Murder the Dawn: Chapter Thirty: Reunion
In which Anakin, Obi-Wan and Palpatine manage to escape INVISIBLE HAND, Obi-Wan reunites with Satine, and has nightmares of a possible future.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Anakin was almost born for the experience of piloting. Obi-Wan knew that. But even now, with his former Padawan at the controls, he sighed. “Anakin, are you certain you can handle this?”
“Under the circumstances, I’d say the ability to pilot this thing is irrelevant. Strap yourselves in.”
Obi-Wan did. Artoo-Detoo beeped. Even now, Obi-Wan regretted that they had been unable to rescue Ar-Four earlier. If anything, the astromech had been a loyal companion to Anakin, and would be missed --
But even now, even as Anakin continued to pilot the thing, even as in the middle of ordering the flaps and drag fins to extend and the hatches to open, even as they continued to land in perhaps one of the most spectacular ways possible -- Obi-Wan knew he had to trust in Anakin. To trust in the Force. It was almost similar to what Qui-Gon had said long ago, to be mindful of the Living Force. And even now...even now it was true.
He had to trust Anakin.
After all, Anakin knew what he was doing.
***
It was landing much later, and reuniting with the clones and the other Jedi -- Anakin never thought he would be happy to see Mace Windu again, but in a crisis, one had to rule out the possibility of any attachments being unlikely -- as well as Jar-Jar, who almost abandoned his composure to bounce over and hug Anakin in delight, that Anakin could not help but grin. Despite everything that had happened, they were alive. They had succeeded. And even that -- even that was a miracle in and of itself.
It was later, when the crowd dispersed, that Anakin turned to look at Obi-Wan. “Are you coming, Master?”
“Oh no, I’m a...bit too old for politics.”
“Come on. This operation wouldn’t have succeeded without you, Master.”
“You got us here in one piece.”
“You...” Even now, something in Anakin found it difficult to say “killed”, so he contented himself with, “You defeated Count Dooku.”
“Very true. Go, Anakin. You more than deserve a break. I, in the meanwhile...I must rest.”
“If you say so, Master.” Anakin grinned, quickly, and Obi-Wan chuckled almost in spite of himself as well.
Anakin sighed and watched Obi-Wan go, walk far away, if only to avoid having to spend time with the politicians. He almost didn’t know why Obi-Wan was giving him all the credit -- true, he had managed to -- miraculously -- land the Invisible Hand in one piece, but at the same time --
“Knight Skywalker, may I have a word with you?”
Master Windu. Anakin sighed, turned to face him. He could not say that he and Master Windu were on the best of terms. Even so, it was best to at least try and be somewhat polite. This was a Jedi Master one was speaking to, after all.
“I would like to say,” Master Windu began, “You and Master Kenobi did admirably in your dealings with Count Dooku.”
It was thanks to years of practice in the Order that Anakin was, barely, able to hide his surprise. Even now, he couldn’t help but wonder if Master Windu giving him a compliment, of sorts, was some sort of warning -- almost like a pacifist having to pick up a weapon.
“My thanks, Master Windu,” Anakin said, “But if anything, the praise should go to Obi-Wan. Without him...” He sighed, trailed off -- even remembering how Obi-Wan had killed Dooku in cold blood -- if there was a word for Mace’s praise of Obi-Wan being almost insulting -- but then again, Mace didn’t intend it --
“I see. To ask you a quick question, Knight Skywalker -- did you notice any suspicious activity in regards to the Chancellor prior to his kidnapping?”
“Obi-Wan and I were off Coruscant most of the time,” Anakin said, “So I can’t say.”
“I see. I merely have a suspicion that the attack on 500 Republica was...far too well-timed. It’s unlikely that either the Chancellor or one of those in his inner circle could have orchestrated it, but...”
“Master Windu,” Anakin said, softly, “The Chancellor’s not a bad man...” But even now, remembering the Invisible Hand, how he was all but goading Obi-Wan to execute Dooku, even seeing Obi-Wan’s eyes grow cold...
He shivered, fighting the urge to turn away.
Mace Windu, of course, seemed to see straight through him. “Is there something you wish to tell me, young Skywalker?”
“No.” Anakin shook his head. “Nothing at all.”
“Very well then.”
