Anakin Skywalker sat quietly in the back of an air taxi as it glided through the cityscape of Coruscant. It was evening now, the sun having set more than an hour ago. The vast and majestic skyscrapers that made up the landscape were all lit, casting an illuminating glow over the planet. Endless lines of vehicles in the middle of rush hour traffic clogged the busy skylanes. Gala events raged on the tops of Coruscant's largest buildings. The atmosphere was electric and it could be felt by every living being on the planet.
Yet Anakin paid no attention to any of these things.
His eyes were closed and he was deep in a meditative state. He felt nothing, not even the cool breeze rushing over him in the exposed taxi. Inside of his state, Anakin attempted to reach out with the Force to calm his mind. It was almost overloaded with memories of the past week. With the Force as his ally, he might finally be able to take control of his mind. When a Jedi was at peace, he was at his strongest. It was this that Anakin needed.
He felt the currents of his mind begin to retract. His perception was clearing. Slowly, the calm of the Force began to set in. The memories were fading.
Anakin's face, very still in concentration, began to crack. A smile started to spread across it. He was doing it. Finally, after all these weeks he was learning to filter out the memories that had plagued him. Maybe after all this, he would be able to...
Suddenly, the memories struck back, harder than ever. Images formed in his mind of his mother dying in his arms. The rage that he had felt returned. He wanted to lash out and destroy the foul creatures who had done this to her. But then, the image shifted and he remembered himself aboard the Republic gunship. The ship was being pelted by blaster fire. The gunship rocked violently and Anakin watched in horror as Padmé fell off. She hit the sand hills of Geonosis hard and began to tumble down further. Like with his mother, there was nothing Anakin could do to save her. All he could do was cry out.
"Padmé!"
Anakin's eyes snapped open. His forehead was caked with sweat and he was breathing heavily. The memories were now gone and it took him a moment to register where he was.
"You all right?" came the voice of the taxi driver, a Gran. The taxi was stopped at a traffic light in Coruscant's business section. The driver regarded Anakin for a moment with all three of his eyes.
"Yes, I'm fine," Anakin answered curtly. He didn't much like the attention the driver was giving him.
The driver shrugged and turned back to the driver's wheel. A moment later, the light changed and the air taxi once again took off. The skylane was beginning to clear and the taxi started to pick up speed.
Anakin took a deep breath and slumped back in his seat. He summoned his robe around him, suddenly very aware of the cool breeze. Unable to resume his meditation, the young Jedi just took to staring out aimlessly at the passing skyscrapers.
Padmé...
Anakin sighed as his thoughts turned back to Padmé. His dear wife.
It had only been a week ago when the two of them had stood by each other's side in the Lake Country of Naboo. There, with only See-Threepio and Artoo-Detoo as witnesses, they had married. In doing so, Anakin had broken a cardinal rule. Attachment was forbidden for a Jedi. If it were ever discovered, he would be expelled from the Order.
But Anakin couldn't care less. He loved Padmé and that was the only thing that mattered.
The week they had spent together in the Lake Country afterwards had been the happiest time in Anakin's life. It had been only the two of them there, with the exception of the droids. But there had been so much to do. From walks on the beach, to sailing out on the lakes, to candlelit dinners, to much more personal moments, they had done it all. Any kind of façade the two had erected during their initial time to hid their feelings was now gone. They were Anakin and Padmé Amidala Skywalker now.
His time with Padmé had done wonders for Anakin. He had said that when he was with her, his mind was no longer his own. He was correct.
When he was with Padmé, all of his problems seemed to go away. He could forget about the painful memories of recent weeks. The nightmares that plagued him, horrible images of his mother suffering and demonic things that he did not have a name for had stopped. His mind focused, and he was finally able to achieve that state of mind that was crucial to a Jedi Knight. It was Padmé's love and her soothing presence that did this to him. He never wanted to leave her.
But he knew that he had no choice. When Anakin was asked to escort her back to Naboo, Obi-Wan had given him permission to take a few days off to recuperate from his injuries. He was grateful to his master for his concern. But after three days, Obi-Wan had contacted him. The war was beginning to heat up and the Republic needed every available Jedi.
Anakin knew this to be true but he didn't want to leave. He couldn't leave Padmé. But at the same time, he couldn't tell Obi-Wan this. He knew what his master would say.
"Anakin, you made a commitment to the Jedi and now you have broken it. Do you really know what you have done? The Council will expel you from the Order."
So Anakin told Obi-Wan he couldn't make it back. The reason was that all of Naboo's ports were clogged with an influx of freighters carrying refugees. As a result, the government was strictly regulating the number of flights that could leave from Naboo. The earliest he could get out was at the end of the week.
What he had told Obi-Wan was true...from a certain point of view. With the outbreak of war, millions of beings loyal to the Republic were fleeing from worlds controlled by the Separatists. Naboo was one of only ten worlds in the Republic that had agreed to relax their immigration rules to allow the refugees in. Ship after ship was arriving both day and night to bring the refugees to Naboo. It was impossible for him to get out any sooner, or so he informed Obi-Wan.
Truth be told, he could have borrowed a starfighter from the Naboo Royal Security Forces. As the hero of The Battle of Naboo and the man who kept the beloved Senator Amidala safe, they would have bent over backwards to do him a favor. But he didn't mention that to Obi-Wan or ask that favor from the security forces.
Anakin was afraid that Obi-Wan suspected that he wasn't telling the truth about something. He had never liked to lie to his master, who had been like a father to him. But he had to keep his marriage a secret, at least for the duration of the war.
To his considerable relief (and he had to admit surprise), Obi-Wan believed him. He told Anakin to enjoy his extra time off but to be on a freighter heading for Coruscant by the end of the week. He was needed there.
Relieved, Anakin turned his attention back to his honeymoon with Padmé. The next few days were just as wonderful as the ones gone by. Together, they sailed over to the island that Padmé used to go to when she was a child. There, they traveled to the home of the old man who used to live there. According to Padmé, he used to make glass out of the sand. He would then make things such as necklaces and vases. He would give them out to Padmé and her classmates. The old man had long since died and when they found the home it was in a state of decay.
The grounds however were another story. While the grass had grown wild from years of neglect, magnificent glass sculptures still stood prominently. They were designed in the images of the many creatures of Naboo. There were large, multi-legged creatures such as Faambas and small, squat ones such as Nunuas. Each glass creature was detailed down to the last crevice.
Moving on, Anakin and Padmé observed a dozen glass panes held up by stilts sticking out of the ground. Each pane had the image of a face sketched into it. Many of them were human, but some were Gungan. Each glass sketch was cut beautifully, catching the essence of the person who had been drawn.
Anakin had observed one at the center that stood more prominently than the others. Walking over to it, he could see that it was the face of a young girl. She was no more than ten years of age. She had delicate features and her eyes showed an intelligence that went beyond her youth. It had almost an angelic look to it. Anakin looked over at Padmé and smiled. She blushed and quietly nodded her head. Even if the face was younger, Anakin could instantly recognize it as Padmé.
