100 FOLLOWERS! AH! I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!
I seriously love you guys so much! The reviews are making my day! Because I know you lot are hungry for more, if not a bit traumatized from what happened in the last chapter (again, I am so sorry, something is definitely wrong with me, though, to be honest, you guys should have expected it – I did call the last chapter 'The King's Bane' after all) here's the next chapter! The ride isn't over yet, folks!
Silence.
Anakin didn't dare to say a word. He didn't even dare to breathe. Shock had frozen his body in place, his mind still processing what he had heard. Ahsoka had gasped when Giac had told them what happened, her hands rising to cover her mouth. Rex and Cody wore similar expressions, varying from disbelief to complete and utter horror.
Obi-Wan and Giac's father had been murdered by their uncle. And Obi-Wan had watched it happen.
Anakin knew he needed to ask one question. One question that he really didn't want the answer to but needed to know nonetheless.
"Giac, how old was Obi-Wan?" He finally managed to get it out, to say it even when he dreaded the answer. Giac didn't respond at first, his eyes squeezed tightly shut in an effort to suppress the unbearable pain Anakin knew he must be feeling right now. He eventually opened his eyes, though they never left the floor, his knuckles going white because of how hard he was gripping the arms of his chair.
"Nine. Obi was only nine." Giac ground out, taking a swig of his alcohol after he had said it. Giac's force signature had turned dramatically colder, rage and sorrow bubbling underneath the surface of his cracking facade. His statement made Ahsoka gasp again, tears now forming in her eyes. Cody stood up and swore quite loudly, Rex next to him didn't fair much better, cursing under his breath as he flinched away from Giac at the statement.
However, Anakin didn't say a word. Instead, he couldn't stop the look of total alarm that consumed his face, eyes wide. He visibly paled, his mind reeling with so many strong emotions: disgust, horror, fear, rage, shock. No wonder Obi-Wan had refused to say a word. Anakin had just thought that Obi-Wan had lost his mother, worse case scenario it being possibly in an assassination attempt, but he had been wrong. Obi-Wan hadn't just lost one parent – he'd lost them both. Actually, he should have guessed that since Giac was King now, but he had never imagined this.
Anakin felt sick. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if he vomited up the remnants of the last meal he had eaten. He remembered what he had said when he had last seen his old master and guilt swallowed him whole for the second time that day. He shouldn't have got angry. He should have remembered his teachings, controlled his anger, his emotions. Obi-Wan hadn't deserved that. Actually, Anakin didn't deserve Obi-Wan. He had been a terrible padawan and an even worse Knight. If only he had known... For Kriff's sake Obi-Wan, why didn't you tell me? Anakin couldn't help but think.
"Don't blame yourself Anakin. What happened to us, that was all our Uncle's fault." Giac interrupted Anakin's thoughts, obviously sensing his self afflicted guilt through the force, though he didn't look up to meet the young Knight's eyes. Anakin shook his head in denial, choosing to not listen to Giac.
"No. You don't understand - Obi-Wan was right. I was being arrogant and hot headed - heck, I was being selfish!" This time Giac did look up, his eyes hardening on Anakin as the younger man spoke. Horrible, raw pain still shone in Giac's eyes but a controlled sense of forced calm and a touch of anger was keeping the wild emotions in line.
"Anakin. Do. Not. Blame. Yourself. Obi-Wan is strong, as am I. What he said to you, he didn't mean a word of it. In fact, when he finally cools down, he'll probably avoid you because he'll think everything is his fault. He can easily forgive, forgiving himself however, has always been a challenge for him." Anakin stared at Giac's kind eyes, reluctantly nodding his head in acceptance. Giac was right. Of course he was, he was Obi-Wan's older brother.
Silence reigned once more, Giac taking another swig of the alcohol after a few beats of silence. Anakin didn't understand how Giac hadn't broken down – the sheer volume of pain in the older man's eyes made Anakin's heart stop.
