Hello there!
Welcome back :)
I have to admit this chapter is quite heavy, so be prepared :)
Enjoy! xxx
Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed as he glanced below him, the factory of droids resulted in a spiral of erupting noises.
Machine fumes and oil assaulted the Jedi as he focused upon the platform, yearning to hear the conversation despite the impossibility due to the harsh gratings and grindings of metal on metal.
Giving up on stealth, Obi-Wan shrugged off his cloak, a vice-like grip upon his lightsaber he called upon the Force and leapt down below.
"Hello there." The Jedi couldn't stop the smug sensation at the descending disarray he created as shock and confusion rippled through the gathered droids.
"General Kenobi." Grievous snarled, the first to recover from the sudden uninvited guest. Piercing yellow eyes narrowing in hate as his orders floated back to him.
Lightsaber poised, Obi-Wan waited.
He would not be baited into attacking first.
"Stand aside." General Grievous hissed.
"But be ready for my command."
"Still hiding behind your droids, Grievous?"
"Not this time." The raspiness within his tone drowned out as he gripped his lightsabers.
"Your move."
.
.
The world blurred as Obi-Wan dug his heels deeper into the Boga, spurring the creature faster still, in order to catch up to Grevious.
An Electrostaff was plunged towards his mount, b reathless, Obi-Wan scarcely managed to twist away from the vicious lightning, wrenching the weapon towards himself.
Fighting for control, he outstretched his free arm; allowing the Force to shove the wheel bike backwards.
And with a sudden twist of his arm, he shoved the staff into the bike.
Grievous abandoned the bike just as the violent sparks shuddered, tearing apart the bike in a flurry of flames.
A muffled groan of pain escaped as Grievous charged at Obi-Wan, trapping him between the ground as he tightened his grip on the staff.
Gasping heavily, the Force sung to the Jedi, a pained groan lingering as the pressure on his chest tightened while he was shoved to the edge of a cliff.
Obi-Wan called to the Light, just as he gripped onto the edge of the platform desperate to keep himself from falling to his demise.
Summoning all his strength, he tore into Grievous' ribcage. Startled, the pressure slackened suddenly, allowing Obi-Wan to pull a stray blaster into his hands. The weapkn pulled taunt against them as they fought for control.
Gritting his teeth, Obi-Wan managed to manoeuvre the blaster between them and with no heistation, he pulled the trigger.
The burst of bullets hit their target true. Flames greedily consumed Grievous as an inhuman screech of pain erupted.
Reading his aim, Obi-Wan shot him again, watching with alarm as the General collapsed to the ground, within a simmering pile of metal.
Shaking with exhaustion, Obi-Wan huffed in relief, face twisting as he pulled himself from the edge of the platform.
Within the darkness, a stranger took aim at the Jedi, a dark sadistic gleam within his eyes as he pulled the trigger.
And Obi-Wan plummeted into the outstretched darkness below.
.
.
.
The insistent beeping filled the air, interrupting Anakin's futile attempts to mediate; thoughts swirling, thickening to the point they were stifling him.
A second passed as the realisation dawned upon him, with that Anakin desperately lunged to answer his comm.
"Chancellor." The Jedi greeted, shoulders drooping as the disappointment sent a weary fatigue throughout him, almost as if he was sinking below the surface.
"Anakin."
"Is there something you need?" He questioned, unable to suppress a budding sigh as he scrubbed at his blurry vision.
"Are you alright?" Palpatine asked, his tone filled with falsified concern.
Anakin nodded slightly, unwilling to touch upon the deep mess of his emotions-he was barely holding himself together.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with Chancellor."
Instant surprise was smoothed into indifference at the cold dismissal within the Jedi's voice.
"I suppose not, I am just worried about you."
"I know." Regret laced within his tone.
"I apologise, I am just stressed."
"Have you heard from your Jedi friend yet?" The Chancellor asked, easily hiding the glee within his voice behind a layer of sympathy.
