One Path Chapter 26--A Question of the Future
Title: A Question of the Future
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: "Ani, I need him home."
Rating: PG
Length: Around 2000 words
Category:Angst/Drama
Pairings/Charaters: Obidala
A/N: One Path Chapter 26. Set during the first year of an alternate Clone Wars era.
A Question of the Future
Obi Wan raised a hand to the back of his neck, bringing it down quickly to swat the buzzing insect. He let the hand drop again and sighed, clomping back toward the fighter which he had left at the mouth of a large cavern. The heat and humidity of the jungle was oppressive and he was tired, mud-caked, and bloodstained.
"All right, Arfour, that's the last--" he spun suddenly, lightsaber coming into his hand as he moved.
Padme thought at first that it was the Sith Apprentice he had battled on Devaron, but this girl was thinner, her head shorn completely bald. At her belt, she carried not one but two lightsabers, and she sprung at the former Jedi with stunning speed, both blades humming to life as she streaked through the air.
Obi Wan leapt back onto the wing of the Delta 7, earning a frightened squeal from Arfour in the process. She followed him up, but he reached out to the Force again, somersaulting over her head. The young woman gave a frustrated growl and attacked a second time. Their blades clashed, and she drove him back into the cave, where Padme could discern only the continued flash of their weapons.
"Who are you?" her husband's voice demanded.
"I am fear. I am the queen of a blood-soaked planet and an architect of genocide. I have helped to crack the galaxy in half with this war and conquered every enemy I have ever faced-including death. All except for you," Asajj Ventress told him in reply. Padme felt a deep, burning pain in her leg and saw Obi Wan's blade waver and fall. "And now I'll kill you. "
"No!" screamed Padme. "Anakin!"
He rose out of the darkness like a black-masked spectre, the sound of his breath filling the entire cave as his red blade flowed into being. He raised his other hand, flinging Ventress back with the Force. "This one is mine to kill."
Padme woke with a scream in her throat. She struggled to sit up, burying her face in her hands. For a while, there was no sound in the room but her own breathing, but she knew that it wouldn't be that way for long. She was never alone now. Shaking her head to clear it, she swung her legs out of bed and stood up, hastily drawing on a thick robe.
Obi Wan and Bail had been forced to fight the Transdoshans on Kashyyyk. Though they had finally driven them out, they couldn't prevent continued hostilities in the system and on the Wookiee homeworld itself. Bail and Yarua were forced to return to Coruscant and their duties in the Senate while Obi Wan remained there. After three months, another crisis sent him to Yavin 4, although the exact reasons for the abrupt change of orders was being kept classified. He had spent two months there, by which time Anakin had become a fixture in Padme's apartment on Coruscant.
Master Windu was not pleased with that turn of events, but Anakin insisted that he had given his word to Obi Wan that he would see to Padme's safety himself, and he intended to do so. This declaration sparked a tense confrontation between Master and Padawan, which ended with Windu conceding, but only after warning Anakin in no uncertain terms that he was being tested. When Padme asked the Padawan what his mentor had meant by that, Anakin replied frankly that it probably had to do with his own feelings for her.
She had to admit, though, that whatever he may have felt, Anakin was determined to prove himself equal to his Master's test. He made himself the picture of professionalism and courtesy, which while disconcerting in itself, was a relief to Padme. She even found herself glad of the young Jedi's company when it became apparent that her husband would not be coming back with Bail and she began to fear that he really might not arrive in time to see the baby born. More than a little surprised that Anakin hadn't appeared already, she left the bedroom, and wasn't sure whether to smile or frown when she found him asleep on the couch. The Padawan was lost in the throes of his own dream, and he looked as if he was about to fall on the floor.
"Ani," she called, hurrying over to shake him awake.
"No, no…don't…I won't let you…" he mumbled.
"Anakin," Padme said more forcefully.
He finally opened his eyes. He looked around in confusion and sat up, running his hands through his hair. "Sorry, m'lady. I didn't mean to fall asleep. Captain Typho…"
"Is downstairs in the security center, Ani. Don't worry about it," she said, sinking onto the couch beside him. Both plagued by nightmares, they spent many a sleepless night here or standing on the balcony outside. Usually, they passed the hours in quiet, meaningless conversation, but tonight Padme didn't feel up to starting the discussion. The baby was restless in her womb, and one hand drifted soothingly over her abdomen.