Anakin was almost relieved when he had to go. He almost preferred it when Master Windu was being almost passive-aggressively hostile to him; at least then, he knew where he stood. Master Windu was far from a bad man, Anakin knew that, but even so, he couldn’t get rid of the almost uncomfortable feeling he had -- not only in regards to Obi-Wan, but to Mace.
Could he trust anyone anymore?
***
It was almost shelter to see Satine again. Even now, in the shadows, exchanging frantic embraces and kisses, Obi-Wan doubted he could be more happy to see her. It was then, as she drew away, that she ran a hand gently over his face, over the scar on his eye that Dooku had given him as a bit of a farewell present, of sorts. “Obi-Wan...your eye -- ’’
“I’m quite all right,” Obi-Wan said, forcing a slight smile. Even thinking of Dooku was uncomfortable; he hadn’t wanted to be the vigilante Jedi back on Invisible Hand -- even now, he wondered if he even had the right -- but he doubted there was any other choice. “Just...just a bit of a scuffle.”
“A bit?” Satine arched an eyebrow. “As usual, Master Kenobi, you seem to be the master of understatement.”
A chuckle. Then Obi-Wan faltered. “Are you all right, Satine?”
“I am. It’s only...” Even now, as Satine told him the news, Obi-Wan didn’t know what to feel. On the one hand, the two of them were going to have a child -- and yet on the other hand, what father would he be? And what would it mean for his career in the Order?
“What are we going to do, Obi-Wan?”
“We’re not going to worry. Not tonight. We’ve had enough worrying for a lifetime.”
“Sometimes it’s good to worry. I can’t say many good things happen to those who don’t worry at all.”
***
Even later, though, Obi-Wan wasn’t sure. It was another one of those visions again, with the girl Padme, and the eyes of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, and so much more -- he saw a girl, a girl who almost looked like Satine but with ginger hair, standing outside the Jedi Temple. Even as the two of them looked out into the cityscape of Coruscant, at the gleaming spires of the Jedi Temple, the girl spoke. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“It’s quite all right,” he said. “A Jedi’s life is sacrifice.”
“Not any of your losses in the present. Merely that which is to come.”
Satine had tried to console him in the way only she could, of course. Saying that it was illogical, and reminding him that the future was always in motion. Yet even so...
Obi-Wan sighed, before drawing up the covers and trying vainly to get back to sleep.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Anakin was almost born for the experience of piloting. Obi-Wan knew that. But even now, with his former Padawan at the controls, he sighed. “Anakin, are you certain you can handle this?”
“Under the circumstances, I’d say the ability to pilot this thing is irrelevant. Strap yourselves in.”
Obi-Wan did. Artoo-Detoo beeped. Even now, Obi-Wan regretted that they had been unable to rescue Ar-Four earlier. If anything, the astromech had been a loyal companion to Anakin, and would be missed --
But even now, even as Anakin continued to pilot the thing, even as in the middle of ordering the flaps and drag fins to extend and the hatches to open, even as they continued to land in perhaps one of the most spectacular ways possible -- Obi-Wan knew he had to trust in Anakin. To trust in the Force. It was almost similar to what Qui-Gon had said long ago, to be mindful of the Living Force. And even now...even now it was true.
He had to trust Anakin.
After all, Anakin knew what he was doing.
***
It was landing much later, and reuniting with the clones and the other Jedi -- Anakin never thought he would be happy to see Mace Windu again, but in a crisis, one had to rule out the possibility of any attachments being unlikely -- as well as Jar-Jar, who almost abandoned his composure to bounce over and hug Anakin in delight, that Anakin could not help but grin. Despite everything that had happened, they were alive. They had succeeded. And even that -- even that was a miracle in and of itself.
It was later, when the crowd dispersed, that Anakin turned to look at Obi-Wan. “Are you coming, Master?”
“Oh no, I’m a...bit too old for politics.”
“Come on. This operation wouldn’t have succeeded without you, Master.”
“You got us here in one piece.”
“You...” Even now, something in Anakin found it difficult to say “killed”, so he contented himself with, “You defeated Count Dooku.”
“Very true. Go, Anakin. You more than deserve a break. I, in the meanwhile...I must rest.”
“If you say so, Master.” Anakin grinned, quickly, and Obi-Wan chuckled almost in spite of himself as well.
