Hello hello! :D
I'm back with another chapter :)
I hope you all enjoy!
Unbridled nausea trapped Anakin, the hushed rumours tightening its hold on him.
Rumours that Jaro Tapal had abandoned his negotiations and headed back to Coruscant.
A shaky breath to steel himself, the Jedi failed to shove away the deprecating thoughts.
Jaro Tapal was close to Cal, how was he supposed to tell him what happened?
That his choice killed him?
The last week had morphed into a bluring haze of depression. Where each day seemed to be leached of colour, plunging him into a permanent state of monochrome.
To the point where he couldn't recall a single detail from the previous days.
Anakin knew death, it had become a constant within his life, a swirling dance that always left him in bouts of sorrow.
It never became easier to deal with.
He had never experienced grief to this degree, it destroyed his very soul, tearing his heart into pieces.
A sob tore within his throat, each breath was a mocking reminder that Cal wasn't.
Cal had become his best friend, his brother …
Gradually rising from the darkened room, Anakin sighed wearily, scrubbing his blurry vision. Tearing his clouded eyes from the soft form of his Master, he shuffled out of the medical bay.
It was hard not to take each mundane day for granted, especially when it became the normal.
And yet..
All it took was one earth-shattering second to destroy that mundane peace.
The jokes, the duels, the advice…
Cal was gone and never coming back.
And yet, a possibility couldn't be shaken, Palpatine's story kept drifting into his mind…
A Sith Lord so powerful that he was able to stop the ones he loved from dying.
Anakin yearned for that kind of power, a power so great he could protect Obi-Wan and Padmé.
Despite this, a nagging voice that seemed suspiciously like Cal's seemed to gnaw at him that this was not the way.
That this would only end in chaos.
That small voice constantly riddled the Jedi with unbridled guilt, it was the single reason why he had not frantically pursued this power.
But it was becoming an increasing struggle to resist the temptation.
.
The Jedi shuffled along the busy crowded hallways, head bowed, smudges of purple and blue underneath his eyes as he passed the floating voices filled with joy.
Life kept going. He told himself sourly.
Each day continued to come, even if he despised it. It was life as he knew it, hadn't come to a crashing end.
All of a sudden, the sensation coursed through him.
Stopping in his tracks, eyes wide in disbelief that the vast emptiness that smothered him within the Force suddenly lifted.
Anakin could breathe again.
Their bond had somehow been restored, the humming of strength outstretching through the depths of the Force remaining unwavering.
Cal.
Without realising it, Anakin took off in a sprint, heart thudding within his chest as the Force led him through the twisting crowded hallways.
Shoes echoing from the marble floors, the blonde ignored the grumbling irritation as he shoved desperately past countless strangers.
His every muscle tensed, he couldn't think of a single thought beyond nonsensical pleadings, clutching the awakened bond with an unbridled flurry of longing.
Please…
Reaching the ship dock, he skidded to a stop, eyes widening in sheer disbelief.
Bright ginger hair…
"Hey Ani." Cal smiled in greeting.
Anakin scrambled towards his best friend, squeezing him into a hug as if his life depended upon it, as if to assure himself that the other was indeed real .
Cal soundlessly guided them to the floor as he clutched at his shirt in a vice-like grip, his trembling legs unable to hold his weight as the sheer emotions descended upon him.
And he cried.
The dam collapsed and Anakin sobbed, Cal's shoulder saturating as he fought unsuccessfully to hold back his own emotions back.
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Anakin sagged as the emotions ran dry, exhaustion tinged within his voice as he pulled away from the embrace.
"You're supposed to be dead." He croaked out, his face pinched with confusion.
Regret laced deep within Cal, seizing his lungs with pure guilt.
"I know. I'm so sorry Ani."
"I couldn't sense you." Anakin continued, stumbling through words that wedged tightly within the lump in his throat.
"I…you were gone Cal. I…What happened ?"
"Later." He promised, hoarsely.