"Something wrong?" Anakin asked.
"Not really," she shook her head.
"Don't say that. I can tell there is," he inched closer, resting a hand on her shoulder.
She didn't turn to look at him. "I had another nightmare. Something's going to happen to him. The baby feels it too."
"No," Anakin assured her, shaking his head. "That's not possible."
"Are you sure?" she asked, clearly dissatisfied by the statement.
"I've heard a baby might know when its mother's upset," he said in a placating tone. "But to sense danger to Obi Wan…"
"Obi Wan knew I was pregnant before I did," she said with an indulgent smile. "There's something between them. A bond I can't explain."
Anakin nodded, accepting that without comment, and if the silence became suddenly tense, Padme decided to believe that he too was concerned about Obi Wan. After a few minutes, the baby still hadn't settled, and she winced after a particularly hard kick.
"What's wrong?" frowned Anakin.
"The baby's kicking," she explained, smiling to ease the tension.
He didn't relax. "If I were him, I don't know how I could have left you."
"Obi Wan is doing his best to make the Republic safe--for me, for his child. I can't expect him not to do that, Ani. I can't ask him to be less than he is," Padme replied.
"I didn't mean it that way, Padme," Anakin hurried to apologize. "I just meant--I--"
"What?" she asked.
He took a ragged breath. "These nightmares I've been having. They're--different. They're about you. The baby."
"The baby?" Padme cried in alarm. Her arms moved instinctively to hug her abdomen. "What about the baby?"
"It's nothing," he shook his head. "Just dreams."
"Anakin. Please," she said, laying a hand determinedly on his arm.
He turned away, staring down at the floor as he explained, "One of you dies. I can't tell which. The dreams aren't clear."
"No," Padme shook her head vehemently. In her heart, though, she had already begun to sense the truth.
Anakin looked up, twisting to face her again. "I won't let you die, Padme. I won't!"
"It's not me," Padme told him, her voice a barely audible whisper. She closed her eyes as tears began to form, but didn't stop them, and she felt Anakin's hand move to brush her cheek. She jerked back, her eyes popping open again. "Ani, I need him home."
"Padme, don't ask me…" he pleaded.
"I have to. I'm afraid he'll die if you don't go. I can't lose both of them," she said.
"I can't lose you," he insisted. "You could be wrong."
"If I'm wrong, there's nothing you can do for me. Nothing except bring him home. Anakin, please," she asked again.
He grit his teeth, his youthful features contorting with pain and conflict. Padme felt a moment of indecision. She knew what she was asking of him. He had given his word to protect her; his Master was using the entire affair as a test--probably to determine his future as a Jedi after his disobedient involvement in the Battle of Geonosis and all the subsequent problems he'd had in regard to Obi Wan's departure. Windu was not a man to be trifled with, and the Jedi Council respected his opinions and authority.
Finally, he stood up again and nodded. "I'll bring him. I promise."
***
"And now I'll kill you, Jedi," his adversary said with a grim smirk.
"I don't think so," shot a familiar voice behind them.
She whirled around, and Obi Wan breathed a sigh of relief, reaching for his fallen lightsaber as Anakin began to engage the girl. The weapon sailed into his hand, and he reached back with his free hand, clutching the wall behind him to pull himself up.
"Stay there," Anakin told him calmly through the clash of the blades. "I've got it under control."
He was, in actuality, only holding his own. Obi Wan raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Because you look like you could use some help…"
"Well, do you mind if I borrow that?" Anakin asked, swiftly turning to avoid a slash across his chest. He reached toward Obi Wan with his free hand, wiggling his fingers in a silent request for the other lightsaber.
"What? Oh--here," he nodded, tossing it toward the Padawan.
"Thanks," Anakin said.
The banter ended then as the tempo of the duel began to increase. Anakin and the girl fought their way back outside, and Obi Wan limped out after them, but by the time he cleared the cave, the pair had vanished into the jungle. He started after them as quickly as he could, following the sound of their weapons, which could still be heard through the trees. Twice he tripped, and once he landed face first in the mud. By the time he had pulled himself up from the ground again, the sound of the combatants' light sabers had faded into the distance. Obi Wan sighed and pushed on anyway, honing in on Anakin's Force presence to guide him.