He wouldn't have to fake it much longer…
"Cal?" Anakin asked warily, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"How did you know he was missing?"
"I overheard the council, it appears they managed to get in contact with him."
Sheer relief descended upon Anakin, quieting his disarrayed thoughts.
"However." Palpatine interrupted, sharply cutting the Jedi's musings any further.
"He is in trouble."
"Trouble?" Panic edged within his voice, as dread pooled within his stomach.
"But the council hasn't told me this."
"Perhaps you should wonder why?" Palpatine mused. "Don't trust the council Anakin, I sense something wrong."
"Thank you for your concern Chancellor, but I must go now." Anakin hurriedly bading goodbye as his worries outstretched to Cal, just as he felt the trembling of the engine, the ship touching upon the unknown planet.
Cal, please be alright. He begged, sky-blue eyes boring into his communicator, perhaps in the hopes that it would suddenly chime.
Anakin shook his head, forcefully tearing his gaze away as Padmé entered.
.
.
.
Master Yoda let the Light of the Force fill his mind, distracted by the sudden shift of darkness each time he cast his mind to Cal.
Instead, he found himself wandering throughout the vast temple, in the hopes to ease his worries.
Soft, unsure footsteps suddenly reverberated throughout the empty hallways, reaching Master Yoda's cautious ears.
A child, young and unsure, plodded through the entrance of the temple, hands fidgeting with unbridled nerves.
The Jedi-Master glanced up, curious as an insistent nagging tugged from the Force to approach the child.
.
.
Boba felt his heart racing within his chest as he stepped within the temple, biting his lip as shivers racked throughout his body.
It was freezing.
Polished marble, to the point where he could spot his own nervous expression, vast hallways that seemed to stretch forever only furthered the gripping panic within him.
I can do this. Bob reminded himself, which appeared more to try to convince himself than anything.
Deliver the message then get out. Get out Boba, Cal may have been nice…but other Jetti are not . Do you understand?
His dad's voice replayed, gloved hands squeezing deep within his small shoulders until he replied with agreement.
"Lost are you, young one?"
Boba swallowed his frightened yell, instantly spinning around to face the alien that had torn him from his frenzied thoughts.
The Jetti was not human.
Green, old, has a cane.
The description perfectly matched the one he was given.
"Are you Yoda?" He asked meekly, it took everything within Boba not to betray his fear as his eyes trailed to the stranger's lightsaber.
The weapon seemed to mock him, glinting mercilessly within the light as the alien moved closer. Heart pounding, Boba took a tentative step back.
"I am." Yoda confirmed lightly, in the hopes not to frighten the anxious child.
"I have a message for you, from Cal Kestis." Boba fumbled, trembling hands as he handed the Jedi-Master the torn blueprint.
"Kestis? How?" Yoda asked, shock passing through him.
The Force hummed that the child was telling the truth.
It unsettled Yoda even more.
Boba ignored the question.
"I'm not supposed to tell you much, but there is going to be a war soon."
A war ?
"Be careful who you trust."
The boy rushed out, before Yoda could interrupt him.
Those final words said, Boba sagged in relief, twisting to walk away only to halt at the next words.
"Alright, is he?"
The guilt twisted inside him, a lump in his throat that he had to struggle to shove the words out, Boba didn't dare turn around as he cast his mind back to the Jetti's last words.
The Jetti had saved his dad and yet, they had forsaken him on a deserted planet.
For dead .
"It's just a job." His father had told him, as if Boba was blind to the way his hands clenched in helplessness, jaw tight with stubbornness.
As if Boba couldn't see the guilt manifesting within the scowl upon his dad's face.
When the younger boy tried to protest further, Jango had ignored him.
"No. He isn't." Cocoa brown eyes fluttered shut forcing the image away from his mind.
"Make sure the war doesn't happen, don't let everything that he did be in vain."
And with that, Boba sprinted out of the temple.
.
.
.
Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.
And right now, Anakin was in agony.