"What happened next?" Ahsoka eventually whispered, breaking the silence once more. She didn't meet Giac's eyes, hiding the tears in her eyes that threatened to fall. Giac didn't look up either, his eyes closing again as he relived the nightmare of memories.
-The Palace, Selencia-
The Start of the Grey Purge
Giac instantly turned round when he heard his brother scream a desperate, wailing cry. His eyes caught the object of his brother's attention, his father's body falling limply to the cold floor, and just as Obi-Wan had done, he screamed for his father, already knowing there would be no reply. He was distantly aware of his mother screaming his father's name beside him, both of them attempting to run back to his father's body. However, Mulak grabbed his mother's waist, holding her back while another knight leapt into action to grab him. Giac kicked and screamed, demanding to be put down, but the knight obeyed Mulak's command, already dragging him to the exit. The eldest prince barely registered Dexter running up to Obi-Wan and grabbing his brother before he could make a sprint for their father's body, just like he and his mother had tried to do. Obi-Wan kicked and screamed too, tears cascading down his cheeks but Dexter, although clearly in a state of shock himself, kept hold of Obi-Wan, dragging him back in a daze.
Giac, for the first time in years, cried as he was pulled away, his eyes never leaving his father's body. Selencian Knights were being slaughtered by dark Jedi all around him while the sinister hum of darksabers and screams slicing through the air like it were paper. His eyes stayed on his father, a lifeless shell. Giac was faintly aware of his Uncle grinning at his brother's body, the glare of his darksaber shining darkly at his side.
When they were all safely through the secret door, his mother and brother still screaming for his father, Mulak spun his mother into the passageway, pushing her roughly down it as he spun back round, igniting his lightsaber before slicing a hole through the lock panel. Giac only caught a glimpse of his Uncle looking up at them with a snarl upon his face upon seeing them escaping, when the door slammed shut, the fire door hissing shut seconds after.
His mother, now not held by Mulak, charged at the shut door, slamming her fists against it. She was in tears, still screaming his father's name and begging Mulak to open the doors. Dexter's father only tried to console her in response, but his mother only turned on him, instead choosing to slam her fists against his chest. Mulak didn't fight her, his own face broken and in pain. When his mother finally broke down, letting her anger go, she sobbed into Mulak's armor, his arms rising up to hold her close as he whispered in her ear, trying to calm him down. Mulak had always been like the crazy, funny uncle to Giac and Obi-Wan that had replaced their real uncle, Shakai, and to their mother, he was like an older brother. It was no wonder he was the only one who could console her.
While his mother sobbed into Mulak's shoulder, the knight holding Giac let him go, the eldest prince falling to his knees almost instantly, tears streaming down his face silently. When Dexter let Obi-Wan go, he was much louder, sobbing as he staggered forward, eyes fixed on the now shut door. He stopped halfway, falling to his own knees as Dexter walked up slowly behind him, putting a comforting hand on the younger boy's back. No one seemed to be able to say anything, shock and sadness clinging to the occupants like a plague. The crystal white passageway lights glowed eerily, lighting up their escape route, but no one made a move to travel down it. The only sound was crying, and Mulak's faint words that he whispered to Giac's mother.
"Sir, we need to go." The other Knight, the one that had dragged Giac away, spoke up though his face showed equal amounts of shock and sorrow. Mulak only nodded gravely, whispering once more into the Queen's ear before pushing her gently away. She slowly turned round, making her way over to Obi-Wan whom she promptly enveloped in a hug once she saw what state he was in. She gestured Giac to join them, and after standing up silently, he did, both him and Obi-Wan sobbing into her shoulders. She squeezed them tightly, as if she was afraid they would disappear too, both boys hugging her back in much the same manner.
"Sshh. It's okay. Everything's going to be fine." Their mother paused, hugging her son's even tighter, letting them know they would be safe within her arms. "You-Your father would want us to be strong. We can do that, can't we?" She asked, her own voice breaking while her son's looked up at her. Giac nodded numbly, though Obi-Wan still looked terrified and broken.
