Hi guys. Yeah I have been kinda bad at sticking to my schedule. High school is a lot harder than one would think. Okay so after this arc and Padme's arc wrap up were going to jump right into the final showdown. By my estimate, there'll be about 5-7 more chapters left. After this story ends or at least towards the end, I'll probably begin publishing my 80s Star Wars high school au ( that's a mouthful). It's inspired by this wonderful art by DenisM79 from Deviantart. -Kiera

CHAPTER 18

Anakin sat in a cramped, dilapidated cell. Somehow, someway trouble always followed him. That's how he ended up here, in a hold of a notorious pirate. The aforementioned brigand was a rare alien life form, born with a single eye at the center of his head. Not much of a strategist, he preferred brute strength. The pirate went by the title of The Cyclops. His favorite pastime, other than terrorizing helpless merchants, was eating. The rumor was that when he ran out of regular food, he would resort to devouring his prisoners. Anakin hoped that The Cyclops had a full breakfast because he refused to be eaten. Anakin grimaced at the thought of being anywhere near that ogre's rotten teeth. If that no good sleemo tried to devour him, let's just say he learned a few tricks during his time as Vader. He could think of some nasty ways of death. Why is would be so easy just to rip out that pirate's eye and. No, he's not that person anymore. He's better now, whole. But, that didnt mean the sadistic side of him wouldn't take a small bit of pleasure tearing the Cyclops' vocal chords out. For a moment, he felt his eyes flash a warm amber.

He wouldn't even be in this mess if that mechanic on Kessel actually did his job. Come to think of it, he wouldn't mind ripping his vocal chords out either. He and Obi wan had a nasty surprise when they realized the "mechanic" had swapped their valuable hyperdrive with a dingy older model. And of course, they just had to drop out of hyperspace into the clutches of The Cyclops' fleet. Why couldn't he at least have some pretense of good fortune? Now, Anakin was confined to a cell the size of a refresher, awaiting his chance to be a delicious entree in the captain's meal.

"Anakin," he heard someone whisper. " Anakin, wake up."

Grumpily he pressed his ear to the side of the wall where the voice came from. "Obi wan?"

"No, it's Padmé." Obi wan replied sarcastically. " Look I have a plan to get us out of here."

Anakin scooted closer and projected a force bubble over them. That way, no one could eavesdrop on their conversation. After several alterations, the duo had finally agreed on a plan of escape. Obi wan would distract the guard while Anakin used the force to disable their cell door locks. Then, Anakin would hack into the ship's com station and tell the crew to report to the opposite end of the ship. With Obi wan as lookout, they would commandeer an new transport and leave this awful hell. In theory, they would be able to escape with relative ease, but Anakin had a knack for turning the simplest of missions into disasters. As the time for their departure neared, Obi wan clutched his stomach, convulsing.

"What's wrong with you?" he demanded.

Obi wan moaned and sank lower to the floor.

"I think he's sick, sir." Anakin replied innocently.

" Well, I can't let the captain's meal get spoiled." As predicted, the guard entered his cell, having no clue as to how he should solve this predicament. Obi wan was laying it on thick. See, the key is to lick your palms. When you're rolling around in pain, you bend over and lick your palms. He knew it sounded stupid, but then again so was this situation.

With the guard preoccupied, Anakin reached out with the force and unlocked their cells. Anakin then sent a small force pulse through his connection with his former master. A loud thud was heard and the guard's cranium collided with the floor. Both Jedi emerged from their confines and ran down the corridor. They stopped at the armory and retrieved their weapons. Those fools actually thought they could wield such an elegant weapon. A scaly Trandoshan approached Anakin and Obi wan with twin vibroaxes. He feinted to the right and then the left before flipping over him. He smirked slightly as he plunged his blade into his foe's back.

"Anakin," Obi wan chided. "A Jedi doesn't take pleasure in their kills."

"Come on Master." Anakin joked, letting his eyes blink yellow. He just loved bothering Obi wan. " All's fair in love and war. Besides, you're just jealous I'm already ahead of you this early in the game."

Obi wan instantly became very flustered. He tried to sputter out a response a retort, but he simply threw his hands into the air in defeat.

Then, they headed over to the closest com. Opening the control panel, Anakin delicately rewired the station. He sent a message stating that the crew was needed to contain a malfunction in the engine room. Footsteps thundered on the levels above them and the Jedi were in the clear. The pair wove through various hallways never ceasing their footfall. As Anakin flew past room after room, a glaze of red caught his eye. Backtracking, he found his way into a cramped room contains one object. A glistening red ruby shimmered inside the room. It seemed to call to Anakin, urging him forward. Tentatively, Anakin took a step towards the jewel. He was enthralled by its luster and color. He had never seen a ruby so magnificent. It would be a perfect gift for Padmé.

"Anakin, what are you doing?" scolded Obi wan.

Anakin froze, he found himself inches away from the gem. Moments ago, he swore he was on the opposite end of the room. Something about this gem was strange, but it didn't matter to Anakin. It seemed to beckon Anakin forward in a foreign, harsh tongue. Turning away from Obi wan, he stared into the ruby's center.

"Anakin, we must leave. Your diversion won't last forever." He could already hear some of the pirates returning to their posts. Ignoring his protests, Anakin extended his hands towards the ruby.

"Now, Anakin let's not do anything rash."said Obi wan as Anakin snatched the gem from its pedestal. Sirens projected a shrill cry, a ray shield obstructing the doorway of the room. Obi wan and Anakin were trapped once again. Obi wan could be seen pinching the bridge of his nose muttering softly, while Anakin let his foolhardiness soak in. That language was the Sith language, wasn't it. This gem was a Sith item, wasn't it. How would he get them out of this?

Okay, so for those of you who are like," Wait I thought they purged Anakin of the Dark Side." I'm working on that. I'll probably do some rewrites and I'll tell you guys when I've finished with that. I know right nw the continuity is a little weird, but I really want to play some more with the darker side of Anakin. Don't worry this story is going to have a happy ending. Or is it? Naw, I'm just joking with you, it'll have a happy ending. I'm a sucker for happy endings.-Kiera (again)