Each further step upon Utapu resulted within the growing fear that they were too late.
There was no sign of Obi-Wan anywhere.
Frustration budding up with each step they took, a deep sorrow as each search turned up futile.
The two of them walked in silence, too consumed with their own thoughts to even consider spouting falsified hopes to the other.
"I can't lose him."
The ghost of words, barely audible. Anakin couldn't say who he was pleading to; perhaps to the Force, perhaps to himself. But the broken whisper hung heavy with fear.
"Please ."
Just as suddenly, the familiar sound rang within his pocket.
Holding a breath, unwilling to get his hopes up, Anakin answered the call.
"Master Yoda." Anakin stilled, watching as Padmé continued ahead.
His tone begging for any information.
"Young Skywalker, I have some grave news." The somber tone was not lost on the Jedi, he felt his body doused within an icy lake. Heart stuttering as he registered the seriousness of those words.
"Is this about Cal?"
Anakin's composure was cracking.
"It is." Yoda confirmed.
"What is it?"
He was scared to ask, but he needed to know. Anakin needed him to be ok.
"He is in trouble."
"What do you mean? Did you manage to talk to him?" Anakin queried, the concern and need to protect, throttling him and the overload of emotions forced a wince out of him as the sun beat down.
"No. A message I have received from him."
Master Yoda informed, the urgency unable to be hidden as it dropped to a whisper.
"Anakin, find Obi-Wan, you must. A traitor in our ranks, we have."
"A traitor ?" Anakin blurted incredulously.
A suffocating helplessness plummeted him in a whirl of emotions and he averted his eyes from the confusing words. running a shaky hand through his hair
"But what about Cal, is he…?"
The crackled reply fizzled.
"On the run, Cal is. A bounty on his head."
" What ?" Anakin demanded immediately, shock plastered on his face as the fear threatened to destroy him.
"Find Obi-Wan." Yoda urged.
And before Anakin could utter a single word, the connection cut off and just as suddenly, he felt the overwhelming pressure to scream.
To destroy the pent up frustration and anxiety that continued to heighten with each second.
Nobody was telling him anything!
.
.
Cal was exhausted, lungs stuttering in protest as his limbs screeched, quivering .
I can endure this. He told himself, scrubbing the rain out of his eyes as he stumbled to his feet.
The ginger was running on sheer will.
Focus . The Jedi chided himself, the icy waters had left him soaked and he found it difficult to gain his bearings. His head was akin to fog and he found himself unable to coherently form a proper thought.
The hope that the Bounty Hunters would give in after the sun waned was dashed, it had been hours .
Cal chuckled humorlessly, mouth twisting upwards in bitterness.
The money was definitely the only driving force to continue their game of hunter and prey.
Scampering through the seemingly never ending city, he had developed a fragment of a plan.
Cal winced, already hearing the lecture from Obi-Wan.
Step one: Find a ship.
Step two: Get off this Forceforsaken planet.
He could figure out the rest after he was safe from the overbearing, stifling danger that lurked within every alleyway.
Huffing to himself, he stilled, heart thrumming as the panic settled within his stomach; his emerald eyes darting across the darkness as the whirring of a jetpack passed by.
Cal staggered, bracing himself against the wall as the twisting pain enwrapped him, every breath becoming a struggle as his ribs protested.
His last fight had seemed to result in broken ribs.
His face twisted in a grimace as he desperately tried to muffle coughs as it racked through his form, his trembling hand covering his mouth, while he forced himself to stay calm.
The stark blood was streaked on his glove, shining within the moonlight.
Kriff.
.
.
.
"Anakin…" The Senator's hopeful expression was displayed as she glanced at the dusty ground.
Tracks, animal tracks.
Instantly, Anakin surged forwards, gaze transfixed upon the prints as he followed them.
And he froze, a deep unbridled terror racing through his veins, the Jedi was unable to clear the lump of panic that lodged within his throat, his eyes widening at the scene before him.