"I'll tell you later."
"Alright..."
"Breathe Ani. I'm not going anywhere." Cal replied, allowing the comforting calm of the Force to envelop Anakin in warmth.
The blonde felt Cal's soft words of comfort embrace him, to the point where each shaky breath came easier than the last.
"Better?"
A silent nod answered the concern.
"I told you, didn't I? I refuse to die." Cal said halfheartedly, a ghost of a smile upon his lips as his emerald eyes flooded with relief.
Anakin blinked, letting the words sink in before letting out a watery chuckle and shaking his head in bewilderment.
"You kriffing pile of bantha fodder." Anakin cursed,unable to stop a growing smile at Cal's shock.
"I guess I deserve that." Cal laughed sheepishly.
"You deserve worse Kestis. I thought you were dead." Anakin growled without venom.
"But I'm glad you're alive."
"Yeah, me too." Cal replied quietly, shoving back the terror as the raging fire consumed the ship. Trapping him.
"Where's Obi-Wan, is he still on his mission?"
Cal watched with growing worry, eyebrows pinched together as the sheer mention of Obi-Wan instantly wiped the smile from Anakin's face.
"It's better if I show you." Anakin sighed, a smothering sadness suspended within the Force.
And with a hesitant nod of agreement, a dread plummeting in his stomach at Anakin's expression, Cal followed him.
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Cal had frozen in the doorway as if he had been struck, feet rooted to the ground in horror.
Chemicals soaked the stark white room in an uncomfortable smell and yet, Cal's attention was solely upon the unmoving presence of Obi-Wan.
A doctor craned his neck to glance, from the open door at the two Jedi, smiling sadly. Instantly rising and leaving to give the two some privacy.
It seemed wrong , for Obi-Wan to seem so vulnerable. Shallow breaths were the only indication that he was alive.
"What happened?" Cal struggled to tear his eyes away from the older man, as if he was afraid he would stop breathing.
"He completed his mission but some coward shot him off a cliff."
"But he's going to be fine right?" He asked, a note of panic edged within his tone.
Anakin shook his head solemnly.
"They can't tell yet, it's too early to test if there's any brain damage."
Cal was desperately trying to calm the fierce storm that consumed him, to no avail and he shook from the effort it took to stay in place.
This was all his fault.
He had no inkling of doubt that Palpatine was behind this…longing for Anakin to turn to the dark side.
All because of him.
Because he was trying to prevent the disastrous future from occurring again.
"I'm sorry. I should've been there for you." Cal stumbled out the words, his voice catching on the last syllable.
He made the choice to stay hidden, for everyone to assume he was dead and yet, he didn't realise what Anakin was going through.
"You didn't know." Anakin reassured.
"Besides, you were busy trying not to die."
The protest was on the tip of his tongue, but the stern, raised eyebrow as he faced Anakin seemed to scream don't you dare.
And the words disappeared, leaving them in a quiet lull; both consumed within their own minds.
"There's a traitor." Anakin announced from nowhere, shattering the silence.
"A traitor?" Cal questioned, ensuring his tone was even as he hid the budding relief that racked through him.
"On the council?"
"No. In the Senate." Anakin scoffed, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.
"The council believes it's Chancellor Palpatine."
Cal stilled, realising with a curse that narrowed blue eyes were still trained upon him.
How close they were to the truth.
And yet he could do nothing but watch.
"That is hard to believe." The words filled him with nausea as he avoided the blonde's gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
"Exactly. They have asked me to spy on him."
Before Cal could begin to fathom the weight of those words, or offer another spouted lie, there was a knock at the door and Jaro Tapal entered.
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"I apologise for interrupting, but the council wants to speak with you, Cal." Jaro Tapal announced.
"I figured." Cal sighed, shrugging. "I'll see you later, Anakin."
"No, I'm coming with you." Anakin vehemently shook his head.
Cal cocked his head in puzzlement.
"I don't think…"
"I don't care." He interrupted, stubbornly.
