DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything.
Emperor Palpatine could feel his prey getting closer and closer. Although he had employed the best minds in the galaxy to create the Force resistant cuffs Anakin wore, Palpatine could still feel the sheer power that emanated from the young man. He was impatient as he paced around the control room. The sooner he had the ex-Jedi under his complete control, the happier he would be.
The door to the control room slid open with a hiss and a man entered. He was tall and thin, had dark brown hair and a handsome face. In his hand he held a holodisk and was in the process of deactivating it as he entered. He looked up and caught sight of Palpatine straight away.
"Emperor," he called. He walked straight up to the imposing figure and bowed low. "I just received word that the Skywalker children are nearly at their destination. So far there have been no signs of the Rebel Alliance coming after either the children or parents."
The Emperor nodded. "Thank you Abernathy, you can return to your position now."
Abernathy bowed again, this time accompanied with a respectful nod. Then he turned on his heels and left.
Palpatine had already spun back to face the control room. As he watched, one of his men announced that there was a ship approaching. He activated the communicator and demanded an entry code. A crackly voice replied, obviously with an active code before he pressed a few buttons and then the tractor beam began pulling the ship into their trajectory. The Emperor could feel the overwhelming power draw closer and closer. Soon.
"Sir," Abernathy was back, this time carrying a transparent square of glass. There was glowing writing all over it. "Skywalker and his wife have arrived."
"Bring Skywalker to me immediately. Take Padme down to the cells," Palpatine directed without even turning around.
He sensed the man leave a second time. Emperor Palpatine was an intelligent man and knew that he had to keep the pair separated. Anakin drew his strength from the knowledge that his wife was safe and well, or at least from knowing that he could protect her. If he was kept in the dark about her well-being then he could use that uncertainty to his advantage. At least until he had him under control. And that moment was inching closer every second.
Obi Wan and Ferus had both sensed the moment Anakin reopened himself to the Force. It had been like the birth of a star – the sudden and intense burning was so bright and the power unleashed was like nothing felt before. Neither Jedi knew whether to treat it as a blessing or an omen. They both understood that something would have happened to his family for Anakin to do something so drastic. Just what that something was, they didn't know.
There ship was cruising through hyperspace, heading for the Rebel base. It was the only place they could ensure the Senators safety. Their rescued cargo was currently settled in the cargo hold, relieved that they'd not been forgotten. Or executed.
"We need to find out what has happened. Have you gotten in contact with him yet?" Ferus asked. He was agitated. He had always respected Anakin, if grudgingly at first and now that they had sorted through their differences, he considered Anakin a close friend. And he always looked after his friends. They were all he had.
Obi Wan tried to ignore the impatience of the younger man as he reached deep into the Force. As Anakin's old Master he was hoping that he would have a closer Force connection to him, which would give him at least some idea as to what had happened. So far he could feel nothing but a jumble of emotions. Fear and anger were paramount but he also sensed guilt, determination and a little bit of recklessness. Suddenly he stumbled and Ferus reached out a steadying hand.
"Ben? What happened?" he too had sensed something but clearly not as strongly as Ben.
Obi Wan looked up at Ferus. His tired eyes spoke volumes but this was something that needed to be vocalised.
"He's been caught. One second his presence was brighter than the twin suns of Tattooine and now it's just barely there. Someone is using a Force repellent on him, cuffs maybe?"
Ferus's eyes narrowed. He spun and disappeared into the pilot cabin without a word. Obi Wan followed, curious.
"How far from the base are we?" he demanded.
The pilot checked his consoles before replying.
"About an hour sir," he said.
Ferus nearly growled. "Can you make this hunk of junk go any faster?"
"Sir, the hyper drive only has one speed," the pilot replied nervously.
Ferus spun angrily and ran a hand through his hair. Then he took a deep breath and released his emotions into the Force.
He placed a comforting hand on the man's shoulder and said in a kind voice, "Just do your best."
The pilot nodded, obviously relieved that the Jedi wasn't angry with him.
Obi Wan, who had his hands buried deep in the sleeves of his cloak, watched his young friend with interest. He had seen Ferus and Anakin's fierce rivalry as teenagers, had seen them fight between each other both verbally and physically and now he'd seen them work together. He had been just as surprised as Anakin had been when Ferus had approached the ex-Jedi, wanting to work things out between them. Surprised, and very proud at the same time. Obi Wan knew that Ferus was a proud man and that it would have taken a lot for him to be the instigator of their friendship but he had obviously grown into a worthy Jedi.
"What are you planning Ferus?" Obi Wan asked.
Ferus glanced up at the old Jedi and seemed to consider something very hard before he said it.
"He obviously needs our help," Ferus began, "So the sooner we reach the base, the sooner we can rid ourselves of these Senators. As soon as we land I am grabbing my starship and I am going to find him. I would appreciate your help Ben."
"Of course I will come with you but we actually need a plan. We are not going into this like Anakin would," Obi Wan muttered.
Ferus smiled in appreciation before announcing he was going to get some sleep while he still could.
