Something's not right.

Well, of course, something's not right. If everything was right, then they wouldn't have called for a Jedi Knight to come to Bancar.

But this is different.

He can sense darkness looming nearby. It's faint right now, but it's enough to send a shiver through the Force. Its presence is like the calm before the storm. It feels muggy and pressurized. The air is still but he can identify the sudden shift in the weather. An instinct inside him wants him to seek shelter and let the thunderstorm pass by.

But if he were to hide, he would be ignoring his calling in life. He's the hero that innocent lives beg for. He's supposed to end the storm before it happens. By running into the grayish-green clouds, he's expected to wipe away any trace that the storm ever appeared on the horizon. He is meant to put an end to the trouble before it can wreak havoc.

He is called to put an end to the Sith. He is to bring balance to the Force.

Walking into the dark and chilly storage room, Anakin ignites his lightsaber. The blue blade hums as he swings it to defend himself. He holds it above his head, making it act as a light to help him see. Shelves line the walls all around him. They rise high into the shadows above, seeming to go on forever. It reminds him of the archive library in the Temple. Everywhere he looks there seem to be more shelves. 

These shelves are not packed full like the library, unfortunately. Gaps appear every so often that are large enough to hide a person who doesn't want to be found. If they stay out of his blue light, they're practically invisible. 

The thought of someone waiting for him to pass by then attack makes the hair on the back of Anakin's neck stand up. They would be in plain sight and he wouldn't even know. They could catch him off guard, attacking him with no mercy.

It's sort of like an intense game of hide-and-seek. Only, if you lose, you might end up dying.

Anakin never got to play many of those types of games growing up as a slave. There were a few things he and his friends would do to pass the time, but games like tag were not common. Children running around and screaming wasn't encouraged. Because of his restriction as a child, he intends on winning every stealth game since being freed from Tatooine. So far, he hasn't lost one yet and he won't let today be his first.

"Ah, my former padawan." A voice greets. Anakin snaps his head up, looking for where the intruder might be. A red blade twirls in the dark sea, looking like a small glowstick from this distance. Just as Anakin spots them, the figure jumps down to be in his presence. Slowly, the stranger walks toward Anakin, their steps echoing. This person wears a dark cloak, making them unrecognizable to anyone.

But not to Anakin. He knows that voice. He's listened to it for years. He's followed all of the advice that voice ever gave him. Hearing it again after all this time makes his heart race from both excitement and anxiety. He didn't think they would meet again, especially not this soon. The Council has practically forbidden him from hunting them out. 

Anakin finds himself wanting to smile because Master Tiin was right. They sought him out rather than him having to fight the Council to get the opportunity to look. Holding back his opinions and emotions to the Council has worked in his favor for once!

But he can't rejoice after that night with Padmé. He came to a realization that he wishes he could ignore. The senators have already made up their minds about this decreased Jedi. No one will ever give them a chance to defend themself. Add everything the Council has decided about him and fate doesn't seem to be in their favor.  Who knows what the punishment might be for surviving the Clone Wars on the wrong side? 

It would probably be considered merciful for them to be dead.

Unfortunately in this galaxy, mercy never seems to happen to those who deserve it.

"I heard about your knighting. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to watch." Obi-Wan says as he tosses his hood off. "I really did want to go, but I don't think I would have been welcome." A smirk rests on his face as he glances at Anakin. The boy has grown up greatly since the last time they were together. Of course, that's what happens when you step out of someone's life just when they're finally becoming a man. You're gone for a little over a year and suddenly they no longer have a padawan braid and are taller than you. Not to mention how much confidence he now carries compared to when he was just a learner. Obi-Wan strangely finds that he is proud of the person Anakin has become, considering he is still in the Order.

"As if you care about me." Anakin spits back. As happy as he is to see his old master, there is still that lingering hurt in his chest. Bitterness begins to rise inside of him, but he tries to force it down. After months of no contact, his master walks and is perfectly fine. Obi-Wan's been okay this whole time and never thought to tell him. He should have sought Anakin out to tell him so that he wouldn't have been spending the past year fretting over him. Obi-Wan should have thought about the padawan he left behind. He should have considered what he was feeling, what he was dealing with. 

Why has it taken Obi-Wan this long to make his presence known?

Anakin straightens up and swallows down his instinct to lash out in anger. He needs to remember that everything happened in the past. He can force himself to look past all of the betrayals for Obi-Wan's sake. His master's alive, not dead like the Council wants to make everyone believe. That's all that really matters, isn't it? That he's in one piece rather than several diced parts on some backwater planet?