"I almost lost you twice already, I am not taking the chance that the council won't try anything."
"You don't trust the council?" Cal halted, uncertainty shining in his eyes.
"Not anymore. They're selfish and do not care about anything beyond war."
Jaro Tapal hummed in agreement, nodding at the accuracy.
And yet, Cal couldn't share the sentiment, not when the staining mistrust could reverberate into hatred.
Later . He told himself, tearing himself out of his gnawing worry as he bit his inner lip.
He would talk to Anakin later about this.
"Alright then, I suppose we should go. Force forbid we keep the council waiting."
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"Cal Kestis, would you mind informing us what happened during your leave?"
Mace Windu wasted no time in demanding information as soon as they entered the vast meeting room.
Biting back a sarcastic response, Cal allowed the awkward silence to envelop the room; mustering up the most appropriate words to convey the absolute chaos that had occurred.
"I arrived and completed my mission successfully, but as I was about to leave, a bounty was placed on me..."
He trailed off, long enough to glance at the blank stares and impatient drumming of fingers as an ultimate result of his poor, barely coherent explanation.
"I lost my lightsaber and they sabotaged my ship, it was nearly impossible to escape."
The admission left a hushed conversation erupting within the Jedi council. Mace Windu leaned forwards, brown eyes narrowed in suspicion, the escalating mutterings from the members stilled instantly as he raised his hand.
"And yet you did escape. How ?"
"I…managed to steal one of their ships and sent out a distress signal which thankfully Master Tapal located." Cal responded vaguely, unwilling to go into details about the blazing fire and desperate fights.
"Interesting, this is." Yoda mused, his hand curled underneath his chin.
"But explain why you were hidden from the Force, this does not."
"I was completely cut off from the Light side until Master Tapal helped me restore my connection."
"Cut off?" A council member repeated dubiously, as if the utter notion behind it was impossible.
Which it was.
"Yes. The Dark side clouded around me, it seemed to block my connection to the Force completely. I assume someone was trying to hide my presence."
"You had access to the Dark side. Did you use it?" Mace Windu asked, his voice dropping in apprehensive mistrust.
"Of course not." The ginger denied instantly, swallowing back the huff of laughter to ensure it died within his throat.
That would not be a good look.
"And yet, we only have your word to go on." The Jedi Master leaned forwards, as if yearning to convict Cal, despite his innocence to the accusation.
Eyes bored down upon him, scrutinising his every move.
"I have no reason to use the Dark side." Cal stressed, hands clenched in helplessness as he was unable to prove his innocence.
"Then explain how you escaped." The demand spiralled, to the point where it was futile to pinpoint who it came from, the chorus of agreements agreed with the sentiment.
Grimacing at the growing headache the council had stoked, knowing that the truth would instil an outrage.
"I was close to death. I had broken ribs and had been shot multiple times as well as internal damage..." Cal trailed off at the jolting concern that pierced through their bond, Anakin's wide-eyed horrified stare as he offered him a small smile, in the hopes to comfort him.
It did not.
"Continue." A council member ordered, impatience drawing near within their minds.
"Kriff, you would think that Jedi Masters would have more patience." Cal said to Anakin through their bond.
The chuckle of laughter from the Skywalker awkwardly morphed into a cough as all eyes swivelled towards him, unimpressed.
"I took a hostage." Cal said finally, waiting with baited breath for the thunderous outrage.
"You did what?"
He wasn't disappointed.
There was an accumulating cacophony of noise rising to a crescendo of protests.
"Cal Kestis, that is not the Jedi way." Mace Windu snarled, lip curled in disgust as he glared at the young Jedi in distaste.
"I didn't have a choice." Cal argued.
"You always have a choice to do the right thing. We must set an example that we only act within the bounds of necessary violence and you did not."
The conviction in his tone was Cal's sudden realisation that no matter how much he argued, how much he defended his own actions; they would not change their minds.