At the unmistakable, scarlet blood caked upon the side of the cliff.
" No ." Anakin's voice was raw with emotion as he shook his head vehemently.
Petrified.
"No, no no." His voice wavered, on the edge of descending into tears as he scrambled towards the edge.
"Ani!" The Senator's alarmed shout scarcely snapped him from his mind.
She lunged forwards, gripped tightly onto his arm before he could continue.
"Stop."
Red-rimmed eyes met her gaze.
"Let go of me."
Padme's stubborn frown and the vehement refusal shone with worry.
" Breathe ." She urged.
"You cannot help him if you get hurt as well."
Padmé was right.
Forcing himself to take a deep breath, eyes shutting momentarily to soothe the raw emotions waging below the surface.
Anakin let the calmness of the Force envelop him.
"Please be careful." She begged, shaking hands attempting to tie a knot around his waist.
Come back, both of you. Her wordless plea seemed to reach Ani as he called to the Light and cautiously leapt into the dark abyss.
.
.
Anakin reached the bottom, gingerly landing upon his feet.
Azure eyes blinked rapidly, in the hopes to adjust his vision to the shadows.
Outstretching his lightsaber as a light source, the soft hum provided a scene that Anakin was terrified to approach.
Anakin's throat closed up as he surged towards the limp form of his master.
.
.
.
"How is he?" Anakin's voice was taut with distress, instantly rising as the doctor entered the suffocating confines of the room.
The doctor flipped through Obi-Wan's chart, trying to keep his tone neutral as he addressed the question.
"He's suffered a traumatic brain injury, so we have placed him in an induced coma to help his body heal."
"But he'll be fine right?" Padmé asked in place of Anakin's stumbling words.
"Unfortunately it is too early to say."
Anakin slumped back into his seat, head bowed in defeat. Shoulders shaking as his electric blue eyes burned with tears.
"Thank you doctor." Padmé responded quietly, waiting till the doctor had left so she could grip his hand within her own.
"He has to be fine, I can't ..." He said, trailing off as his voice cracked with sheer sadness.
"Obi-Wan is strong." The senator replied, blinking back her own tears.
She had to be strong for both of them.
"He'll get through this."
We'll get through this.
.
.
.
Something was wrong .
Jaro Tapal could feel a sudden shift of darkness tinged within the Force.
The council was unreachable and albeit this was concerning, what nagged him more was the sudden snuffing out of his former apprentice's presence.
The Jedi could not sense Cal at all.
It was beyond unsettling, unknowing what lay beyond the horizon.
Breaking him out of his worried musings, his comm chimed.
"Master Yoda." Jaro Tapal greeted, surprised by the sudden appearance after the countless unanswered calls to the council.
"Master Tapal. A favour, I must ask you."
"Of course." He answered instantly, hoping to gain some answers after the unnerving silence.
"Jedi Kestis is missing." Yoda reported.
" Missing ? What do you mean?" Jaro Tapal demanded, lowering his voice as he felt his apprentice's presence encroaching throughout the halls.
"Contact with him, we have lost. A bounty on his head, found it has been."
"A bounty ?" Jaro Tapal gritted through clenched teeth, shaking his head in disbelief.
He leaves for one month…
"Have you sent anyone to his last location?"
Yoda shook his head shamefully, ears lowered in shame at the flash of protectiveness tightened throughout him.
"Send me his coordinates." Jaro ordered, tightly. Eyes narrowing in frustration as he glared at the Jedi-Master.
"Important, your negotiations are." Yoda protested feebly.
"More important than a Jedi's life? What did you contact me for then, Yoda?" He challenged, unwilling to stifle the protective emotion as it seeped through him, to find Cal and get his former apprentice back.
"Keep an eye out you should. Encode a distress signal in case he is nearby. But give you the coordinates, I will not."
The silence waned as the transmission cut off abruptly, the Force yearning at him to find Cal.
Jaro Tapal nodded to himself, agreeing with the Force.
