So you know how I said I wouldn't publish for a couple weeks. Well, I lied. There'll probably be a two week period between this chapter and the next, but that's it. Thank you so much for you reviews. Also, since I can't control myself I slipped in an A:TLA quote in. I know, I know. I have a problem. -Kiera

Chapter 20

Anakin was done with life at this point. After their embarrassing escape attempt, he and Obi wan had been placed in opposite ends of the ship. Anakin had been bound in rusted shackles and sedated with a force inhibiting drug. And to top it all off, tomorrow evening marked the date he would be cooked into a pie. You just had to pick up the shiny, glowing egg, didn't you, he thought to himself. Leave it to him to find the only Sith artifact in the entire ship.

"Wakey, wakey little one," said a grubby looking pirate. She towered over him at 10 feet tall with gnarled, yellow teeth and matted, scraggly hair. She was clothed in some sort of tattered shirt and worn, patched up pants. She wore old boots with her big toe peeking out of one. She stomped over to him, grinning a rotten smile. The closer she stepped, the stronger the putrid stink she exuded got. One grimy, fat hand reached out to clutch his chin. With one thumb, she caressed his cheek. "The captain's gonna like you. You've got a lot of meat on ya."

Her other hand squeezed his bicep like a vice. "Maybe a little tougher, but waste not want not." Both hands moved to cup his face in a perverted gesture of affection. "Though I'd hate to see your handsome little face eaten."

Anakin bared his teeth like a caged predator. He called on the Dark and it swelled around him. His eyes swirled into a deep sunset, and he growled, for added effect. In the back of his mind, he could recall the faint memory of Obi wan scolding him for being a "drama queen". Unfortunately as soon as the Dark came, the inhibitor cuffs kicked in and he felt the strands of Dark slip from his grasp.

The pirate just smirked at turned away from him. As she activated the ray shield once more she said, "You've got a temper to ya. Good. The angry ones always have a little more spice to them." She laughed a snorting, ugly laugh and strolled off.

There was no way he was going to be eaten by that. He was Anakin Skywalker, The Chosen One, fated to bring balance to the Force. He wasn't going to end up some filthy brigand's entree. He had to think of something. People were counting on him, good people. He had his children to think of. He had his wife to think of.

He strained against his cuffs. They were anchored to the floor and provided him with little mobility. Obviously, the corsairs had not seen the world outside the Outer Rim in quite some time because his cuffs were antiquated with actual locks on them. The rust on them dug into his flesh arm, leaving it raw. His human wrist was peeling and scabbed. Rivulets of dried blood ran down his arm.

Anakin was beginning to become frustrated. He didn't have the slightest idea on how to escape. He racked his brain for any information relevant. Any advice, or past plan he could conjure from the deep recesses of his mind, but he drew a blank. He had no Force, no Obi wan, and no backup. He refused to relent though. He would never give up. After everything he had been through, there was no way in hell he would give up. He thrashed against his chains in vexation.

There was a metallic clang as one of the gears in his mechanical arm went out of alignment. Sighing, he reached over to repair it. The bonds allowed him just enough maneuverability to touch both hands together. After he had restored the component to its proper place, his hand ghosted over a long, slender part of the arm. It was a thin rod located at the center of where his forearm would have been. Maybe, he thought, he could use it as a lock pick. Anakin estimated that the piece was an almost perfect fit to the locks. Removing this shaft would render his arm immobile, but he could cross that bridge when he got to it. He jerked the rod loose, and his hand immediately last all of its dexterity. He crouched over his limp hand, and began to pick the lock.

After five minutes, the lock broke and the cuff fell from his hand. His arm fell to his side, useless. To break the shackle on his other hand, Anakin had to put the lockpick between his teeth. Twenty minutes passed until he finally managed to unlock his left hand. It would take more advanced tools to mend his droid arm, so he tucked it between the folds of his tunic like a sling. He limped over to the ray shielded door, legs tingling from loss of feeling. Adeptly, Anakin rewired the door and stepped into the hallway.

The guard from before spotted him. She barreled towards him, brandishing a vibroaxe and bellowing. As she swung at him, he sidestepped her. He elbowed her in the back of her skull, giving her a concussion. He ran in the direction of the armory. When he reached the door, three more adversaries came at him. The first tried to punch, but Anakin ducked down and swept his legs out from under him. He crashed to the floor. The second attempted to tackle him. Anakin used his momentum to swing him over his shoulder. He threw him to the ground with his good arm. The third caught him by surprise. His fist collided with Anakin's forehead and disoriented him. He stumbled, and his opponent rushed at him. Pressing his back against the wall, his legs came up and kicked his enemy directly in the solar plexus. He crashed into the other wall.

Anakin looked at the three pirates lying defeated on the floor. He scoffed, wiping the sweat collecting on his brow. It had been a long time since he had to rely purely on hand to hand combat. He was exhausted. He could feel a bruise forming on his forehead, and the wounds on his wrist had reopened. Unfortunately, there was no time to rest. He had to save Obi wan and return to the Rebel Alliance. He rolled his neck as he entered the weapons room. This was going to be a fun.

Next chapter will probably be a continuation of this arc. Especially since I have no idea what to do for Ahsoka's story. I'm thinking about 5 more chapters until this story is done. Thanks for sticking with me. Please review!- Kiera