"You're right." Cal sighed, resigned. The sudden frustration emitting from Anakin was ignored as he addressed the council.
A note of cynicism tinged within his voice as he continued.
"And yet, I do not recall the council ever considering me a Jedi. I cannot imagine you would arrest any beloved Jedi and place them in jail like you did to me."
The uncomfortable silence hung within the air, thick with tension. Cal raised an eyebrow at Mace Windu as if to challenge him to revoke the statement.
"Taken up your time, we have." Master Yoda dismissed, a pointed look at Mace Windu's flushed embarrassment, averting his gaze at being called out.
"Tired, you must be."
"Thank you, Master Yoda." Cal nodded gratefully and strode out of the room, not looking back once.
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"We held a funeral for you." Anakin confessed, his stormy blue eyes refusing to meet the raised eyebrows, jaw slackened look of sorrow.
"You did?" Cal asked, watching as Anakin's trembling hands sorted through the scattered piles of reports.
"It wasn't much of a funeral considering we didn't have…"
Anakin trailed off, unable to choke out the words that they both knew would probably result in a tsunami of emotions.
A body.
"Oh." Cal responded lamely, an inability to explain the overarching gratitude this filled him with.
When he first began this journey, he was desperate to do whatever it took to save the Jedi, to save Anakin; even if it meant dying.
But now…Cal wanted to live, he wanted to be a part of the future where Anakin's daughter would grow up, where the Order would change for the better.
Did that make him selfish?
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"Anakin, I know you don't trust the council and you hold them accountable for what happened but…" Cal hesitated, eyes tracking back to the swirling sky that seemed so close, yet so far, hunching over the railing of the balcony as the wind cut through the thin layers.
"Let me guess, I should just let everything they have done go?" The wind tousled Anakin's hair, hiding his expression.
"No, of course not." The ginger denied. "But you should think of it in a different way, replace your anger and frustration with a desire to change the Order."
" What ?" Anakin was facing him now, disbelief hanging upon the single word.
"The council will never change, Cal."
"Maybe not, but maybe you could be the one to help it change. Replace the archaic rules and change the Order into a place where lives are never placed below superstitious fear of war."
A sudden image struck Anakin, the vivid future where his child was able to grow up within the temple.
A future where their love was not hidden behind longing looks and sneaking lies.
Where he could remain a Jedi and Padmé, a senator.
"Do you really think so?"
"If anyone can do it, it's you." Cal said firmly.
"I suppose you're right." He nodded, a bright gleam within his eyes.
"Always, Ani."
Warmth curled around him in a hug, the Force soothing him that it was indeed a possible future, that it was not just a fantasy.
Anakin was struck with a thankfulness to his past self for not consuming his mind within the search for power.
He could find a way without resorting to fables of Sith.
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The Chancellor's hands curled into fists, the fury consuming him as the news was delivered. His wrath smothering the messenger like a snake killing its prey, the raspy choking filling him with glee and it took all his composure not to kill the pitiful creature in front of him.
But no, it would be too suspicious.
Reluctantly, Palpatine relaxed his grip, watching with boredom as the man plunged to the ground; fearfully scrambling out of the private chambers.
They were all fools!
How hard was it to kill one Jedi?
Letting out an irritated breath, he stopped himself from leaving and slaughtering the Jedi, himself.
No. It didn't matter, if he was still alive, no matter how much this pitiful Jedi tried; there was no way he would be able to stop Anakin's fears.
Anakin's nightmares would be his downfall.
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"You should get some sleep." Cal whispered, eyes tracking to the doctor's every move as he scribbled notes of Obi-Wan's condition.
"Can't." Anakin said shortly.
"Nightmares?"
Cal knew the answer before the admission came, it was obvious by the dark bags underneath his friend's haunted eyes.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked gently, shifting uncomfortably within the medical chair.
Anakin shrugged half heartedly, conflicted to share his tangled nightmares that he had trouble deciphering.
"I dream of everyone I love dying. I can't lose..."