He felt that presence suddenly moving in his direction and stepped back, unsure whether Anakin would be alone or still engaged with Ventress. Her presence was nearby as well, but it was less familiar to him, and he couldn't quite tell where she was. Grabbing a low hanging branch to hoist himself into a tree, he waited calmly, prepared to give his young friend a hand in the event that their enemy was still with him.
Anakin appeared alone, though, and craned his neck to look up into the tree. "What are you doing up there?"
"Oh, just admiring the view," Obi Wan replied smartly. "Where's the girl?"
"I lost her. She had a fighter hidden in the trees out there and gave me the slip," Anakin replied.
Obi Wan swung his leg over the branch on which he was sitting and let himself drop to the ground, cushioning the impact with the Force. He staggered anyway, and Anakin hurriedly stepped forward to steady him.
"You all right?" the Padawan asked.
"Yes, fine," Obi Wan nodded.
"Who was she, anyway?" Anakin asked.
"She called herself Asajj Ventress, eventually. I don't know who or what she is," replied Obi Wan.
"Well, I have a feeling we'll be finding out," Anakin remarked.
"I have a feeling you're right," Obi Wan agreed. Then he gave the Padawan a speculative look. "You know, I've never known you to give up a chase so easily."
"Yes, well, in this case the circumstances were a bit unusual," Anakin related.
"What do you mean, unusual?" frowned Obi Wan.
"Padme had a nightmare. She asked me to come get you. I promised her I'd bring you back safely," explained Anakin.
"You promised Padme? You mean the Council didn't send you?" Obi Wan demanded.
"Why would…?"
"Nevermind," snapped Obi Wan. "You're telling me you disobeyed orders--no one knows you're here?"
"Well, I didn't exactly disobey orders. Master Windu already didn't like the fact that I was handling Padme's security," Anakin said.
"And he doesn't know you're here. Does he?" admonished Obi Wan.
"Look, I--"
"No!" Obi Wan gasped, his hand moving instinctively to clutch his chest as a wave of pain and terror reached him through the Force.
Anakin's arm tightened around him, and the Padawan cried urgently, "What's wrong? Padme?"
"And the baby," Obi Wan drew an unsteady breath. "Anakin, we have to go. Quickly."
Author: Lionchilde
Summary: "Ani, I need him home."
Rating: PG
Length: Around 2000 words
Category:Angst/Drama
Pairings/Charaters: Obidala
A/N: One Path Chapter 26. Set during the first year of an alternate Clone Wars era.
A Question of the Future
Obi Wan raised a hand to the back of his neck, bringing it down quickly to swat the buzzing insect. He let the hand drop again and sighed, clomping back toward the fighter which he had left at the mouth of a large cavern. The heat and humidity of the jungle was oppressive and he was tired, mud-caked, and bloodstained.
"All right, Arfour, that's the last--" he spun suddenly, lightsaber coming into his hand as he moved.
Padme thought at first that it was the Sith Apprentice he had battled on Devaron, but this girl was thinner, her head shorn completely bald. At her belt, she carried not one but two lightsabers, and she sprung at the former Jedi with stunning speed, both blades humming to life as she streaked through the air.
Obi Wan leapt back onto the wing of the Delta 7, earning a frightened squeal from Arfour in the process. She followed him up, but he reached out to the Force again, somersaulting over her head. The young woman gave a frustrated growl and attacked a second time. Their blades clashed, and she drove him back into the cave, where Padme could discern only the continued flash of their weapons.
"Who are you?" her husband's voice demanded.
"I am fear. I am the queen of a blood-soaked planet and an architect of genocide. I have helped to crack the galaxy in half with this war and conquered every enemy I have ever faced-including death. All except for you," Asajj Ventress told him in reply. Padme felt a deep, burning pain in her leg and saw Obi Wan's blade waver and fall. "And now I'll kill you. "
"No!" screamed Padme. "Anakin!"
He rose out of the darkness like a black-masked spectre, the sound of his breath filling the entire cave as his red blade flowed into being. He raised his other hand, flinging Ventress back with the Force. "This one is mine to kill."
Padme woke with a scream in her throat. She struggled to sit up, burying her face in her hands. For a while, there was no sound in the room but her own breathing, but she knew that it wouldn't be that way for long. She was never alone now. Shaking her head to clear it, she swung her legs out of bed and stood up, hastily drawing on a thick robe.