Anakin quickly takes a moment to study Obi-Wan now that he's somewhat sorted through his conflicted emotions with the man. He finds himself having to resist the urge to gawk at his former master. He's in shock from how much he's changed. His long hair that once rested on his shoulders is now pulled back and tied in a bun to keep it out of his face. He wears dark robes with tints of gold in the sleeves. The popped collar around his neck makes him look taller than Anakin remembers.

Oh, and there's the new red bladed lightsaber he's holding nonchalantly.

"Of course I care about you," Obi-Wan replies to Anakin, flaunting in front of him. He tugs at the gloves on his hands, adjusting them to his likening. He holds back a bitter comment, knowing that Anakin has every right to be angry with him. He left his padawan without an explanation or even a proper goodbye. 

He reminds himself that Anakin is quick with emotions and wears them on his sleeve. Obi-Wan has always contained his feelings for Anakin's sake, but he's not a padawan anymore. Obi-Wan can express how he truly feels now too. There's not much reason to hold back anymore. "I've always cared for you. That's part of the reason why I left."

"I don't really see how you joining the dark side shows that you care." Anakin scoffs. That has to be the reason Obi-Wan is perfectly healthy. It's the only option that makes sense.

Anakin tightens his grip on his lightsaber at the realization of what his master has become. He can feel the familiar bubble of rage starting to rise inside of him. The man Anakin admires has given into the temptation of the dark side. It follows Obi-Wan like an angry Rancor, snarling and baring its sharp teeth.

Again, he is happy that Obi-Wan is safe! He is happy that Obi-Wan is not dead!

But he's also furious at what has become of his master. He's resentful because he got left behind on Geonosis. And because Anakin is terrible at expressing his concerns and thoughts with words, he just shows what he feels. The rage that the Jedi have been trying to extinguish now wants to control him. It is taking everything in him to not swing the hot lightsaber in his hand!

The former pair begin to circle each other, their eyes never pulling apart. "I had to get a new master for my final year," Anakin says, anger and hurt lacing every word. "But he started to become too busy for me with the war. Then I was tossed around by the Council until they finally deemed me worthy of knighthood." He declares, answering Obi-Wan's unasked question.

"I'm sure they said all of that was just a part of your trials," Obi-Wan half chuckles, giving his shoulder a shrug. He can feel the fire inside of Anakin, the restraint he's putting on himself to contain it. It's typical of the Council to blame unexplainable mishaps on the Force or part of someone's trials. He's not really surprised. He's seen it happen to many of his own peers within the Order. Obi-Wan tugs on his beard, watching the boy and noting his reactions.

The gesture reminds Anakin of who his master used to be. He holds back a growl. Force, why does Obi-Wan always have to be right? That is exactly what the Council said about his unfortunate journey as an apprentice. "Not like you would know anything about the trials. You skipped yours." He says, throwing the heat back.

Obi-Wan scoffs, rolling his eyes. Seriously? He's going with that argument? Didn't they run through this topic enough times when Anakin was his learner? "Yeah, because I killed the first Sith Lord in over a thousand years. Not sure if you remember that." He snaps. He gives his head a shake, causing a few loose strands to fall from his bun and into his face. "I don't think any padawan, even the Chosen One, could do what I did. I earned the right to skip my trials."

The Chosen One.

Why does everyone have to bring that up? Why can't he just be Anakin? Ever since the rumor started about him being the Chosen One, that's all anybody thinks of him as. He's not a Jedi Knight. He's not a person. He's just some prophecy and everyone expects him to do everything right. They think that he's supposed to be like some sort of god.

He scowls, furrowing his eyebrows. All of this just adds fuel to his fiery temper. Obi-Wan never thought of him as the Chosen One when he was his padawan. He didn't care about any title that Anakin had. He just wanted to care for him and help him to become the best Jedi he could. In fact, Anakin can count on one hand the number of times Obi-Wan even mentioned that damn prophecy to him. It was always Anakin or the Council members that brought it up!

Ugh, what has happened to Obi-Wan? Why has he chosen this evil? It makes Anakin sick to his stomach to even think about it. He didn't want to believe the rumors about him falling, but seeing it now makes it impossible to ignore. Obi-Wan has an uneasy sense of darkness surrounding him that even a youngling can point out.

But there's still a bit of light between those dark rolling clouds around him. Somewhere, there's the master that Anakin knows. There is still that familiar tremor of Obi-Wan Kenobi before he fell to the dark side. Anakin wants to bring the person back. He wants to be able to bring him to the light to be with him again.