It was then that the sun, spending most of the day hidden behind the clouds, finally broke through. The light shone down at the grounds of the old man's house and onto the glass sculptures. The sunlight penetrated the glass and like a prism, showered Anakin and Padmé with a spectacular display of color. Anakin had taken his wife's hand in his own. She had said that what the old man could do on this island was magic. She was right.
But as the final day came closer, the thought of leaving his wife loomed heavily over Anakin's mind. He wasn't able to sleep that entire night. It had been ten years since the last time he saw Padmé. Now, after less than two weeks they would be separated once more. For how long, Anakin didn't know. He only wanted to be in this place of peace and total happiness. This was home now, not the Jedi Temple.
But the day had come at last. He had booked passage on a freighter early in the morning. There was nothing he could do but wait. There was one decision that he made ahead of time though.
See-Threepio would be staying with Padmé. It was with great reluctance that Anakin did this. Threepio was family to him and one of the last links to his mother. But Anakin knew that this was the right decision. The life of a Jedi was a difficult one and he was going to be extraordinarily busy these next few months. He would have very little time to spend in the Temple. He didn't want to leave Threepio alone, with no master to serve. Besides, all the lightsabers being ignited in the Temple might be enough to overload the jittery droid's circuits.
More importantly, Threepio would be a great asset to Padmé in her role in the Senate. She would need all the help she could get in these difficult times for the Republic. Anakin could trust the droid to keep an eye on Padmé and make sure that everything was all right. Plus, Artoo would finally have a counterpart. Though the plucky astromech droid would never admit he wanted one.
The thought had caused Anakin to smile for the first time all day. He had a feeling that those two droids would play a very important role in events facing the galaxy in the years ahead.
Anakin had stayed at the Lake Country cabin with Padmé until her security detail had arrived. He ducked out quietly as Padmé went to meet with Captain Typho. With his bags packed, he waited outside the cabin on the balcony overlooking the lake for a long time. He was leaving Padmé and a life with her he so wanted to live. He knew it wasn't the end, not by a long shot. But it was painful for him nonetheless.
It was then he saw Padmé slip out of the back entrance. She was dressed in her more formal political attire, a floor-length gown of rich texture and light blue color. Her hair was done up in a basket weave, much as it had been on that day on Coruscant when he had seen her for the first time in ten years. She wore no make-up, save for the red crimson split on her lips. It was the Naboo Scar of Remembrance, worn during a time of great suffering on Naboo on a planetary level, or a more personal one.
She made her way quietly to him on the balcony. Anakin didn't wait. He dropped his bags and hurried over to her, embracing her tightly. She did the same. When they broke the embrace, Anakin looked at Padmé and gave a half-hearted laugh.
"I guess I'm not very good at saying good-bye, huh?" he said.
Padmé laughed. "I think you do it just fine."
"I wish," Anakin had said. "I just...I just don't want to leave."
"I know," Padmé said. "Neither do I. But we both have our duty to perform. Yours in the Jedi Order and mine in the Senate. It is calling both of us now as we speak." Her lips curled, forming in a bemused smile. "Even we have to answer it sometimes."
Anakin laughed.
"I suppose so."
"Anakin," Padmé told him. "I don't know how long it will be before we can see each other again. This war may last a very long time. The threat to both of our lives will be great. But no matter how far apart we are and no matter what we have to face, our love will survive. We are joined together now in union. Not even the Jedi or the Senate can take that away from us. My love is with you and yours is with me."
Anakin smiled, his spirits beginning to lift. It was then that he noticed something that he hadn't before. Padmé was wearing something on her neck, a trinket. It wasn't as beautiful as her gown or even as formal as what was worn by galactic senators. It stood out against the regal gown, but in a positive way. Anakin took the trinket in his hand and looked at it closely. When he realized what it was, his jaw opened slightly and he looked up at Padmé.
"You still have it."
It was the japor snippet. The same one Anakin had carved for her ten years ago on Tatooine. It was a little worn and chipped at the edges but it looked exactly the same way it did when he first made it. The fact that Padmé still had it at had floored him.
Padmé smiled. She put her hand over the one Anakin had the snippet in.
"Of course," Padmé told him. "It is one of my most cherished possessions. Whenever I've had it on, I always thought of you."
For a moment, Anakin couldn't speak. He had been truly touched. He looked Padmé deeply in her eyes and whispered, "I love you."
He leaned in and gently kissed her on the lips. Padmé returned the kiss in full.
Finally, they departed and nearly an hour later, Anakin was on a starfreighter on the way to Coruscant. He watched quietly from a port window as the freighter blasted off and left Naboo behind. Anakin had hoped that his time on that beautiful, green world with Padmé would be enough to get him through the trials ahead.
He was wrong. Almost immediately after the freighter had made the jump into hyperspace, the memories had returned. The horrors of the last few weeks came flooding back. He thought of his mother, tied down and beaten at the Tusken encampment. He had held her in his arms, desperately pleading with her to stay with him. But in the end, she was gone. It was the closest that he had ever felt to death himself. Anakin could do nothing for her.
Except avenge her. Anakin had given into his darkest, animal-like instincts and lashed out. His lightsaber had cut through Tusken after Tusken, man and woman. He had used the Force to rip a boulder off a nearby mountain and squash the life out of them. When it was all over, not a single Tusken was left. Not even the children. Anakin had rendered the clan of nomads extinct.
Anakin found that he could not escape the horror of the massacre even in sleep. Gone were the images of his mother in pain. Instead Tusken children being cut down by his lightsaber replaced them. What frightened him even more was the feeling of power that had come over during that massacare. He could still feel it, even in his dreams. It made giving into his anger in that way feel natural. As if it wasn't the wrong thing to do.
But he was a Jedi Knight. A Jedi did not give into anger. He was supposed better than that. But then why did giving into his anger feel so good?
Anakin sighed once more. Needless to say, the trip to Coruscant had been an unpleasant one for him. He was tired and felt the weight of his problems crashing down on him. The trip to Naboo had done so much for him but now that he was gone, once again he was in turmoil.
That no doubt would not please the Jedi. He was to be debriefed by them as soon as he returned to the Temple. There were many questions they wished to ask him about his actions while he was assigned to protect Padmé. They had partially agreed to allow him to go to Naboo to recuperate from what had happened to him on Geonosis.
For it was at the Battle of Geonosis that he had confronted Count Dooku, the leader of the separatists. He fought valiantly but in the end, the former Jedi proved too much for him. With one swing of the lightsaber, Dooku had severed his arm at the elbow.
Anakin shuddered at the memory and wrapped his cloak tighter around him. He looked down at his new right hand. It resembled a metallic skeleton, made of pure durasteel right up to the elbow. Only the fingertips were covered with thin silver plating. All the wirings that made up the hand and connected to his nerves were completely exposed. He knew he would have to get that taken care off once he returned.