"Let me ask you this." Cal interrupted.
"Did you dream of me dying?"
Anakin nodded curtly, hands fidgeting as he fought back the need to tell Cal everything.
"But I didn't ."
"But that doesn't mean..." Anakin protested weakly.
How was it that Cal's pathetic responses actually helped ease his worries?
"Anakin, listen to me. I cannot guarantee nothing will happen, but I believe your nightmares may be the Dark side trying to test you." Cal said grimly, his face downturned in seriousness within the dim lighting.
" The Dark side ?" The absurdity of the statement made Anakin dismiss it entirely.
"Did you forget what happened to my mother?"
"These nightmares are making you distressed." Cal pointed out.
"And I believe they are trying to lead you to the point of doing anything to prevent them from happening."
"Cal, you sound ridiculous. They're nightmares." Anakin scoffed weakly, unable to answer the pointed accusation within their bond that screamed tell me I'm wrong, that you won't try anything to stop them from occurring.
And yet, he was unable to shake his Master's words about the temptations of the Dark side.
"Love may strengthen the Light, but the Dark will do anything within its power for you to use it, including forsaking those you care about…"
"But if they're not..." Anakin responded, the note of desperation clear that he was willing to attempt anything.
"How do I stop them?"
"I can only suggest strengthening your connection to the Light. Meditate, focus your mind on it. That is the only way I regained my connection." Cal informed, his hand resting on Anakin's tensed shoulder, as if he was shocked it was that easy.
"I suppose there's no harm in trying, if that is indeed the case."
The pause of quiet only lasted a brief, passing second until Anakin spoke up agian.
"On another note, I can't believe you lost your lightsaber. After all that effort it took us to retrieve it again"
Trying to clear the dark nature of the conversation, Cal chuckled as Anakin attempted to change the conversation.
It was still difficult for Anakin to express his feelings, but he would wait until the man was ready.
"That is rich coming from you. How many have you lost or broken now?" Cal grinned, scoffing.
"But somehow, I doubt the council would allow me to make a new one."
"No, but you do need one." Anakin shuffled, fabric rustling as he handed the familiar weapon to Cal.
"Here. Until we can somehow get you a proper replacement:
Cal blinked, unguarded as he immediately recognised the intricate design of the lightsaber hilt.
"This is..."
"Take care of it, I don't think he would be too happy if you lose it."
"No, he definitely wouldn't." Cal smiled melancholically, studying Obi-Wan's lightsaber within his grip.
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The shadowy darkness provided the perfect cover for the person to slink through the medical bay and into the desired room.
Each deliberate footstep ensured to muffle any noises as they shuffled closer to the Jedi Master, shakily they yanked out a syringe brimming with an unknown liquid, from the inside of their pocket.
Hands quivering, scarcely able to stifle the sob catching within their throat, the syringe was raised towards the Bacta drip, a whispered apology hanging within the air as they made the motion to pierce the drip.
Before they could react, the syringe tumbled from their grasp and into the awaiting hand.
The azure lightsaber activated instantly, hovering precariously over their throat.
"Make one move and you will regret it." Cal threatened, eyes narrowed within the darkness as the screeching Force finally silenced into a still lake.
The lights flickered on and the ginger was taken aback at the teary-eyed, pitiful doctor in appalling horror.
"I'm sorry." The doctor blubbered openly, his arms crossed over his stomach, perhaps in the hopes to comfort himself.
"I didn't have a choice."
"You tried to kill him." Anakin interrupted, a notable shock within his voice as he smelt the mysterious liquid, curling his nose at the distinct stench of poison.
" Why ?"
"I had to." The doctor managed through heaving sobs, unable to stand the crashing betrayal present within the stifling air.
"He threatened to kill my family."
" Who ?" Anakin snarled, stepping forwards threateningly.
Despite this, Cal was relieved that not an inch of anger was present within the Skywalker; only the burning desire to protect his Master.