Obi Wan and Bail had been forced to fight the Transdoshans on Kashyyyk. Though they had finally driven them out, they couldn't prevent continued hostilities in the system and on the Wookiee homeworld itself. Bail and Yarua were forced to return to Coruscant and their duties in the Senate while Obi Wan remained there. After three months, another crisis sent him to Yavin 4, although the exact reasons for the abrupt change of orders was being kept classified. He had spent two months there, by which time Anakin had become a fixture in Padme's apartment on Coruscant.
Master Windu was not pleased with that turn of events, but Anakin insisted that he had given his word to Obi Wan that he would see to Padme's safety himself, and he intended to do so. This declaration sparked a tense confrontation between Master and Padawan, which ended with Windu conceding, but only after warning Anakin in no uncertain terms that he was being tested. When Padme asked the Padawan what his mentor had meant by that, Anakin replied frankly that it probably had to do with his own feelings for her.
She had to admit, though, that whatever he may have felt, Anakin was determined to prove himself equal to his Master's test. He made himself the picture of professionalism and courtesy, which while disconcerting in itself, was a relief to Padme. She even found herself glad of the young Jedi's company when it became apparent that her husband would not be coming back with Bail and she began to fear that he really might not arrive in time to see the baby born. More than a little surprised that Anakin hadn't appeared already, she left the bedroom, and wasn't sure whether to smile or frown when she found him asleep on the couch. The Padawan was lost in the throes of his own dream, and he looked as if he was about to fall on the floor.
"Ani," she called, hurrying over to shake him awake.
"No, no…don't…I won't let you…" he mumbled.
"Anakin," Padme said more forcefully.
He finally opened his eyes. He looked around in confusion and sat up, running his hands through his hair. "Sorry, m'lady. I didn't mean to fall asleep. Captain Typho…"
"Is downstairs in the security center, Ani. Don't worry about it," she said, sinking onto the couch beside him. Both plagued by nightmares, they spent many a sleepless night here or standing on the balcony outside. Usually, they passed the hours in quiet, meaningless conversation, but tonight Padme didn't feel up to starting the discussion. The baby was restless in her womb, and one hand drifted soothingly over her abdomen.
"Something wrong?" Anakin asked.
"Not really," she shook her head.
"Don't say that. I can tell there is," he inched closer, resting a hand on her shoulder.
She didn't turn to look at him. "I had another nightmare. Something's going to happen to him. The baby feels it too."
"No," Anakin assured her, shaking his head. "That's not possible."
"Are you sure?" she asked, clearly dissatisfied by the statement.
"I've heard a baby might know when its mother's upset," he said in a placating tone. "But to sense danger to Obi Wan…"
"Obi Wan knew I was pregnant before I did," she said with an indulgent smile. "There's something between them. A bond I can't explain."
Anakin nodded, accepting that without comment, and if the silence became suddenly tense, Padme decided to believe that he too was concerned about Obi Wan. After a few minutes, the baby still hadn't settled, and she winced after a particularly hard kick.
"What's wrong?" frowned Anakin.
"The baby's kicking," she explained, smiling to ease the tension.
He didn't relax. "If I were him, I don't know how I could have left you."
"Obi Wan is doing his best to make the Republic safe--for me, for his child. I can't expect him not to do that, Ani. I can't ask him to be less than he is," Padme replied.
"I didn't mean it that way, Padme," Anakin hurried to apologize. "I just meant--I--"
"What?" she asked.
He took a ragged breath. "These nightmares I've been having. They're--different. They're about you. The baby."
"The baby?" Padme cried in alarm. Her arms moved instinctively to hug her abdomen. "What about the baby?"
"It's nothing," he shook his head. "Just dreams."
"Anakin. Please," she said, laying a hand determinedly on his arm.
He turned away, staring down at the floor as he explained, "One of you dies. I can't tell which. The dreams aren't clear."
"No," Padme shook her head vehemently. In her heart, though, she had already begun to sense the truth.
Anakin looked up, twisting to face her again. "I won't let you die, Padme. I won't!"
"It's not me," Padme told him, her voice a barely audible whisper. She closed her eyes as tears began to form, but didn't stop them, and she felt Anakin's hand move to brush her cheek. She jerked back, her eyes popping open again. "Ani, I need him home."
"Padme, don't ask me…" he pleaded.