Anakin brought the hand up to his face. He opened it and then closed it, watching carefully the mechanisms working inside of it. He had been terribly afraid of how Padmé was going to react to it. But she had made it clear to him that it didn't matter if one of his arms was replaced by a machine. Cybernetic limb or not, he was still Anakin Skywalker, the man she loved. She proved that when she took the hand in her own during the wedding. To her, the arm represented a symbol of strength for Anakin as well as the ultimate commitment to duty. Anakin was deeply grateful for this but to him, his new arm represented something completely different.
Failure.
This thought had been gnawing ever since the duel. When he had fought Count Dooku, he knew that he had a chance to end the war. He had given Dooku everything he had but it just wasn't good enough. Despite all the time he spent in training, it had done nothing against Dooku. The war was now expanding.
He had failed. Just like he had failed to save his mother. He had even promised over her grave that he wouldn't fail again.
Some promise, Anakin thought bitterly.
His mechanical hand curled into a tight fist. The hand shook, not yet accustomed to such a violent action. Anakin looked at it with disgust. He was becoming just like the droids he used to build as a child. More machine than man.
Well, if that was the way it was supposed to be, than he was determined to adjust to it. When he returned to the Temple, he would build a new arm. A stronger one. He would make it respond to him as if it were his real arm. He would use it to become a better Jedi than he was now. When that time came, he would confront Count Dooku once more. Only this time, he would be the one to emerge victorious. Dooku would pay for what he had done to him, what he had turned him into.
The air taxi roared through the cityscape, free of any traffic. Ahead, the five spires that made up the Jedi Temple came into view. They loomed apart from all the other buildings around it, many of which had begun to fall into decay. Once occupied by successful businesses and loving families, they had been long since been abandoned. Some of them had been submerged by a large junkyard, the very same one in which Anakin used to search for parts for his droids. Instead of being cleared out by local officials, the junkyard had expanded with the waste of several of Coruscant's biggest companies. Even the Temple, a magnificent structure that was the home of the wise and powerful Jedi Order showed the effects of urban decay. While the pyramid-like spires shown as spectacularly as the brightest star, the foundation was old and rundown. It hadn't been attended to in years.
To Anakin, the decay represented what the Jedi could become. If they continued to ignore the warning signs around them and follow things strictly by the book, they ran the chance of becoming obsolete. Much like the buildings around them.
The air taxi began to slow. Soon, it began to descend towards the city streets. It landed on a small landing platform about a block away from the Jedi Temple. It was deserted just as the buildings around it were. The driver turned back to Anakin and handed him a data pad showing the exact price of the ride.
Anakin took the pad and tapped in a five-digit code. It gave access to "The Vault," as the Jedi knew it. Basically, the area that controlled the distribution of funds that Jedi were allowed to use during their missions. The transaction was successful and Anakin handed the pad back to the driver.
The Gran mumbled a "thank you" in his native language. Anakin ignored it as he stepped out of the craft and onto the street. Moments later, the taxi ascended back up into the air. It made a sharp turn in the opposite direction and took off, passing through the deserted skylane through the cityscape.
All alone, Anakin walked the streets of Coruscant toward the Temple. It was quiet and very few people were around, save for some scrap merchants digging through the junkyard. Anakin was glad that the taxi had dropped him off a distance (albeit a short one) away from the Temple. He hoped that the fresh air and the relative quiet would help clear his mind of the thoughts that raged inside it.
In almost no time, Anakin approached the plaza that surrounded the Temple. He neared the doors when suddenly the silence about him was shattered. The powerful roar of a starships engines blasting off could be heard all over this section of the cityscape. The ground literally shook and Anakin looked up in the air to see what was coming.
A Republic military cruiser rose ominously above the Jedi Temple. The massive Accumulator-class vessel, with a triangle shaped design, was capable of carrying thousands of Republic soldiers at a time. Hundreds of these vessels had departed from Coruscant since the outbreak of the war. It had become a common sight on the city planet.
Anakin watched closely as the ship hovered over the Jedi Temple. One might feel intimidated by such a bold display of power but Anakin was not. The ship remained there for only a few moments before it blasted off into space, leaving a powerful current behind.
Anakin stood there as the current rushed over him. It hit forcefully, whipping his robe backwards. It was strong enough to knock even the most powerful of people across the streets. But Anakin stood his ground, and soon the wave had passed. He then pulled the hood of his robe over his head and entered the Jedi Temple.
**********
The first thing that struck Anakin was how quiet the Temple was. Granted, it was a place of solace and reflective thought but he had never seen it this quiet. The halls were as abandoned as the streets outside. The lobby was only staffed by a minimum of service droids, all of which stood relatively motionless at their stations. If Anakin ignited his lightsaber, he was sure the sound would echo loudly all around him.
Though it came as no surprise why the Temple was this way. The familiar smell of fire, caused by the funeral pyre of a Jedi Knight still lingered in the air. Anakin sighed sadly as he thought of the recent losses the Jedi had sustained on Geonosis. Two hundred Jedi Knights had been sent in to that unforgiving planet to rescue Obi-Wan. Terribly outnumbered by the massive droid army of the Separatists, less than twenty of them made it out alive.
It had been the single greatest loss of Jedi in the history of the Order. Not even the violent Sith uprising a millennia ago had ever yielded these kinds of casualties. The void left behind could be felt by every Jedi, from the members of the Council to the youngest padawans. Anakin himself had known a number of the lost Jedi himself. He may not have been close to many of them or even agreed with their philosophies but he felt their loss just as much as anyone. The Jedi had been the only family he had known since he left Tatooine, and as Obi-Wan often pointed out, the loss of even one Jedi diminished them all.
Anakin waited patiently by a pair of turbolift doors. The lift would take him directly to the top of the western spire where the Jedi Council was located. Once he stepped through those doors and into the hollowed chamber, he would be subjected to a thorough debriefing. This was the Council's first chance to ask him about his conduct during his recent mission to protect Padmé. He knew he would be asked a lot of very personal questions. Not just about his relationship with Padmé but why he was on Tatooine to begin with. Obi-Wan had told him that Yoda had sensed a great disturbance in the Force during this time.
He already knows! A voice in his mind cried out.
No, he couldn't have known, Anakin thought. Surely if the Jedi Master had, he would have confronted Anakin with this information before he left for Naboo.
Liar, the voice hissed. You know how Yoda operates. He is testing you, as are the rest of the Council.
Anakin shook his head angrily. He was just overreacting. The Council couldn't have discovered what happened. So long as he remained in control and at peace, the Council wouldn't know anything he didn't want them to know. He could hide information from them. He had done it in the past when necessary. Doing so now would not be a problem.
