Chapter Four

Answering Her Master's Call

On Mustafar, Anakin received instruction from Sidious. He was to remain there and supervise the construction of a new base for the Empire. Anakin knew, of course, that Sidious was in fact luring him to his death. That was why Anakin had called out to his apprentice, Ahsoka, for help. He acknowledged his instructions, then waited for Ahsoka to arrive. On the Naboo Starcruiser, Obi-Wan gave Ahsoka instructions.

"Here we are. Mustafar. I will bring us to a landing Platform close to Anakin's position. You can jump down from here, as landing might catch him off guard. I don't want him to feel he's been betrayed. I will conceal my presence from him while you help him get over whatever it is he needs your help with. I will go and confront Maul. When I have finished, I will find you and Anakin." Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, Master. Good luck." Ahsoka said as they approached the drop-off point. She lumped to the platform. She remembered the last and only time she had been here before, when helping her Master save two Force-sensitive children from the clutches of the Separatists. She let the Force show her the way to her Master, sensed him nearby, waiting for her. When she entered the room with him in it, she entered cautiously.

"Master?" Ahsoka inquired in a cautious tone.

"It's alright, Snips. You don't have to kill me." Anakin replied, to which Ahsoka felt relieved and knelt beside her Master, who was sitting on the ground coming out of a meditative healing state.

"What happened, Master? I heard you call for me." Ahsoka asked.

"Ahsoka, remember when Dooku caught us off guard on Dantooine and captured me?" Anakin asked.

"I remember, Master, but I don't see where this is going." Ahsoka replied.

"I was poisoned, Snips. He put some type of Sith poison in me so Sidious could control me. I didn't realize it until I got Master Windu killed. I almost killed all the Younglings in the Temple, but somehow I saved all of them..." Anakin began, but faded.

"I know, Master. Master Obi-Wan told me. He...Master?" Ahsoka explained, but stopped herself when she noticed he want paying attention. His thoughts seemed to be elsewhere. Suddenly, as if he had just passed out for a second in tremendous pain, her master fell to his knees.

"Anakin!" Ahsoka cried out. She blushed a little. She had never called him that before, and was unsure of what he would say.

"It's alright, Ahsoka. I'm fine. Sidious just violently broke his connection to me. As for the poison, it's regressed. I can control it with my subconscious now, but I think its adaptive. It will take a few weeks, but it will manifest itself in me again. I think the only way to stop it completely is to destroy Sidious. Without him, the poison would become inert and can be drained properly and I can...wait, did you call me Anakin?" He asked.

"You were in pain and I didn't know what to do. So I just reacted." Ahsoka replied.

"Don't worry, you did the right thing. Besides, I've been trying to get you to use my first name for years anyway. I know you're my Padawan and I'm your Master, but I don't mind breaking tradition once in a while. As long as we're not in the middle of a battle," Anakin told her. Then he seemed to drift off, as if making an internal decision. "Speaking of Masters, where is my old Master? He didn't..." Anakin trailed off, fearing Order 66 had taken Obi-Wan's life.

"Don't worry, Master. He's fine. I spoke to him before I came here. Some of the clones refused to follow Order 66." She told him, then described how she had avoided the order herself.

"Well, that explains why then. I admit it would've been interesting to see what would have happened had Sidious' plan not failed there."

"Hey!"

"Calm yourself, I was joking." Anakin told her, as she rolled her eyes at him.

"At least your sense of humor is still around." Ahsoka teased.

"Very funny, Ahsoka. Now lets get out of here. We have to go to Tatooine and make sure the Younglings are safe. Then we need to find a way to..." Anakin started, but was cut off when an old but very easily recognizable mental link established itself.

'Obi-wan! Where are you?' Anakin asked.

'I came here with your Padawan. To save you, actually. Of course, I ended up doing something quite different. How are you feeling?' Obi-Wan replied.

'I suppose I should apologize. I haven't been myself lately, Master. I almost fell completely to the dark side today. It's a good thing Ahsoka got here when she did, otherwise, I don't know what would've happened. But Master, I already betrayed the Council, the Jedi Order, and the Code. I caused Master Windu's death at the hands of Sidious.' Anakin told him through their mental link.

'I know, Anakin. It wasn't your fault. There was nothing else you could have done. You were being manipulated. Yet, you still managed to fight it off.'

'Not completely, Obi-Wan. The poison the Sith put in me is still here, but I'm in control of it for now.'

'So I can tell. Anakin, I need your help. Talk to Ahsoka, tell her what I've told you. She'll know where to find me.'

'What's wrong, Master?' Anakin sent, concerned for Obi-Wan's well being.

'Remember when I told you about how a Sith killed Qui-Gon on Naboo and I was able to defeat him? Turns out he's still alive, and he knows you've betrayed his Master. He's coming here to destroy you, Anakin, and to take revenge on me. Before you go into hero mode, You need to do something first. We brought Padme with us. It would be best if you go to the ship and let her know you're safe. And one more thing. I know about your relationship, Anakin, and so does Ahsoka. ' Obi-Want told him

'Master....I've let you down. Lied to you. To the Council. I didn't mean for things to happen this way. I've made too many mistakes and I apologize.' Anakin sent.

'No need to apologize, Anakin, we knew well before today. Yes, you've broken the Code, but the Jedi need you. You are the Chosen One, Anakin. We can't afford to lose you. And if we're going to do things right from now on, some changes need to be made. Go to Padme, Anakin, make sure she's alright. Afterwards, I need you and Ahsoka at my side. I cannot defeat this Sith alone as I thought I had last time.'

'Don't worry, Obi-Wan. We won't let you down.'

'Oh, I know you won't. Just don't take too long. I don't know how soon this Sith will be here. It could be a matter of minutes. Be careful, Anakin, and I'll see you soon!' Obi-Wan sent, then broke the connection.

"Well, Snips, time to go." Anakin said.

"Why do I get the feeling we aren't going to Tatooine after all?" Ahsoka replied.

"We aren't. Obi-Wan needs our help. A Sith is coming to destroy me and take his revenge on Obi-Wan. We're going to your ship first to make sure Padme is safe." Anakin told her. Ahsoka nodded. When they got there, Padme hugged Anakin, telling him how much she had missed and worried about him. After a brief conversation of reassurance, and Anakin was sure Padme was safe, Anakin and Ahsoka left to help Obi-Wan.