He would not forsake his apprentice for pathetic, failing negotiations.
Fine, he had his own ways of getting information.
"Apprentice." Jaro yelled over his shoulder.
The young padawan scrambled into the room, bright eyes shining that reminded him of the older Cal.
"Yes Master?"
"Be prepared, we are leaving."
.
.
.
Cal groaned, staggering as the wire wrapped tightly around his wrists.
In his panicked haze he thrashed, the suffocating pressure becoming unbearable as the wire cut into his wrists.
This was bad…
Footsteps thundered towards him, the smell of blood pungent as the razor sharp wires dug sharply into his skin.
The shadowy blaster raised to his forehead and all of a sudden there was a flash of bright lights, red bullets arching down.
.
.
.
Anakin sighed, smoothing out his appearance as best he could, raking a hand through his sweaty hair in a grimace.
Pitch black bags were smeared under his eyes and his normally neat look was ruined by his tangled hair, wrinkled clothes.
Despite this Anakin couldn't muster enough energy to care.
And with a final nod to himself, he stepped into the council chamber.
"Knight Skywalker." Mace greeted, disapproval laced within his tone at his obvious mess of the Jedi.
Anakin ignored the pointed glare, his face remaining neutral as the mutterings of alarm at the state of the chosen one, echoing through the room.
"Masters. What can I help you with?" He greeted, wincing at the hoarse whisper evident within his voice.
Clearing his voice, he repeated himself.
"How is Obi-Wan fearing?"
"He is stable." Anakin replied shortly.
No thanks to you , he added in his mind. The bitter resentment reared its head at the sheer nerve of the question.
"That is good." Mace Windu nodded.
"Any news about Cal?" Anakin stressed, hands clenched, his short nails leaving crescents in his skin in helplessness.
"No." The curt reply laced with disinterest, as if the topic bored the council member.
"But we are doing all we can..."
Liar... Anakin snarled to himself, simmering with sheer anger blazing, it would not take much for him to snap.
They were doing nothing , just like they did nothing for Obi-Wan.
Leaving Cal to die
No, Anakin would not let him go through that.
"Young Skywalker may I remind you that as a Jedi Knight your duty is to the Jedi council first." A Jedi announced, as if they were able to sense his swirling thoughts behind his forceful mental barriers.
Anakin forced his anger down, behind a smooth mask of indifference.
"I understand."
"That means that if you decide to go against council orders and locate Kestis on your own, you will no longer be welcomed within the Jedi Order."
"What!?" Anakin snapped, fury tinging his voice.
"Young Jedi - watch your tone." The warning was ignored as Anakin snarled with venom.
"This isn't fair . Cal is out there somewhere and you are doing nothing! I cannot stand aside and just ignore him."
"Skywalker!." Mace's voice boomed, reverberating around the room. His dark eyes flickering with a subdued warning.
"We have a mission for you."
The Skywalker didn't respond, his composure slipping through his fingers like sand.
"We believe there is a traitor among us."
"A traitor in the Jedi temple?" Anakin muttered, the frown upon his face showing the sheer absurdity of the statement.
" Yes . A traitor. But not in the temple, in the Senate."
Anakin's head whipped up, a harsh retort already forming in preparation.
If they dared speak a single word against Padmé…
"It appears you have become good friends with him, so we would like you to report his movements to us."
" His ?" Anakin blinked, letting the words sink in.
"Chancellor Palpatine." Mace Windu confirmed.
" The Chancellor." He repeated, unable to wrap the idea within his mind that Palpatine was a spy.
This had to be a joke.
"I will not spy on him. Palpatine is my friend, he trusts me."
"This is more important than trust." Mace retorted snarkily.
"This is about war."
Silence outstretched as the Jedi glared daggers at the council, despising the position they had forced upon him.
"...Due to the unforeseen consequences, we have a seat on the council free." Mace continued.
"If you report upon the Chancellor's movements, we will grant you a seat on the council."