The turbolift doors swung open, interrupting Anakin's thoughts. He stepped through them and ordered the lift to take him to the top floor. After a moment, the doors shut and the lift started to move.
You're not a very good liar, Anakin Skywalker and you know it!
Anakin heard the voice again and the power behind it literally shook him. The voice was familiar but he could not recognize it. It was not his own, that he knew for certain.
You wear your emotions on your sleeve. They will see through you easily. They will learn about your forbidden love with Padmé. More so, they will learn about what you did on Tatooine. They won't simply expel you from the Order. Nowhen they learn the true horror of what you have done, they will throw you in a cage on some forgotten world in the Outer Rim. You will never see Padmé again. But you will have your inner demons to keep you company. They will attach themselves to you and never let go!
The voice then broke out in a loud, cryptic laugh. It rang powerfully in his mind.
No, Anakin thought. He brought his hands up to his ears, trying the block out the laughter. That would never happen.
The voice did not answer him. It simply continued to laugh, growing louder and louder in volume. It threatened to overwhelm him, just like the memories almost had. It felt as if it would crush him alive.
"Enough!" Anakin screamed. His mechanical hand curled into a fist and he smashed the panel that controlled the turbolift. The lift rocked, then abruptly stopped about halfway up the western spire.
The laughter abruptly stopped. His mind quieted and everything around Anakin suddenly grew dark. He leaned back against the turbolift and slowly slumped to the ground. He bowed his head toward his knees, refusing to look up.
He couldn't face the Council, not like this. His emotions would overwhelm him and he would lose control. The Council would know everything, and he truly would be ostracized from the Order. He had to be at peace. Only then would he be able to confront the Council. At this moment, Anakin desperately wished he had someone to talk to.
Padmé was out of the question. He didn't want his wife to see him this way, on the verge of a breakdown. Obi-Wan too, was not an option. He might consider his Master like a father, but Obi-Wan could usually read him like a book. He couldn't admit these problems to him. He feared his answer would be little different from that of the Jedi Council.
He really wished he could speak to Chancellor Palpatine. The Chancellor had taken a special interest in him over the years. Unlike the Council, which rarely offered him any encouragement, Palpatine had often praised him as one of the most gifted Jedi he had ever known. He seemed to believe in Anakin when everyone else, even his own Master had had doubts about him. Anakin had appreciated the kindness he had shown towards him and considered the man his friend.
But war had broken out and Anakin felt that he couldn't bother the Chancellor with his personal problems. Palpatine would call that rubbish, he knew but still, it was not his place to distract such an important man from his duties.
But after the Chancellor, who did that leave? If the three most important people in his life couldn't help him, who could? Perhaps it was time for him to consider a friend.
If you ever feel the need to talk to someone besides Obi-Wan, you're welcome to confine in me. If nothing else, maybe I can provide a different perspective on certain things.
Anakin looked up, suddenly remembering the words that Barriss Offee had spoken to him on Ansion one month ago. She was a padawan just like him. Along with their masters, they had been assigned to negotiate a border dispute on that distant world. Ansion was one of thousands of worlds that considered joining the separatist movement. Their loss would have brought about forty other worlds with it, dealing a serious blow to the Republic. Against all odds, they had managed to reach an agreement with the planet's ruling body that would allow Ansion to stay in the Republic. The mission had been a success.
Anakin and Barriss had initially gotten off to a rocky start together. She felt Anakin was too concerned with his own problems rather than the problems of the government he had pledged to serve. Anakin felt that Barriss, like so many Jedi, was too rigid in her thinking when she was given an assignment. Together, they had clashed several times while on Ansion.
But despite these differences, the two had earned a grudging respect for one another. By the end of their mission together, that respect had turned to friendship. Anakin had learned that Barriss was a good Jedi, one who was committed to the common good. Plus, Barriss had offered him help if he ever needed it. He knew she was sincere and that offers like that didn't come around very often.
Anakin nodded his head. It was settled. He would go to Barriss and tell her what he could. Maybe she would be able to help him.
He pulled himself off the floor of the turbolift. He looked over at the control panel he had just slammed his fist into. The panel was smashed and the wiring was exposed. A quick analysis showed that it was still functioning. Anakin quickly keyed in the floor on which Barriss was currently located.
A sudden realization dawned on Anakin. Right now, it was Barriss Offee who might need him more than Anakin needed her.
**********
The healing ward of the Jedi Temple was located at the bottom of the western spire. It was what one might expect from the Jedi. The walls were a simple white in color. There was one large window with a view of the Coruscant cityscape. Glow lamps located at various intervals in the room shone softly against the night sky. The patient's beds were lined up neatly against the walls. A computer screen hung over each bed, giving out the full vital signs of the patient who rested there. Large bacta tanks for the most serious of injuries were located in the center of the room. Despite all this, the healing ward looked fairly sparse and practical, reflecting the Jedi Order.
The healing ward was currently treating those injured in the Battle of Geonosis. There weren't many of them to treat. After the battle, the Jedi had returned to the arena to conduct a sweep for survivors. They had found only three that were still alive. One was a male Knight who had died shortly after arriving at the ward. The second was a female Knight who was currently in critical condition. The third was the Jedi padawan who Anakin wanted to see, Barriss Offee.
Anakin walked quietly into the ward's waiting area, located in the front. The night was still young, and visitors were still allowed to come in. Provided of course that the person they wished to visit was in any shape to see them.
In the center of the room, Anakin saw one of the Jedi healers speaking with a Jedi Knight. Anakin instantly recognized the Knight as Luminara Unduli, Barriss Offee's master.
Luminara was an attractive female humanoid of average size. She had been born on a desert planet, like Anakin, named Mirial. Mirialans wore tattoos to denote cultural destinies and Luminara was no exception. The lower portion of her face was tattooed in small diamond shapes that formed a vertical stripe from her lush, blue-black lower lip to the edge of her chin. The backs of her hands also bore these marks atop each knuckle. They stood out sharply against her golden skin.
As was the case with Barriss, Anakin had taken a liking to Luminara. She was a brave fighter who had proven her skill many times on the mission to Ansion. One night, he had gotten careless on a night patrol and had been attacked by a pair of vicious shanhs. Thankfully, Luminara had arrived just in time and together they had finished off the beasts. Thankfully, she had spared him from another lecture about this incident, as Obi-Wan would have likely done. She simply reminded Anakin that it was a learning experience that he would learn from. It had been a kind gesture and Anakin had appreciated that.
Anakin waited until the healer had left before he approached Luminara. Luminara remained standing in the center of the waiting room. Her eyes were closed and her head was bowed. She didn't seem to see Anakin approach, stopping mere inches away from her. He studied her closely, finding no signs of movement. To him, it looked as if the Jedi Knight was asleep. He could sense a great deal of concern coming from her, not surprising considering what her Padawan was going through.
Anakin took a deep breath and asked quietly, "Master Luminara?"