"I can't..." The doctor denied, shaking his head frantically. Eyes darting around the room as if the man was present within the confines of the room.
"He'll kill me."
"If you do not, then he will be the last of your problems." Cal warned.
"The council does not take kindly to traitors."
At the mention of the council, the man's eyes widened in fright and his inner conflict was instantly doused.
"Dooku." He confessed.
Dooku?
Cal twisted to glance at Anakin, the wordless confusion echoing throughout their bond.
"The Sith is still locked up in jail… This makes no sense."
Anakin hummed in agreement, his expression hardening as he stared at the doctor, the man instantly flinching at the attention.
"Well you're coming with me to visit the council." Anakin stated flatly, clutching tightly onto the man's arm.
" No ! Please! Not the council."
"If you're telling the truth you have nothing to fear." Anakin replied shortly, a lingering look directed at his Master, to assure himself that Obi-Wan was in fact alright.
"I'll find someone to guard the door." Cal said.
"Then I'll see if I can get some information from Dooku."
Anakin raised an eyebrow.
" Alone ?"
"He's hardly a threat, Ani."
Anakin looked unconvinced.
"I'll be fine. I have a weapon and the Force."
"Fine" Anakin sighed reluctantly, knowing there was no way he would be able to convince the stubbornness of the other.
"But if anything happens..."
"I'll let you know."
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Footsteps reverberated, bouncing within the small hallway as the door creaked open, screeching in protest.
The Sith glanced up, blinking unguarded that the one to enter was not in fact a guard, but the ginger haired Jedi.
Cal his mind provided unhelpfully.
"What do you want?" Dooku snapped, trying to seem intimidating, despite his chained position; unable to escape the hardened glance he was subject to.
"I want answers." Cal said, unable to stop the gnawing sympathy at the biting frozen chains that shackled the Sith Lord.
"Did you try to kill Obi-Wan?"
"Yes." Dooku snarked, scoffing at the sheer idiocy of the man.
"I walked out of this cell and decided to kill Obi-Wan."
Cal shook his head, equally annoyed and scarcely able to bite back an equally sarcastic response.
"Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
After a pointed glance, the Sith shrugged casually. Chains clattering together as he shuffled, trying to find a comfortable spot within the icy stones that dug into his back.
"Jedi talk, rumours spread."
The unsettling atmosphere enveloped the two as Cal cursed to himself, pacing from left to right as the Sith watched with growing amusement.
"To answer your question, there has been no way for me to kill your precious Jedi Master. I'm sure you can imagine, being a Sith Lord does not result in many visitors."
Cal stopped pacing, head spinning at trying to make sense of what was happening.
It made no sense that Dooku would try anything, not to mention, there was no way the Sith had access to anyone beyond the guards.
This had to be Palpatine's doing, but why?
Cal's mind was spinning, unable to connect the dots at what the Sith Lord was planning.
"Are you going to tell me how you cheated death?" Dooku interrupted lazily, glancing up at the distressed Jedi.
"Why should I tell you anything?" Cal grumbled, distractedly.
He was missing something important…
Why now?
What was Palpatine planning?
"I'm interested." Count Dooku provided, struggling to sit upright as the shackles chatted in protest.
"I highly doubt that."
"You'd be surprised what solitude does for someone."
Cal's eyes roamed the darkened cell, unable to find a way that Count Dooku would be able to contact anyone from the outside.
He knew from experience that the cell absorbed all noises, there would be no way for Dooku to have any outside contact.
"I wasn't dead, my connection to the Force was cut off and so everyone thought I had died." Cal explained hurriedly, stressed.
"Your connection to the Force?" Dooku repeated, musing.
This was interesting…
"I couldn't access the Light side."
"Interesting. Only a skilled Sith can do that." The Sith provided a dark smirk growing upon his face at Cal's exasperation, hands waving within the air at his futile attempts to understand the Chancellor's plans.
"Why does he want to frame you?."
Cal mumbled to himself.