Aayla Secura held her lightsaber only centimetres from a now-awake Padme's throat. She motioned for Anakin to go in front of her as they exited the ship. Anakin watched the Sith carefully as he slowly walked past his wife and her captor. His fists were clenched tight, knowing he was helpless to protect her. The only thing he could do was obey his captors until the Force revealed an opening for him to escape. Then he would get his children and the Skywalker's would disappear again.
For the moment he walked down the ramp into the giant hanger. The starship had landed at the end of a long row of starships. In front of him, a small battalion of clones waited, blasters at the ready. As soon as he was within reach, two of the clones holstered their weapons and grabbed his upper arms. They began leading him towards the door at the other end of the hanger, the battalion following closely behind.
Anakin glanced over his shoulder and saw Padme and Aayla standing at the base of the ramp. Aayla's weapon was hanging on her belt while her hand was clamped tightly around Padme's upper arm. The small woman was struggling furiously but wasn't achieving much. Aayla smiled nastily at him before dragging his wife in the other direction.
"Padme!" Anakin cried.
He instantly began struggling. He tried to pull his arms from the bruising grips of the clones but they had been expecting his resistance. One of the clones marching behind him pulled out a smaller blaster shaped weapon and placed it against Anakin's back. He pulled the trigger and Anakin screamed. Electricity coursed through his skin, seizing his muscles and instantly filling him with agonising pain. The clone held it there for a few seconds before releasing the trigger.
Anakin sagged in his captors arms. His muscles ached and twitched but were completely useless. He couldn't even lift his head off his chest. His breathing was ragged and he found that he was struggling to draw in air. The tightness around his throat scared him more than his useless muscles but he tried his best to calm himself down and relax.
The clones dragged their helpless captive through the winding white corridors and into the control room. A dark presence was hanging ominously in the air. The smell in the room was like sulphur and ammonia. Anakin tried not to gag as he realised that what he smelt was the dark side of the Force manifested in a physical body.
The clones stopped walking and dropped the unresisting Anakin on the ground. He was slowly regaining control of his muscles so it made it incredibly difficult for him to push himself to his knees, especially as he was still cuffed. At least he could breathe freely now. When he was finally resting on his knees, he raised his head to see the Emperor towering him. He nearly fell over from the darkness that oozed out of the old man.
"Anakin Skywalker," Palpatine smiled. "Finally we are reacquainted."
"Where have you taken my children and where is Padme?" Anakin demanded. His voice wasn't very strong so the force behind his words wasn't very impressive.
"You need not concern yourself with them. You have much more pressing issues," Palpatine reached into his cloak as he spoke. "Now I will only give you this choice this one time. I advise you to take it for it is the better of your choices."
Anakin ignored him. Instead he searched the control room, taking in the number of workers, security guards and droids, where the exits were and possible escape routes. Suddenly he felt invisible fingers grip his chin and force him to look up at the Emperor.
"Join me and work alongside me. Your family will have the protection you seek and you will have such incredible power," Palpatine said.
Anakin, unable to look away, lifted an eyebrow in disbelief.
"You're still pulling this one? I told you once and I'll tell you again. I will not join you," he stated. Best to be as simple and straightforward as possible, that way his answer couldn't be misconstrued.
Palpatine smiled evilly as he withdrew his hand from his cloak. "I'd kind of hoped you'd say that."
In his hand he held a silver bracelet similar to the collar that now hung around Anakin's neck. The Emperor dropped down to Anakin's level and raised the ex-Jedi's hand with the Force. He spoke softly to him as he opened the bracelet.
"This is a very special cuff that I invented specifically for you. It can only be opened by the dark side of the Force and enables me to control your powers. It won't inhibit your ability to use the Force unless I wish it too. You see what it does is sense when the Force is being used within the wearer's body. If permission has not been given to the bracelet to say you can use the Force then it will emit an electrical pulse through your body strong enough to render you unconscious. Not only that but it will also send a signal to your pretty necklace there. That necklace is another special accessory I had invented. It is made of a very malleable alloy that reacted to electricity and electrical currents. When it receives a shock the metal contracts. It will continue to react until the metal senses no electrical pulses. Are you seeing where this is going?"
Palpatine slipped the bracelet over Anakin's waiting wrist and clipped it shut. It was a snug fit, barely enough room between steel and skin for air. Anakin's wrist was released and he stared down at it, knowing exactly what the Emperor was talking about. As soon as that bracelet was activated and the electricity started to course through his body, the necklace would react and begin to contract, effectively cutting off his airway.
The Emperor stood up and took a step back.
"Release him," he waved at the clones still behind his prisoner. He started to turn away as though having captured the galaxies number one wanted man didn't concerned him.
As a clone moved forward with the key for his cuffs, Palpatine looked over his shoulder.
"Oh and one more thing, before you get any grand ideas," he said casually, "Your bracelet is also connected to the necklace around your wife's throat. Whatever happens to you will happen to her. So think carefully before you play hero."
Then the Emperor walked back to the observation deck, an evil satisfied grin on his face. Behind him, Anakin continued to stare at the bracelet a new sense of dread filling him. How was he going to save his wife and children now?
Any ideas about what's going to happen? :D