Intense fury tumbling through him, the rage radiating off of him in waves and it took every inch of Anakin's strength to tighten his hold of the Light.
That was his Master's seat, it belonged to Obi-Wan .
And yet , the council was already looking for a replacement.
All of a sudden, Anakin was reminded of Jaro Tapal's words from a while ago.
"The council cannot think beyond suspicion and war ."
"That seat is my Master's. It belongs to him."
An unwavering protectiveness racked through tense shoulders, light blue eyes consumed with disjointed emotions.
"He will wake up."
"We have to be reasonable…"
"I will do your pathetic task."
Pure malice fighting for control, each spewed word from the council making his failing task impossible.
"But that seat is my master's and nobody else's."
And spinning around, Anakin spun out and slammed the door shut.
.
.
.
The frozen darkness echoed deafeningly within the cold nothings.
It was then and there that Anakin turned, stomach within his throat as a sudden piercing screaming, his body to tense.
Padmé!
Finally reaching her, Anakin was forced to watch in horror, transfixed to the spot as her cocoa eyes slumped shut, a final breath hanging within the air.
Sweat perspiring upon her forehead, she gasped in agony.
No !
Just as soon as he reached her side, she faded within his fingers.
Blinking, Anakin spun around, disorientated as blinding lights bore down upon him.
Voices reaching him from the darkness, a cacophony of frantic chaos spilling forwards.
"He's crashing." The doctor called frantically, sprinting towards the bed as the insistent monotone noise rang within the small room
"I'm starting CPR."
The cacophony of beeps echoed around them and Anakin could only watch in horror as the doctor sighed, shoulders slumped in defeat.
Obi-wan…
"Time of death…"
No! No!
All of a sudden, the scene changed, morphing into the emptiness of the night, Anakin whipped his head around in alarm at the sound of bullets.
A sudden alarm of fear clutched at him as he watched a Bounty Hunter lift his weapon up.
Cal turned his head, holding his gaze with a sad smile and all of a sudden, the deafening sound of the blaster echoed around him as the ginger tumbled to the ground.
.
Another guttural scream hung within the sullen silence, Anakin shot up, as his frantic panic darted, eyes fluttered open.
An unguarded, panicked expression twisted upon his face as he tried to comprehend the thin line between reality and his lingering nightmare.
Breaths heaving as his hands shook, burying his face into his hands.
He sobbed, brokenly.
Everything was falling to pieces.
Anakin was breaking into pieces and he had never felt so alone.
.
.
.
"Anakin! My dear friend, come in, come in." The Chancellor greeted warmly, gesturing for the other to enter the desolate theatre.
"You look tired."
That was an understatement.
"I am." Anakin said, sinking into the seat with a sag.
"What has been bothering you?" Palpatine asked curiously, turning to glance upon the Jedi.
Anakin shrugged, no energy to hold an extensive conversation.
"I am having trouble concentrating at the moment, worry seems to cloud my mind."
Mentally cursing himself, he shook himself from his weariness. Shaking himself from his thoughts enough to muster a shaking smile.
"I apologise, Chancellor. I am sure you didn't invite me here to listen to my problems."
"I do not mind Anakin. You are under alot of stress at the moment. If I can help you by listening then I would be delighted. Is your friend still missing?"
"He is." Anakin admitted, trying to distract himself by the swirling hues of the light show.
"Strange." Palpatine mused, scarcely able to hide the growing smile within his tone.
"I was sure that the council would be able to locate him, especially with their resources."
Anakin growled. The Jedi's every muscle was taught, tensed as if expecting a fight, his face hardening in an expression that hid within the flickering shadows.
"They are doing nothing and have forbidden me to intervene."
"That's terrible ." The Chancellor clicked his tongue in sympathy.
"I'm worried ." Anakin's hushed whimper tore at his barriers.
"I keep having nightmares about the people I love dying and with each day coming closer, it feels like they may become real. I'm so helpless."
"And the council does not know about this?"