Dooku scoffed, shaking his head at the Jedi.
"It's obvious."
"Enlighten me, wise one." Cal snarked, rolling his eyes at the glowering smirk he was subject to.
"He wants Anakin as his apprentice, the only way to do so is to make him embrace the Dark side. He wants Anakin to think I am still a threat."
Realisation dawned upon Cal, the panic coiling within his stomach.
"He wants Anakin to regret not killing you."
" Exactly ."
" Kriff ." Cal muttered to himself, pacing back and forth in a dazed flurry of alarm, trying to muster up the fragments of a plan in hopes to prevent this.
" Kriff ."
"Do you have a plan?" Count Dooku asked, as if this was entertainment to him and hadn't caused a jolting anxiety within Cal to think of something.
"Trying to think of one." Cal shot back.
Even if he told the council the truth, there would be no reason for them to trust his words.
Somehow he had to think of a way to incriminate Palpatine but also proving Count Dooku's innocence.
"Sometimes, in order to reach the truth, we have to fake it." Cal breathed out, unable to still the guilt that he was going about this the wrong way.
And yet, he was out of time.
"Interesting." Count Dooku grinned, leaning forwards eagerly.
"What is your plan then?"
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Cal spurred himself on, forcing to sprint through the stark white corridors and desperately trying to ignore the constricting guilt that settled within his stomach.
Ensuring his breaths were even, smoothing his frantic expression into nonchalance he bit his inner lip and knocked sharply at the door.
"Enter." The voice ordered, echoing past the dark tendrils of the room.
The Light encouraged him, reminding him that he was not alone.
And with a lingering sigh, Cal mentally prepared himself as he stepped into the room.
"Hello Chancellor." Cal greeted smoothly.
" Jedi ." Palpatine scowled, his features morphing into thickened hatred, to the point where Cal had to pause, reminding himself not to show any emotions to the suffocating swirling's of the Dark side.
"It's a pleasure."
"How hard is it to kill one Jedi?" Cal stepped closer, a forced chuckle spilling out as he jeered.
"You can't even do that."
Do not show him fear.
"You forget yourself." The Chancellor snarled harshly, a growling warning.
"Do not forget that it is a privilege that you are alive. I can kill you at any moment."
"I suppose so." Cal shrugged, trying to maintain the image that he was unfazed.
"But you will fail, Anakin will not turn."
"You forget your place." Palpatine proclaimed, the insane grin widening.
"You are beneath me."
The Dark side materialised, thrumming with unmatched fury around Cal's throat, yearning for the Chancellor to kill him.
"I could kill you right now." He tantalised, allowing the power to tighten around the ginger's neck.
"And yet, that would only make Anakin more suspicious." Cal cocked his head, reminding himself to keep calm.
"You cannot win, Chancellor. I will make sure of that."
It was sheer luck that Cal's legs allowed him to storm out of the room.
When Cal was within the safety of the hallway, they ultimately failed. Lungs stuttered in heaved breaths as he shakily shut his eyes, collapsing against the wall in unmatched relief.
He was still alive.
Glancing down at his communicator, he stopped the recording.
Hopefully this was all worth it.
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"It was Count Dooku." The doctor stumbled out, eyes boring into the floor perhaps in the hopes that it would swallow him up.
"How is that possible?" Mace Windu demanded leaning forwards to judge the doctor in question.
"I received orders from a recording on my desk. He had my family recorded and threatened to murder them if I didn't do as he asked." He confessed, nonsensical babblings scarcely able to be understood through the crying.
"Have the recording, do you?" Yoda asked, his voice holding a terrifying authority, directed at the one that thought it fine to betray them.
"Not right now."
Master Yoda gestured at Anakin and he nodded, instantly leaving to find the incriminating recording.
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"Is this it?" Mace Windu asked, holding up the feeble recording device, the holo-communicator glinted innocently within the artificial light.
"Yes, yes." The doctor nodded rapidly.
