Hey Everyone! Hope you enjoy this next chapter! Tell me what you think. Sorry for any spelling or grammar errors. I tried to catch them, but I was pretty tired... Lots of Love - Lorna :)
DS2010: I totally agree, Anakin has got a lot to take in... and I'm just gonna keep adding to that. Sorry not sorry ;)
Guest: Don't know if you're one user or multiple but thank you so, so much for your kind reviews! I agree! I feel like Obi Wan went to limb slicing just a little too fast. This was his padawan after all, I feel like Obi Wan should have been able to see that there was still something good left in Anakin at that point. Instead Anakin just kept pushing himself further and further into dark side. Hopefully you like this chapter and the next one should be coming up in a couple days... so check back soon! Again thank you for your comments! Lot of Love - Lorna :)
Obi Wan slept unsoundly that night, just as he had for the last two weeks since Anakin had disappeared. It seemed that even with him back, the master found little comfort. Obi Wan's dreams twisted and contorted into horrible nightmares that night specifically. They were fragmented pieces of scenes that flew by. First, he had just beaten Grievous when there was a sudden turn in the force and his men, his men, were shooting at him. Cody's force presence was full of pain and anguish with each shot he took at his general but he didn't stop. The next scene fast forward and Obi Wan was having a conversation with Yoda. The words weren't clear to him, but Obi Wan understood the gist of it. Kill Anakin. Obi Wan shuddered and tried violently to speak, to dissuade the master but his mouth was clamped shut. The next scene flashed by with ferocity and Obi Wan was brought to his knees, watching as a nearly limbless Anakin tried to crawl away from the fires of Mustafar. He cried out desperately for help that Obi Wan wanted to give but couldn't seem to manage. It was only after Obi Wan had been unsuccessful in his effort to move towards Anakin, that his beloved padawan's eyes changed from blue to a rotten Sith yellow. The only three words that broke though clearly to Obi Wan was a scream.
"I HATE YOU!!!!"
Before Obi Wan could even try to do anything Anakin burst into flame with a pained yell. Then the next fragment sliced through. It was a very burned figure in a black life support suit. Their skin was was red and blistered with horrible surgical gouges that had been poorly patched with false skin. They had to have been in utter agony but they didn't even moan. Maybe they couldn't. Instead they stared directly above them with an almost horrified look on their face, which brought Obi Wan's attention to the sound of gears lowering a black mask down. It looked torturous, with jagged needles, a painful looking mouth piece and various sharp and prodding devices that would dig into the man's delicate flesh. As the device finally clicked into place an the man, a rasping mechanic breath was released and Obi Wan shuddered. A final scene flashed before Obi Wan's eyes as he saw the same man now more machine than actual human being, raised upright on a metal slab they were hooked to. The only noise was the mechanical rasp of whatever was forcing breath in and out of charred lungs until the figure started to speak. It was slow and painful sounding but the figure forced it out so Obi Wan understood that it had to have been important.
"Where is Padme? Is she alright?"
The fragment stopped, the world stopped, time stopped, and Obi Wan's heart stopped with them. A sudden realization, one so horrible and crushing that Obi Wan wanted to deny it, wedged it's way into Obi Wan's mind. The burnt charred, broken figure in front of him was none other than Anakin Skywalker, his padawan. And worse yet, this is what Obi Wan did to him, this is what happened to Anakin after the flames. Just as in any nightmare the room began to crackle and orange flames flickered around Obi Wan entrapping him. The fire crawled closer and closer, their blazing heat making Obi Wan sweat and pant. The flames still crept there way towards him and before long the heat was so unbearable it forced Obi Wan to his knees. A bead of sweat fell off of Obi Wan's face and he made a weak call for help. The only response was the metallic rasp of forced breathing.
Obi Wan gasped awake drenched in sweat, bolting up in bed before leaning over the side and gagging as though he were going to retch. Gratefully nothing managed to come up. The force swirled around him so thickly that he felt as though he were choking on it.
"Master, breathe," a calm voice reassured. "Just take a second Obi Wan."
Everything twirled and twisted inside Obi Wan's head at that moment. He couldn't formulate a decent thought much less pinpoint the voice. Instead he tried to stay still and breathe but the room around him seemed to tilt and sway which led him to move sickeningly with each make believe shift.
"Obi Wan? Do you understand me?"
Obi wan didn't respond at first.
"Obi wan?"
Still nothing. The only sound was the quiet breaths and rustling of quiet movements as Obi Wan's swayed.
"Master?" There was a small pause. "Focus on the present Obi Wan."
That snapped something inside him.
"Who-?" Obi Wan asked sorely.
There was no response for a second as if the figure were trying to stall.
"Its Anakin."
"Anakin?"
The shadowed figure nodded.
"But how-?" Obi wan began. His head hurt and his memory was presently a little funny but he definitely remembered cuffing Anakin.
Anakin smiled a fraction. "Let's just say I'm good with any mechanics and be done with that."
That brought a small smile and a precious memory of a young oil covered Anakin to his mind.
Anakin gripped his shoulders lightly and left the room returning in mere moments with a cold wet rag and a a glass of water. He handed them both to Obi Wan and Obi Wan quickly wiped his face and took a small drink.
"Better?"
Obi Wan nodded, "yes, thank you"
Anakin rolled his eyes. "Please master, if anything I probably owe you at least this."
Obi Wan shook his head in exasperation and then he stilled. "Wait… how did you know I was in trouble Anakin?"