Anakin sighed and watched Obi-Wan go, walk far away, if only to avoid having to spend time with the politicians. He almost didn’t know why Obi-Wan was giving him all the credit -- true, he had managed to -- miraculously -- land the Invisible Hand in one piece, but at the same time --
“Knight Skywalker, may I have a word with you?”
Master Windu. Anakin sighed, turned to face him. He could not say that he and Master Windu were on the best of terms. Even so, it was best to at least try and be somewhat polite. This was a Jedi Master one was speaking to, after all.
“I would like to say,” Master Windu began, “You and Master Kenobi did admirably in your dealings with Count Dooku.”
It was thanks to years of practice in the Order that Anakin was, barely, able to hide his surprise. Even now, he couldn’t help but wonder if Master Windu giving him a compliment, of sorts, was some sort of warning -- almost like a pacifist having to pick up a weapon.
“My thanks, Master Windu,” Anakin said, “But if anything, the praise should go to Obi-Wan. Without him...” He sighed, trailed off -- even remembering how Obi-Wan had killed Dooku in cold blood -- if there was a word for Mace’s praise of Obi-Wan being almost insulting -- but then again, Mace didn’t intend it --
“I see. To ask you a quick question, Knight Skywalker -- did you notice any suspicious activity in regards to the Chancellor prior to his kidnapping?”
“Obi-Wan and I were off Coruscant most of the time,” Anakin said, “So I can’t say.”
“I see. I merely have a suspicion that the attack on 500 Republica was...far too well-timed. It’s unlikely that either the Chancellor or one of those in his inner circle could have orchestrated it, but...”
“Master Windu,” Anakin said, softly, “The Chancellor’s not a bad man...” But even now, remembering the Invisible Hand, how he was all but goading Obi-Wan to execute Dooku, even seeing Obi-Wan’s eyes grow cold...
He shivered, fighting the urge to turn away.
Mace Windu, of course, seemed to see straight through him. “Is there something you wish to tell me, young Skywalker?”
“No.” Anakin shook his head. “Nothing at all.”
“Very well then.”
Anakin was almost relieved when he had to go. He almost preferred it when Master Windu was being almost passive-aggressively hostile to him; at least then, he knew where he stood. Master Windu was far from a bad man, Anakin knew that, but even so, he couldn’t get rid of the almost uncomfortable feeling he had -- not only in regards to Obi-Wan, but to Mace.
Could he trust anyone anymore?
***
It was almost shelter to see Satine again. Even now, in the shadows, exchanging frantic embraces and kisses, Obi-Wan doubted he could be more happy to see her. It was then, as she drew away, that she ran a hand gently over his face, over the scar on his eye that Dooku had given him as a bit of a farewell present, of sorts. “Obi-Wan...your eye -- ’’
“I’m quite all right,” Obi-Wan said, forcing a slight smile. Even thinking of Dooku was uncomfortable; he hadn’t wanted to be the vigilante Jedi back on Invisible Hand -- even now, he wondered if he even had the right -- but he doubted there was any other choice. “Just...just a bit of a scuffle.”
“A bit?” Satine arched an eyebrow. “As usual, Master Kenobi, you seem to be the master of understatement.”
A chuckle. Then Obi-Wan faltered. “Are you all right, Satine?”
“I am. It’s only...” Even now, as Satine told him the news, Obi-Wan didn’t know what to feel. On the one hand, the two of them were going to have a child -- and yet on the other hand, what father would he be? And what would it mean for his career in the Order?
“What are we going to do, Obi-Wan?”
“We’re not going to worry. Not tonight. We’ve had enough worrying for a lifetime.”
“Sometimes it’s good to worry. I can’t say many good things happen to those who don’t worry at all.”
***
Even later, though, Obi-Wan wasn’t sure. It was another one of those visions again, with the girl Padme, and the eyes of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, and so much more -- he saw a girl, a girl who almost looked like Satine but with ginger hair, standing outside the Jedi Temple. Even as the two of them looked out into the cityscape of Coruscant, at the gleaming spires of the Jedi Temple, the girl spoke. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“It’s quite all right,” he said. “A Jedi’s life is sacrifice.”
“Not any of your losses in the present. Merely that which is to come.”
Satine had tried to console him in the way only she could, of course. Saying that it was illogical, and reminding him that the future was always in motion. Yet even so...
Obi-Wan sighed, before drawing up the covers and trying vainly to get back to sleep.