Mace Windu pressed play.
A beat passed and Anakin's blood froze, his vision tingling white as he soaked in the familiar voice on the recording.
A tsunami of emotions dragged him underneath, all at once.
"You forget yourself." Palpatine's crackled voice snarled harshly, a growling warning.
"Do not forget that it is a privilege that you are alive. I can kill you at any moment."
"I could kill you right now."
The blurred image of two children were displayed within the recording.
The doctor's face paled into bone white, rapidly shaking his head in hopes to convince the council.
"No, that's not the right recording, I swear ."
"This was the only recording we found." Anakin stated plainly, gritting his teeth at the revelation, unable to stifle the plunging hurt that surged forwards that could only be described as betrayal.
"But I promise you that it was Count Dooku 's voice!" The doctor cried out, his desperate pleading echoed through the room and fell upon deaf ears.
"It appears, doctor, that you need to get your hearing checked." Cal called from the door, handing Mace Windu the gathered files he had hurriedly collected.
"I spoke with the guards. There is no possible way Dooku was behind this, he has no access to visitors or any access to the Force."
"For once we agree, Kestis." Mace Windu nodded stiffly, dismissing any further conversation from the frantic doctor.
"Chancellor Palpatine seems to be the traitor after all."
"Wait!" Anakin protested, shaking his head. His composure was fragile, hanging by a thread at the thought of the one he called a mentor being a traitor.
"Let me talk to him first, he may have been framed."
The council glanced at each other before ultimately nodding.
"Alright."
It wouldn't do them any good to confront the man without hearing his side-not when he held too much political power.
.
.
.
"Count Dooku."
"Darth Sidious."
"It seems my plan is working, I will have a new apprentice shortly."
Count Dooku didn't respond, his eyes trained upon the blurry figure, hidden within the shadows as he entered the complex.
"And this means that I no longer have a use for you." Palpatine snarled, low and hateful.
The blood-red lightsaber plunged into Count Dooku's chest with a pained wheeze, eyes wide in agony as the Sith's body plummeted with an echoing thud.
Turning around, Palpatine couldn't hide his glee at Anakin's azure blue eyes, rimmed red with tears.
The man must've come to kill him as well.
"Chancellor? You…" The words died upon his throat, unable to wrap his mind around what had just occurred.
"Anakin." The Chancellor stepped forwards in greeting, his smile falling at the disgust and recoiling horror.
Anakin gingerly stepped backwards, hand snaking to his lightsaber.
"I trusted you. I thought.."
"Anakin it's not what you think…" Palpatine tried to interrupt with feeble excuses.
Why was Anakin not furious at Count Dooku?
"That's why ." A chilled realisation clutching to him tightly at the thought of all those times the man had offered mistrust, spinning manipulations that was carefully hidden as advice. A cold bark of laughter erupted, chilled and full of hurt.
"The story. Telling me the council couldn't be trusted. When you told me to kill Dooku on the ship. It all makes sense now."
"So what will you do? Report me to the council and then risk your precious wife dying." The man couldn't hide the amused grin if he wanted too.
Anakin flinched, eyes narrowing at the threat.
"You will never be able to save her, never be able to protect anyone you love without the Dark side."
"No." Anakin replied firmly. He couldn't imagine turning to the anger that constantly revolted him, the rage that hurt the people he loved more than protecting them.
No, he couldn't betray them.
"I am reporting you to the council. And you will be arrested formally."
"Do as you wish."
.
.
.
Palpatine gritted his teeth, somehow his carefully crafted plan was tearing apart.
He needed to regain the sheer intoxicating power that came from fear and pleadings.
The Dark side coursed with agreement, begging him to reign the calamity of disaster on them all.
Anakin Skywalker would become his apprentice, even if he didn't want to..
He switched his comm on, his raspy voice reaching the clone.
"Execute Order 66."
I have to admit writing that first part in this chapter almost made me cry :(
Thank you all for your support, I really appreciate it!