"How?" The nine year old questioned, choking on his words as the tears still fell.
"The only way we can. We will be brave, have courage and be kind." Their mother lifted her delicate hand up to cup Obi-Wan's face, wiping away his tears as her own tears fell down her face. The little boy leaned into her touch, sniffling as he tried to stop the sobs. "Don't let your Uncle's action blacken your hearts. If you let him do that, then he has already won." She finished, looking between Giac and Obi-Wan as she said it. Their young faces suddenly turned defiant, both their gazes simultaneously hardening.
"We won't." Giac firmly reassured. Obi-Wan looked up at his taller, older brother for a few seconds before turning back to his mother, nodding determinedly in agreement. Their Mother only smiled fondly down at them, bringing them back into a warm embrace, kissing the tops of their heads as she did so.
After a few moments she drew away, grabbing Obi-Wan's hand as she turned round, guiding him and Giac down the passageway at a quick pace. Mulak took the lead, Dexter jogging beside him, while the other Knight took up the rear. They made their way through the labyrinth of tunnels that ran through the walls of the palace for over half an hour, climbing up and down stairs as they made their escape. Mulak tried multiple times to contact other Knights through his com link, but all he received was static and on occasion, muffled screaming. They all understood the message.
Eventually, they reached a steel door, with an access panel fastened to the wall at the side, red and blue lights glowing in the dim light. Mulak instantly headed over to it, typing in the code. The door slid open after a resounding ding filled the passageway, the pass code unlocking the door. When they all made their way out the door, it slid shut behind them, cutting all the light off from them.
The outer walls and palace were behind them while the lake, shimmering in the twin moonlight, stretched out in front of them. Beyond the lake, the city stood and in the centre, the Grey Temple was in flames. Monstrous black smoke billowed from the fire's mouths, swallowing up the tall spires completely, as the smoke also blocked out the two moons. They all stopped in their tracks at the sight, standing on the banks of the lake, eyes fixated on the terrible genocide. Screams were piercing the air in the distance, the flashes of light and sounds of blaster shots only increasing their horror.
"Those bastards!" The Knight exclaimed, his face contorting in anger. "Attacking the Palace is one thing, but the Temple!"
"The Temple is home to all the Grey Jedi Knights that don't protect the Palace. They're eliminating everything that's a threat to them. Just be glad the younglings don't live there, unlike with the Jedi Temple." Mulak explained, his own face hardening and eyes turning cold. The other Knight seemed to pale at Mulak's last comment, as did the Queen.
"How did Shakai get into the Palace? There couldn't have been that many dark Jedi!" She reasoned, her own eyes narrowing. "Unless..."
"Unless he's had help." Mulak finished for her, the Queen turning to look at him.
"Well, these lot are smart. Pity he wants them alive."
Everyone swerved round at the new voice, the Knight and Mulak activating their lightsabers and stepping forward to protect the Queen and the two princes. In front of them stood eight Zygerrians, their feline eyes glowing in the darkness. The Zygerrian who had spoken stepped forward, unclipping his whip from his belt. He didn't activate it, but the Zygerrians behind him all raised their blasters.
"You're a Zygerrian." Dexter pointed out the obvious since everyone else was too stunned to speak. No off worlders were allowed on Selencia without permission from the King, especially species like the Zygerrians and other criminal scum. These Zygerrians shouldn't have been there.
"And you're a Selencian." The Zygerrian retorted back, his lips set in a fierce grin. "Never met Selencian like you lot before. The ones I've met are all doom and gloom, threatening everybody they come across. It impressed our King I suppose, else we wouldn't be here helping that crazy one out."
"You mean Shakai Kenobi?" Dexter's father asked this time, sending his son a glare to emphasize he shouldn't talk. The Zygerrian just grinned wider at Mulak's question.
"Yeah, that one. Gave our King quite the offer."
"What did he promise you?"