Luminara raised her head and opened her eyes. She regarded Anakin with those large blue eyes of hers for a long time, a hard look on her face.
"Anakin Skywalker," she finally said. Slowly, her expression began to soften. A smile stretched across her weary face, probably the first time all day.
"It is good to see you again."
Anakin smiled back.
"Likewise, Master Luminara," he said, bowing his head in a show of respect to the senior Jedi. Luminara nodded her head in return.
"Impressive," Luminara observed. "I know that you are a powerful Jedi but I didn't think you had it in you to be so formal."
Anakin laughed, knowing that Luminara was only teasing.
"Well, sometimes," he admitted. "It's easier with a person I respect."
"You're looking well, Anakin. Your Master was in here earlier."
Anakin nodded, not surprised by the news. Obi-Wan had been friends with Luminara for many years.
"Well, lucky I missed him then," Anakin said, a mischievous grin on his face.
Luminara let out a small laugh in return, knowing that he was the one joking this time.
"I came here to see Barriss," Anakin said, when Luminara had stopped laughing. He took a deep breath before he spoke again. "I wanted to know how she was doing."
The smile slowly faded from Luminara's face. She blinked her eyes and lowered her head once more. Anakin looked at her in concern, suddenly fearing the worst.
"She...is fine," Luminara assured him, looking up once more. "Barriss spent most of the day in a bacta tank, receiving treatment for her spinal injury. I've been with her all day."
She turned away from Anakin and walked towards a nearby window that overlooked the healing ward.
"Thankfully, her injuries are not as serious at the healers first thought. When the search team found her, she was barely alive. The healers didn't think she was going to last the night once she returned. It was touch and go for a while...Barriss almost left us twice. But she hung on. Thank the Force, my Padawan hung on."
"Barriss is a tough woman," Anakin said. "I learned on Ansion never to count her out."
Luminara turned to Anakin and smiled. She then looked back at the observation window. She was quiet for several moments before she spoke again.
"The bacta was able to help treat her spinal injury. She'll be able to walk again but..." her voice trailed off suddenly but then returned to her. "It might be quite a while before she is able to return to active duty. The rest of her injuries will see to that."
She let out a long, deep sigh and pressed her hands against the glass window.
"When we were fighting on Geonosis, I thought I had lost her. In my mind, I could hear her cry out in my mind and then, nothing. The only thing I could sense other than the Force was death. It was all around us.
"When the gunships arrived, I didn't want to leave. I told the other Jedi I was fighting beside to go without me. I didn't want to leave without Barriss, whether she was alive or not. But the firepower was too great, and it nearly overwhelmed me. So I got on the ship, desperately hoping that my padawan was still alive. Getting on that gunship and leaving her was the hardest thing..." Luminara's voice trailed off again and her head slumped against the glass window.
Sensing her pain, Anakin walked over to her. Slowly, he reached over and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Luminara's head rose slowly from the glass and she looked over at Anakin.
"I know how you feel," Anakin told her. His hand squeezed Luminara's shoulder.
"I know the feeling of wanting to help someone you love but not being able to. Though I couldn't do much to help her," Anakin said, suddenly growing distant. He could feel the pain of his mother's death come over him once more and he struggled not to show it. "But thankfully, the healers were able to help Barriss. They didn't let her down."
Luminara look closely at Anakin. She could sense the pain that was coming from him. It was powerful, even more so than her pain at nearly losing Barriss. The intensity of Anakin's pain took her by surprise, and rocked her where she stood. She shook her head, hoping to clear her mind. Anakin's pain had unsettled her further.
Once she had regained her composure, she placed her hand over Anakin's and turned around to face him.
"I can see Barriss is not the only one in need of some healing, Anakin. You can go to her now. She'll be very happy to see you. Maybe it will do you some good as well."
Anakin smiled gratefully at her.
"Thank you, Master Luminara. I look forward to seeing her again."
Luminara nodded and stepped aside. With a final nod, Anakin walked past her and into the healing ward.
Anakin knew that Barriss' bed was at the end of the room, right next to the window overlooking the cityscape. He walked past the row of bacta tanks. He could see that one of them had an occupant. It was the female Jedi that they had found after the battle on Geonosis.
She rested vertically in the tank, hardly moving. Her head was shaved from where she had sustained the worst of her injuries. A breath mask covered her face. Various medical instruments, resilient to the water, also covered her. The tank was filled with the gelatinous red fluid known as bacta. The bacta could treat even the most serious of injuries. But Anakin looked at the Jedi healer who was monitoring her. He was hunched over the instruments, shaking his head back and forth. Anakin didn't need the Force to tell that the prognosis of this brave knight did not look good.
Turning away, Anakin walked down the length of the ward. On the last bed closet to the window was Barriss Offee.
Her appearance took Anakin by surprise. Like Luminara, Barriss was a Mirialan, and as such she bore tattoos on her face. Her diamond shaped marks ran from one cheekbone, across her nose to the next one. You couldn't really see it now because a bacta mask covered the entire left side of her face. Her arm, sticking out above her blanket was wrapped in a cast. A tube of some kind was attached to her stomach from a nearby piece of medical equipment. Anakin wasn't quite sure what it was.
He looked up at the computer monitor above Barriss' bed. It reported her life signs were stable, though not quite at an acceptable level. Luminara hadn't been exaggerating when she had told him just how seriously Barriss had been injured.
Barriss' eyes were closed and her breathing was soft. Anakin looked over at her helplessly, not knowing what to do. It unsettled him to see such a bright and energetic person such as Barriss in this kind of condition. He knew he really shouldn't wake her. She clearly needed as much rest as she could get. It was wrong of him to come her and ask help. He shouldn't have been so...
Suddenly, Barriss let out a horse cough. Anakin looked down at her bed and watched as she began to stir. In a matter of moments, she opened her eyes and turned slowly to face Anakin.
Their eyes met and the two stared at each other for a long time. Anakin wasn't sure what to say. Barriss had been badly injured at Geonosis. Did she even know who she was looking at? If she did, would she be in any condition to speak?
There is one way to find out.
Slowly, Anakin raised his hand up and waved tentatively.
"Hello, Barriss."
She said nothing, merely continuing to stare at him. Anakin sighed. He had been right. It was a mistake to have come here.
It was then that Barriss responded. The right side of her lips, the ones that weren't concealed with the bacta mask began to curl. It formed a lopsided grin on the good side of her face.
"Anakin," she said softly, reaching up with her good hand.
Anakin took her hand and grasped it in his own. Her grip was surprisingly strong. He knew that it took all of Barriss' strength to do this. She was a fighter, no matter what she was doing.
"Well," Anakin said. "I must say this is a hell of a way to get out of Master Yoda's meditation sessions."
The grin on Barriss' face dropped. She was again looking at him silently.
Anakin cursed silently to himself. He didn't mean to make light of what had happened to her. He thought a joke might lighten the tension around them.