"I refuse to tell the council anything after everything that has occurred. They wished for me to replace Obi-Wan's place upon the council, as if they…"
"Believed he is gone." The chancellor interrupted with sadness.
Anakin nodded.
"They also asked…"
"You to spy on me?"
Anakin's head whipped to the side, mouth gaped in shock, poorly hidden guilt crossing his face.
"Don't worry Anakin, I know." The Chancellor replied gently.
"They are afraid, willing to use everything and anything to get their way."
"I don't know what to do." Anakin choked out truthfully, thick with tears as he raised his gaze to the comforting, understanding.
"Perhaps you must ask yourself the question if the Jedi council cares about the Jedi."
.
.
.
"Young Skywalker. Talk to you, I need."
"Master Yoda. Is everything alright?" Anakin winced as his voice cracked, leaving a hushed whimper. The words had to be forced from the growing lump within his chest.
He couldn't bear any more bad news.
"I am afraid not." Yoda sighed resigned, ears lowering in palpable guilt.
"Take a seat, you should."
Anakin couldn't feel his body, it was stiff with horror and yet it was battered with trembles, as if he was a feeble leaf in the relentless winds as saw the pure pity.
Heart stuttering in fear, the Jedi held his breath.
"Is Obi-Wan alright?" he dreaded the answer.
"About Obi-Wan this is not." Yoda said, softly.
"Cal..."
Anakin raised his worried gaze onto the Master, the silent cry of pain trembling through his shoulders as he desperately tried to keep the panic at bay.
"Have you found him?" Anakin's desperate croak only furthered into icy dread as Yoda avoided his gaze.
No…
Anakin felt his expression go slack, a terrified dread pooling in his stomach; twisting relentlessly, akin to a knife being shoved in his heart.
No .
"Master? Tell me you found him," The fierce worry yearned within his gaze, with sheer unbridled panic.
The sigh sagged at his entire form and Yoda forced the crushing words, dragging them from his throat.
They echoed within the small confines of the room, louder than any battle.
Deafening…
"Cal's bounty. Collected it has been. Sorry I am, but…"
"No!"
"I'm sorry young Skywalker, gone Kestis is."
That single sentence alone crumpled Anakin's wavering composure. Ignoring the presence of the Grandmaster, tears sprang easily to his painfilled, azure eyes and he huffed out a pained scream, unable to force the agony back any longer.
Hoarse and desperate, Anakin yelled. Tears dripped down his chin, silent tears choking him.
"No no no..."
He couldn't be...
"I can still feel our bond! He can't be dead."
Anakin shook his head vigorously.
"I believe that may have something to do with the dark force surrounding him." Yoda responded.
Anakin managed a strangled gasp, he felt like he was in a cave, drowning, suffocating.
"Why didn't you go search for him? The council should have done something!" He snarled, accusingly.
The rage crumpled and he could only sag. It was a wonder he was even standing upright, it took everything for him not to collapse onto the cold marble.
This was all his fault.
Cal was gone.
Kriff.
Cal...was...gone…
Anakin's knees buckled and the ground welcomed him. The tears continued to stream, choking him through his swirling emotions.
He felt truly alone.
Anakin felt akin to dying, slowly suffocating despite the abundance of air, despite the lack of water as each day came and went. Everything and anything yanking him further into the dark abyss.
It was hard to breathe.
"Well you see, I refuse to die and the fact that I have yet to die proves that I won't."
"As long as we're both there, I'm sure we can protect the old man. Surely there's no one that would dare face off against two and a half Jedi."
Liar… Anakin thought.
You lied Cal.
You said that you would be fine.
This was all his fault.
He shouldn't have left, he should've convinced Cal not to go.
And now, Anakin was losing everyone he cared about.
He was losing himself.
He needed more, a desperation gripped him.
He needed power.
That was the only way to ensure he could keep Padmé and Obi-Wan safe.
Um...oops.
Thank you all for the support on this fic! I really appreciate it! 3