"An Empire." The Zygerrian Leader activated his whip, dramatically whipping it against the ground at his side. The orange glow of the whip stood out in the darkness, lighting up the Zygerrians features with a macabre glow. "Set your weapons to stun. He wants them alive. The woman's mine." The leader hissed, his sharp, canine teeth visible in the ominous glow of his whip.
"I don't think so." Mulak leaped forward just as the Zygerrian Leader swung the whip, blocking it with ease. Dexter unclipping his lightsaber and joined up with the other Knight to block all the stun bolts that were sent their way. Soon the air was filled with the menacing sound of blasters firing, lightsabers spinning and the single crack of a whip that slammed against Mulak's blade.
Giac was about to help Dexter but his Mother quickly grabbed his wrist. She pulled him to the side, along with Obi-Wan, safely behind the Knight and Dexter's back. Giac frowned up at his mother, questioning her actions but she only shook her head.
"Giac, you can't help." She told him, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"But-" Giac tried to protest, but his Mother's gaze only turned more firm, her grip on him tightening.
"No. You and your brother have to run."
"WHAT! No, we are not going any-"
"Giac. Please." Her Mother was crying again now, her voice begging Giac to listen. Her eldest only kept shaking his head, tears rolling down his cheeks once more.
"No. We can't leave you!" Giac protested, practically screaming but the blaster bolts only drowned it out. Obi-Wan looked just as distressed as his older brother, the tears back in full force.
"I'm sorry but you have to. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." She repeated, bringing both of them into a tight, loving embrace, holding them for probably the last time. The two boys cried into her shoulders, hugging her tightly back. "Remember I will always love you. Always." She paused, squeezing her eyes shut as tears rolled down her wet cheeks. "The Force will always keep us together; no matter how far away you are, I will always be with you and so will- so will your father." She stammered, her voice breaking. Their Mother leaned back, her eyes locking with theirs. "Look after each other. Whatever anyone tells you, remember family is the only thing that matters. The only thing."
"No, Mother, please..." Obi-Wan cried, his hands tightly clutching her gown as she gently pushed them away.
"Sshh. It's going to be okay. We'll see each other again. I promise." She cupped her youngest's face in her hand, rubbing the tears gently away as she smiled sadly down at him.
"Promise?" Obi-Wan sniffled, his eyes shining a little with hope. His mother nodded at him, her own tears still falling.
"I promise, Ben." She pulled him in for another hug, kissing the top of his head before doing the same for Giac. And then, reluctantly and regrettably, she pushed them both away. "Go. Run!" Giac backed away, pulling his younger brother with him as they made their way to the forest. After one last longing glance, tears still staining their faces, they both turned, running into the forest. Their mother watched their backs retreat for a few seconds more before she lifted her gown up, revealing the small blaster that was strapped to her leg. She wasn't defenseless and by the force, if they wanted her, they'd have to take her fighting.
She grabbed the blaster, clicking the safety off before aiming it at the first Zygerrian she saw, the force guiding her aiming arm. And then she fired.
The two boys ran at break neck speed through the forest, not looking back. Where their feet landed, the grass and moss glowed; creating a magical trail that disappeared not long after their feet left the ground. When the two boys heard a piercing, female scream from behind them, they both skidded to a halt, eyes set on the forest that stood behind them.
Giac nearly made to run back, but after seeing Obi-Wan's face, all the fear and despair, he stopped, remembering what his Mother had said. He had to protect Obi-Wan.
"Obi, come on." He forced himself to turn away, grabbing his brother's hand as he did so, leading him further into the forest – away from their Mother.
"But Giac, that was-" Giac cut his brother off, not wanting to hear the truth of it all.
"She told us to run, Obi, so that is what we are going to do." Giac interrupted quietly, his voice breaking. He yanked Obi-Wan forward, dragging him through the forest, fresh tears falling down his own face. Obi-Wan was crying even more now along with his brother, but he followed Giac obediently.
And then they both ran.
And we are up to where the Prologue started! Woo! Yeah... I promise the chapters won't be as emotionally painful to read from now on. At least for a while anyway...
Be sure to review!