wan turned to the medic who rushed to his side and immediately reached for Anneke. "She is with child," he said, his voice cracking.

The medic nodded, and transferred her to a floating medical capsule. "Thank you, Master Jedi."

The silence from Yoda and Bail was deafening. Obi Wan could feel their eyes on him as he watched the medic take Anneke away. As soon as she was out of sight, he turned to face them, straightening his spine and clasping his hands behind his back.

"Master Kenobi," Yoda said slowly, his eyes searching Obi Wan's expression. "Kept this from us you have—why? Your child, this is?"

Obi Wan bowed his head and pressed the fingers of one hand to his brow. He had expected the accusation, but the distrust behind it still pained him—he didn't deserve Yoda's trust, however, not when he had known about the pregnancy for weeks now, and had kept it from the Council. Lowering his hand, he met Yoda's eyes. "Does it matter?" he asked, his voice flat and toneless. "Does that really matter now?"

Yoda tilted his head, eyeing Obi Wan closely. "Lost to you she is, Master Kenobi. Delude yourself you must not."

"I know!" Obi Wan burst out, anger rising up to choke him. He closed his eyes, taking deep, slow breaths to calm himself. He continued quietly, "She is lost, but the child is innocent."

Yoda nodded, his eyes thoughtful. "Right you are. Kept hidden from the Emperor the child must be."

"Master Jedi? Senator?" Three heads turned as one toward the door. The medic had returned. "We had to perform emergency surgery to deliver the babies—they are small, even for twins, but all three patients are doing fine."

"Twins?" Bail Organa asked.

"Yes, Senator," the medic replied. "A boy and a girl."

Obi Wan blinked, but said nothing. Despite everything, he was impressed with Anneke's ability to hide not one, but two, lives from the Council for so long. She could have been a great Jedi—she had been a great Jedi. He closed his eyes against the pain that welled up again at the reminder that she was no longer a Jedi, would never again be a Jedi.

Bail turned toward Yoda and Obi Wan. "My wife and I will take them in," he offered. "We have always wanted children but are unable to have any of our own."

Yoda nodded slowly. "One of them only you will take, Senator. Safer it will be to separate them." He turned his gaze upon Obi Wan. "Your responsibility the other child will be, Master Kenobi."

Obi Wan nodded, not trusting his voice. What was he to do with a child?