Before he could open his mouth to apologize, Barriss closed her eyes and let out a hearty laugh.
"Oh, you know I wouldn't do that, Anakin. Though I certainly wouldn't put it past you."
"That's probably true," Anakin said, and he too started to laugh. It was good to see that Barriss still had a sense of humor. She was as feisty as ever, that was for sure.
Anakin sat down at a nearby chair close to the bed. Barriss shifted her head up as much as possible in her situation. With the initial awkwardness behind them, the two could finally begin to talk as friends did.
"How are you doing, Barriss?" Anakin asked. "We've all been pretty worried about you."
"I feel better than I did when they found me," Barriss admitted. "Still, I think I would rather wrestle a Hutt then spend another hour in that bacta tank. I spent the entire afternoon in that damn thing. The stench from the bacta is still on me."
"Believe me, I've smelled worse," Anakin assured her. "You should smell some of the things that come out of my homeworld, Tatooine. It would put the bacta, or even those creatures we were riding on Ansion to shame."
"I bet," Barriss said. "From what you told me, your homeworld sounds like the kind of place where you can find some of the most unpleasant things in the galaxy."
"Yes," Anakin said, his voice barely a whisper. "It is."
Barriss seemed to have picked up something in his voice. A sadness of some kind. She chose not to pursue this topic further. At least not now.
"So," Barriss began as she let out a painful cough. "How have things been for you, Anakin?"
He looked at her for a moment, suddenly unaware of how to answer the question. The last two weeks have been such a trying time for him. He had experienced great happiness with during his reunion and marriage to Padmé. Yet for the most part, it had been a time of sadness and loss. The death of his mother, the massacre that ensued, his loss to Dooku. How was he supposed to answer a question like that when he had such polarizing feelings towards it?
"Life-changing," he finally responded.
Barriss raised her uncovered eyebrow at that answer.
"Life-changing?" she asked. "How so?"
"Recent events have allowed me to look at myself in ways I never had before," Anakin answered carefully.
"I see," Barriss responded. "Is there anything in there in particular you'd wish to talk about?"
Anakin stared at her quiet. He could sense in her legitimate concern. She truly did consider him a friend and she wanted to help. Among Barriss' primary strengths was healing, both in mind and body.
Anakin thought about how nice it would be to let someone else know everything that had happened to him these last two weeks. It would take some of the burden off his mind.
"Maybe a little later," Anakin said. After all, he had come here to visit her and see how she was doing. Barriss looked at him for a little while, clearly wanting to follow up on that. Instead, she only nodded her head.
"Barriss," Anakin began. "How did you get injured on Geonosis? When I didn't see you at the command center afterwards, we all thought you had been killed."
"I very nearly was," Barriss said. She took a long and deep breath before continuing.
"When the Jedi task force arrived on Geonosis, I was assigned to Master Mundi and Master Plo Koon's group. We went in with a specific mission, to shut down the battle droids. We fought our way through the stands and behind enemy lines to one of the main battle ships. There, we deactivated the battle droids.
"For a moment, it looked as if the fighting was over. But there was a back-up system that we didn't know about. It kicked in and reactivated the battle droids. They were all around us. Two of the destroyer droids rolled up in front of me and two other padawans. They opened fire and the last thing I remember was a large explosion...and then nothing.
"The next thing I knew, I woke up in a bacta tank clinging for my life. Those two other padawans were friends of mine. We were in the same clan growing up in the Temple. They...they didn't make it."
Barriss went quiet. She closed her eyes, trying to fight back the tears that were forming.
Anakin shook his head sadly. There was so much pain and sadness even in the Jedi Temple. Would this be only the beginning?
"I'm sorry, Barriss."
Barriss struggled to regain her composure before she spoke again.
"There is no death, there is only the Force," she said, reciting the last part of the Jedi Code. "Whenever I think of my lost friends, I try to remember these words. They bring me some comfort."
I wish they could do the same for me, Anakin thought. Whenever he thought about his mother, he always felt such a tremendous sense of loss. Not even his Jedi lessons could do anything to ease that feeling.
Barriss leaned her head back on her pillow before continuing. "When I got here, they didn't think I would live. When I proved them wrong, they didn't think I would ever walk again because of the spinal injury. Thankfully, the work of the Jedi healers along with the bacta treatment has managed to repair much of the damage."
"Don't count yourself out of the equation, Barriss," Anakin said. "If it wasn't your power and will to survive, you would never have made it off of Geonosis."
Barriss smiled, grateful for the compliment. Her smiled faded though as eyes fell on Anakin's metallic hand, which was resting on his lap.
"I see I was not the only one seriously injured on Geonosis."
Anakin looked down at his hand and hastily pushed it back into his robe.
"I'm sorry," Barriss said quickly. "I didn't mean to..."
"No, no, it's all right," Anakin assured her. "I'm not offended."
"Did...did Count Dooku do that to you?" Barriss asked with reluctance.
Anakin nodded.
"Yes, he did," Anakin said quietly. "Master Obi-Wan and I had gone after Dooku. We hoped if we were able to take him, we could end this war before it spread. Obi-Wan wanted to work together but I couldn't wait. I...I was too impatient. I charged Dooku only to be hit by him with a blast of lightning."
Barriss gasped, her good hand covering her mouth.
"Force-lightning," she said. "I learned about it during Madame Jocasta Nu's lecture about the Sith. It's an ancient power of theirs, one of which the Jedi do not have a counter for. Using it is a terrible corruption of the Force."
"It is," Anakin said grimly. "When it struck me, it felt as if I was dying. I could almost feel the life draining away from me."
Anakin cringed inwardly as the memory flooded back to him.
"I never want to relieve that feeling again. Ever."
Barriss nodded, continuing to listen intently.
"To make a long story short, Obi-Wan and I both fought Dooku. He defeated us both and cut my arm off at the elbow. If only I had been more patient," Anakin stopped, then gritted his teeth. "If only I had been stronger, I could have beaten him."
"Anakin," Barriss said gently. "You did the best you could. Count Dooku was a powerful Jedi."
"Doesn't matter. I failed in my duty as a Jedi and as a result, Dooku escaped. The war continues."
"So it does," Barriss admitted. "There is nothing that can be gained by dwelling on what happened with Dooku. The only thing left to do is to look ahead and prepare for the battle ahead. We must have faith that the Force will guide us in the right direction. That is the only thing any of us can do now. "
Anakin sighed and rose to his feet. He walked past Barriss's bed to the window nearby. He looked out at the cityscape thoughtfully, considering what Barriss had said.
"Did you spend any time in the healing ward after the battle?" Barriss asked.
"Yes, a little bit," Anakin said, still looking out of the window. "It was here they fitted me with my new arm. It's incomplete but I plan to finish it as soon as I can. After I was released, I escorted Padmé back to Naboo. I stayed there for a week, recovering from my injuries."