"I have to. I'm afraid he'll die if you don't go. I can't lose both of them," she said.
"I can't lose you," he insisted. "You could be wrong."
"If I'm wrong, there's nothing you can do for me. Nothing except bring him home. Anakin, please," she asked again.
He grit his teeth, his youthful features contorting with pain and conflict. Padme felt a moment of indecision. She knew what she was asking of him. He had given his word to protect her; his Master was using the entire affair as a test--probably to determine his future as a Jedi after his disobedient involvement in the Battle of Geonosis and all the subsequent problems he'd had in regard to Obi Wan's departure. Windu was not a man to be trifled with, and the Jedi Council respected his opinions and authority.
Finally, he stood up again and nodded. "I'll bring him. I promise."
***
"And now I'll kill you, Jedi," his adversary said with a grim smirk.
"I don't think so," shot a familiar voice behind them.
She whirled around, and Obi Wan breathed a sigh of relief, reaching for his fallen lightsaber as Anakin began to engage the girl. The weapon sailed into his hand, and he reached back with his free hand, clutching the wall behind him to pull himself up.
"Stay there," Anakin told him calmly through the clash of the blades. "I've got it under control."
He was, in actuality, only holding his own. Obi Wan raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Because you look like you could use some help…"
"Well, do you mind if I borrow that?" Anakin asked, swiftly turning to avoid a slash across his chest. He reached toward Obi Wan with his free hand, wiggling his fingers in a silent request for the other lightsaber.
"What? Oh--here," he nodded, tossing it toward the Padawan.
"Thanks," Anakin said.
The banter ended then as the tempo of the duel began to increase. Anakin and the girl fought their way back outside, and Obi Wan limped out after them, but by the time he cleared the cave, the pair had vanished into the jungle. He started after them as quickly as he could, following the sound of their weapons, which could still be heard through the trees. Twice he tripped, and once he landed face first in the mud. By the time he had pulled himself up from the ground again, the sound of the combatants' light sabers had faded into the distance. Obi Wan sighed and pushed on anyway, honing in on Anakin's Force presence to guide him.
He felt that presence suddenly moving in his direction and stepped back, unsure whether Anakin would be alone or still engaged with Ventress. Her presence was nearby as well, but it was less familiar to him, and he couldn't quite tell where she was. Grabbing a low hanging branch to hoist himself into a tree, he waited calmly, prepared to give his young friend a hand in the event that their enemy was still with him.
Anakin appeared alone, though, and craned his neck to look up into the tree. "What are you doing up there?"
"Oh, just admiring the view," Obi Wan replied smartly. "Where's the girl?"
"I lost her. She had a fighter hidden in the trees out there and gave me the slip," Anakin replied.
Obi Wan swung his leg over the branch on which he was sitting and let himself drop to the ground, cushioning the impact with the Force. He staggered anyway, and Anakin hurriedly stepped forward to steady him.
"You all right?" the Padawan asked.
"Yes, fine," Obi Wan nodded.
"Who was she, anyway?" Anakin asked.
"She called herself Asajj Ventress, eventually. I don't know who or what she is," replied Obi Wan.
"Well, I have a feeling we'll be finding out," Anakin remarked.
"I have a feeling you're right," Obi Wan agreed. Then he gave the Padawan a speculative look. "You know, I've never known you to give up a chase so easily."
"Yes, well, in this case the circumstances were a bit unusual," Anakin related.
"What do you mean, unusual?" frowned Obi Wan.
"Padme had a nightmare. She asked me to come get you. I promised her I'd bring you back safely," explained Anakin.
"You promised Padme? You mean the Council didn't send you?" Obi Wan demanded.
"Why would…?"
"Nevermind," snapped Obi Wan. "You're telling me you disobeyed orders--no one knows you're here?"
"Well, I didn't exactly disobey orders. Master Windu already didn't like the fact that I was handling Padme's security," Anakin said.
"And he doesn't know you're here. Does he?" admonished Obi Wan.
"Look, I--"
"No!" Obi Wan gasped, his hand moving instinctively to clutch his chest as a wave of pain and terror reached him through the Force.
Anakin's arm tightened around him, and the Padawan cried urgently, "What's wrong? Padme?"
"And the baby," Obi Wan drew an unsteady breath. "Anakin, we have to go. Quickly."