"Oh," Barriss replied simply.
Something in her tone made Anakin turn around. He looked at Barriss carefully. He could see a curiosity in those violet eyes of hers. She was trying not to show it but Anakin could see that something was on her mind.
"What is it, Barriss?" he asked.
"No, it's...it's not my place to ask."
"But you have a question," Anakin said, moving closer to her bed. "A good padawan always asks questions, even if it is not always appropriate. An unanswered question is a missed opportunity to learn. A Jedi does not pass up such an opportunity."
Barriss looked at Anakin, impressed by his words. Anakin had to admit he was to. Master Obi-Wan would be proud.
"Very well," Barriss said. She took her time, preparing to ask him what was obviously a delicate subject. "I've only had a few visitors since I've been in here. They talked about rumors that have been going around in the Temple. One of them involves you and Senator Amidala."
"I see," Anakin said. "Tell me, what have they been saying about Senator Amidala and I?"
"Well," Barriss continued, shifting uncomfortably in her bed. "They are saying that your relationship with the Senator from Naboo is not actually...professional."
Anakin's face showed no reaction. He remained calm, his body deceiving nothing.
So, it has begun.
The rumors of his forbidden love had reached the halls of the Jedi Temple. Jedi weren't much for small talk but some of them were not above gossip. He imagined this was a hot topic of discussion among the padawans stationed here. Their masters would likely tell them not to gossip. Jedi were not allowed to have attachments and it was unheard of for one of them to join another in the bonds of marriage. To them, even a Jedi as unorthodox as Anakin Skywalker wouldn't break that rule.
What Anakin wanted to know was how that rumor had gotten around in the first place. He supposed that he and Padmé's actions hadn't exactly been very subtle on Geonosis. Now that he remembered it, he had just called her Padmé in front of Barriss. Master Yoda had seen Padmé embrace him in the hanger deck. She had told him on Naboo that Yoda had questioned her about the embrace and subsequent kiss while he was recovering. Padme' had told him nothing only that she had been concerned for Anakin's life. But did the Jedi really know about it?
Anakin suddenly remembered that Barriss was staring intently at him, waiting for an answer. Anakin wished he could tell her. It would be nice for him to be able to tell someone else about the marriage. It would ease some of the burden resting heavily over his mind.
But he wasn't going to tell her. If he couldn't tell Obi-Wan about the marriage, he certainly couldn't tell Barriss.
Anakin stood up straight before Barriss and shook his head.
"No," he answered as firmly as he could. "Senator Amidala and I are friends. I was assigned to protect her and that is all. Our relationship is strictly professional."
Liar, he said quietly to himself. He hated having to say anything that was a falsehood about his relationship with Padmé. He felt as if it were an insult to his wife. But they had made a promise to keep this marriage a secret for now. To dishonor that would be to dishonor her. That was something Anakin knew he could never do.
For a moment, it looked as if Barriss did not believe him. She regarded Anakin carefully, as if looking for some crack that lay inside him. During their time on Ansion, she never knew how to respond to something he had told her. He was apparently much too complicated for that. Finally, she nodded her head in the affirmative and smiled.
"Of course, Anakin. I'm sorry for even bringing it up. I guess I just let my curiosity get the best of me."
"Don't worry about it," Anakin said with a dismissive shrug.
"No," Barriss said, as she again began to cough painfully. "It was just...what I accused you of was violating a sacred rule of the Jedi. All of this because of some second-hand rumors I heard. It is not the way of the Jedi..."
"Barriss," Anakin cut in forcefully. He didn't like where this conversation was heading. "Don't worry about it. We all make mistakes...even when we are following the way of the Jedi."
"Is that why you came here, Anakin? Barriss said, suddenly beginning to pick up on something. "Because you made mistakes on that path?
Anakin sighed deeply. This was the part he most wanted to talk about.
"It was one of the reasons, yes," he admitted. "Don't misunderstand me. I came here to see if you were all right. I was worried that I might have lost a friend after Geonosis. But I also came here because you told me that if I ever needed to talk to someone, you would always be available."
"I see," Barriss said. "And you're in need of some friendly advice."
Anakin nodded.
"Anakin...just exactly what happened to you since I last saw you. Even without the Force, I can sense that you've gone through a lot over the past through weeks."
"That is an understatement," Anakin said. He walked back to Barriss' bedside and sat down once more. He rubbed his hands over his face and looked straight at his friend.
"Barriss, I don't know what's happening to me anymore. Not that I ever knew before. My future has always seemed to be clouded. But it feels more uncertain to me now than ever before."
Anakin took a steadying breath, preparing himself for what he had to say.
"There have been some good things that have happened to me these past few weeks. I'm not going to deny that for a second. But there have been a lot of bad things too. I've experienced loss on a scale I never knew existed. The last month or so, I...had been having nightmares about my mother. That was the reason I was always so distracted on our mission. While I was assigned to protect Senator Amidala, I returned home."
Barriss looked at him in surprise. She had known that Anakin had grown up with his mother. He had told her that before. But every Jedi knew that once you were apart of the Order, you gave up any family tie you had. Most Jedi never met so much as a distant relation during their lifetime.
"I had to go back. I could sense her pain, something terrible was happening. I found her but by that time it was too late. She was dead and I couldn't do a damn thing to help her."
Anakin's voice had become choked with emotion and his eyes were starting to water. He shut his eyes tightly and looked away at Barriss. Not until he managed to get a hold of himself did he look back to face her.
"I failed her, Barriss. I failed my mother. When that happened II felt some things a Jedi should never feel. Horrible things. I didn't know what to do, I couldn't control myself."
Anakin's voice was now frantic and his hands were shaking. He brought them together and willed them to stop. When they had stopped, he looked back at Barriss intensely.
"I feel like I'm losing myself. I used to think that my path was much clearer but now it's covered in darkness. I want to become a Jedi. I know I was meant to be one. But what if I end up losing myself? Sometimes it feels like this change is inevitable. I worry that all that I am will one day be gone and that that will be left is darkness. It is that, Barriss, that frightens me more than anything."
All was quiet in the healing ward now. Anakin could see that Barriss was watching him carefully. With the bacta mask on, only one side of her face was exposed but that side was tight with concern. Anakin suspected that she knew something terrible had happened. She looked as if she wanted to ask questions and learn exactly what it was.
But at the same time, he knew that she did not want to know. She had been embarrassed when she had accused him and Padmé of having a relationship. But there was more to it than that. He could sense fear. At this moment, Barriss was afraid of him. He could understand that fear but was it something even greater? Did she see something in the future that caused her to be alarmed?
Barriss took a deep breath, uncomfortable as it was in her condition. She leaned her head towards Anakin so she could look at him with both eyes.
"Anakin, when I first met you I thought that there was no way you would ever become a Jedi. I felt you were too reckless and too emotional. Jedi are always in control. When they lose that control, it often leads them on the path of the dark side. I don't know what happened to you on Tatooine but you may have lost that control for a time. As a Jedi myself, that concerns me greatly.
"After our mission on Ansion though, I knew that I had misjudged you. Beyond that recklessness, I saw a man with exceptional skills. Far greater than I have ever seen. I believe that you are a good man, Anakin. You are kind, thoughtful, and eager to make a difference in the Galaxy. The bravery you displayed on Ansion and Geonosis proves it.
"But it seems to me though that you are at a crossroads, Anakin. You are coming to the point where you must choose who you want to be. I know what they say about you, that you are the Chosen One. The one who will bring balance to the Force. I hope that it's true. The Dark Side has clouded everything; I don't need Master Luminara to tell me that to know. We need someone to bring the light back to these dark times.
"I think that you may just be that person. You have a great power within you and if you use it correctly, the future can be a bright one for you.
"It's up to you, Anakin. No one can make this decision for you. Only you can determine the path you will take. Choose wisely. For it may not be just you who is affected by the decision. It could determine the fate of us all."
Anakin sat back quietly on his chair, saying nothing. He considered what Barriss said. It was good advice, and he knew she was right. What he couldn't help but wonder is that when the time came, would he choose the right path? Would he be able to reject that surge of darkness he had felt in the Tusken encampment if it happened again?
He was still regarding the question when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. It was the Jedi healer that he had seen earlier. The man was exhausted and looked at Anakin with red, blood-shot eyes.
"I'm sorry but visiting hours are over. You'll have to leave."
Anakin nodded. He was hoping to stay for a few minutes more but he knew that Barriss needed her rest. He waved his hand with compliance at the healer and rose up from his chair.
"Thank you for stopping by, Anakin," Barriss said gratefully. "It was good to see you again."
"It was my pleasure. And thank you for listening. It helped me to make sense of some things." Anakin reached out and took Barriss' hand.
"If you need me to do anything for you, let me know. I'll be happy to help in any way I can."
Barriss smiled. "I will. And remember what I told you. If you ever need someone else to talk to other than Obi-Wan, you can always come to me. I am always willing to help a friend."
Anakin smiled and nodded. He let go of Barriss' hand and went to leave the room. He walked only a few paces out of the room before he stopped suddenly.
"What is it, Anakin?" Barriss asked.
"You know, you were right about something you said to me earlier."
"Really?" Barriss said, lifting her head up from her pillow. There was a curious glint in her eyes, one in which Anakin had recognized earlier.
"About Master Yoda, on Ansion," Anakin said, turning back around to face her.
"Oh," Barriss said, looking at him bewildered. "I'm sorry but what was it I said?"
"You were telling me about how great a swordsmen he was. I got to see it first-hand."
"You mean, you mean you actually saw Yoda fight?" Barriss asked with a sense of awe.
"Well, I was in and out of consciousness at that point," Anakin admitted. "But I was aware enough to see Yoda fight Dooku on Geonosis. It was one of the damndest things I have ever seen. I didn't think someone that small could be able to fight like that. But there he was, cutting and weaving. There were times where his feet didn't even touch the ground. You were right, Barriss. It's not the size of the warrior that's important, it's the size of his heart that counts."
For a moment, Barriss didn't know how to respond. Then she brought her uninjured hand and placed in under her head. She leaned back on the pillow and gave a satisfied smile.
"Told you, I did," Barriss said. "Listen to me, you would not."
"Wrong, I was," Anakin said, a wide grin breaking out across his face. "Make that mistake again, I will not."
The two of them laughed, enjoying this little moment of fun. It took several moments for the laughter to die down and when it did, Anakin gave Barriss a warm smile.
"May the Force be with you, Barriss."
"May the Force be with you, Anakin."
With a final nod of his head, Anakin turned around and departed the healing ward.
**********
The turbolift doors swung open and Anakin went inside. Anakin looked at the control panel. It was still functioning and he prepared to key in the floor he wished to be brought to. Before he did that though, he stopped and looked around him in the turbolift. He paid close attention, listening in any sound was present.
He heard nothing.
The mocking voice he had heard earlier was gone. His mind was clear and the fear he had earlier about confronting the Jedi Council had subsided. He was prepared now to face them and answer, as much as he could, the questions they had to ask.
Anakin had been grateful for the advice of Barriss Offee. He had desperately needed someone to talk to and she had been there for him. He was still considering what she had to say. Only he could decide which path he would ultimately take.
There would be long and difficult months ahead. This war could go on for a long, long time. There would be much death and suffering involved. He only hoped that when the time came, he would make the right decision. Like it or not, he was the Chosen One and his day of reckoning would come.
But he couldn't allow himself to be distracted by that. With his mind clear, he needed to focus his attention on the here and now. His failure to Dooku was behind him and he would work hard to fulfill his pledge to his mother. He would not fail again...ever.
Then of course, there was Padmé. Anakin smiled as he thought of his wife. He still missed her. As long as they were separated, there would always be a void in his heart. There was nothing he could do to change that. But he would do his duty, as she would expect him to do. He wouldn't let her down. When things started to settle down in the Temple, he would contact her again. He looked forward to the day when they would be reunited.
Now that he was ready, Anakin keyed in the floor he wished the lift to take him. It was where he had originally planned to go. The doors shut and the lift was away.
Less than two minutes later, he was at the top of the western spire of the Jedi Temple. The doors swung open and Anakin walked down the long hall that took him to the Jedi Council chamber.
When he reached the doors, they swung open, as if expecting him. Anakin slowly walked inside to the center of the chamber. As he looked around, he saw that every member of the Council was present. Only one seat remained vacant due to the death of Master Coleman Trebor at Geonosis. The remaining Council members looked as sober as ever, and they all stared intently at Anakin.
Anakin stood tall, not backing down. Standing between Yoda and Mace Windu was his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. But he looked so different that for a moment, Anakin almost didn't recognize him.
Instead of being dressed in his Jedi robes, Obi-Wan wore an olive-green, military style uniform. The condition of the uniform was immaculate, from the rigid collar to the highly shined black calf-length boots. Obi-Wan's hair, rich and shaggy, was tied back in a ponytail. The only reminder of his Jedi service was his lightsaber, hanging as always from his belt.
They made Obi-Wan a military commander? Anakin thought. The Republic couldn't have picked a better man for the job. Of that Anakin was certain. Still, he tried to suppress a laugh as he thought of Obi-Wan lecturing a clone trooper who had failed to follow his instructions.
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin carefully. Anakin could sense his concern and just how worried he was. Those feelings were accustomed to his master when he was involved. He was likely a little upset over him taking so many days on Naboo as well.
Is he ever happy when it comes to me?
But to Anakin's surprise, Obi-Wan gave him a warm and reassuring smile.
"Welcome home, Anakin," Obi-Wan said.
"Thank you, Master," Anakin replied gratefully. Now locate