He promised himself that he would prove them wrong. They would see that Obi-Wan is alive and that he would come back to the light. They would be humbled by the fact that they misjudged him and would treat both of them with more respect than ever before. Even after Obi-Wan ditched him on Geonosis and lied about his whereabouts for the past year, Anakin wants him in his life.

These thoughts help bring Anakin to look past his own emotions. He's been advised this many times by the Council members, Master Tiin especially, but it's only now that he is starting to see what they mean. He needs to stop feeling and just think. He closes his eyes for a brief moment, processing what he wants. He acts like the droids he loves working with, going through what he wants to achieve and how he'll get there.

He wants Obi-Wan back. That is his main goal out of this.

The only way he can think to begin is by bringing up the one person they both loved dearly. "What would Qui-Gon say if he saw you like this? What would he think if he learned that you fell to the dark side?" He says, gesturing to Obi-Wan.

This changes something in the former master. Anakin sees it flash on his face and feels it through the Force. The storm that he is expected to clear away is now starting to build. The dark clouds around Obi-Wan begin to carry a deep thunderous roar, warning him to chose his next words carefully. He can almost feel the wind picking up, blowing through his hair. "You don't know anything about Qui-Gon. He saved you from Tatooine and that's it. You hardly even knew him." Obi-Wan rumbles, his eyes looking darker than Anakin has ever seen.

He knows he should hold back his tongue to this insult. But his emotions are strong so he ignores the loud crackle of lightning in the Force. He believes that he can face this storm head-on, using only his brutal strength. He stands in the flat plains all alone in the Force. The tall grass moves like waves, brushing against his thighs, urging him to stop and think. With each passing second, the waves grow harsher and begin to whip at him. "You're just upset that he chose me over you in that council room. You're angry that the last thing he thought about was me, not you!"

"You didn't even know him!" Obi-Wan shouts, his face contorted. Anakin gulps, feeling like the ground is shaking underneath him. The Force is quaking from the anger, hurt, and hate radiating from his former master. Anakin buckles in the Force as the winds try to flatten him down with the grass. "I was his padawan for thirteen years! I'm the one who learned who he was and how to deal with him. It took me years for him to finally trust my decisions and my skills. In our last few missions, we were actually master and padawan. We knew each other in and out."

Something dark crosses Obi-Wan's face and Anakin knows he's stepped over the line. He wants to take back what he said. Again, his emotions have betrayed him. He should have analyzed the situation like a droid. He should have listened to what the Force was trying to warn him. "It took me years for him to finally like me," Obi-Wan says with a painful chuckle. He shakes his head, his fists tightening as their eyes lock. "But once you came along, I was nothing to him again! He wanted some enslaved brat over the padawan he spent years training."

Anakin closes his eyes, wanting to part from the crazed look of his former master's. The pair of eyes he sees do not belong to Obi-Wan. This dark stranger knows how to hurt him and enjoys it. He has Obi-Wan's understanding of how much the idea of slavery and Anakin's past haunts him. He wants to get him riled up, but Anakin won't let him get that power over him again. He chooses to listen to the Force's final warning. The winds swirl around him, begging him to end this. He can't get sucked up in this twister of rage and pain. 

Anakin's main goal is to try to get Obi-Wan back, to calm the storm in front of him. He won't do any good by upsetting him. So he thinks back to his training and slows his breathing. He heeds Master Tiin's advice and lets go. "That's not true." He says, shaking his head and lowering his voice. "Qui-Gon cared for you deeply. Before you and I met, he talked endlessly about you on Tatooine."

And for a brief moment, the winds in the Force stop. Everything is silent and calm. The rumbling clouds above Anakin pause, almost like they're frozen in time. Anakin almost wonders if he's dead, struck down by the dark side user who claims to be his master. He's reassured by the patches of grass that begin to pull themselves back up, no longer held down by the powerful winds. It feels like the Force is listening and waiting for the right reaction before continuing its terror on him.

"Then why did he only talk of you when he died in my arms?" Obi-Wan eventually asks, breaking the quietness between them.

Anakin is stunned by this, unsure quite what to say. He didn't think what he said would be enough to stop the raging storm around him. Does all of this anger stem just from Qui-Gon? If so, Anakin can work with that. Though he only knew Qui-Gon for a brief time, he was connected to him. Still to this day, he occasionally senses that connection. Right now, he feels it more than ever before and he lets it guide his words. "I think because he knew you were the only one who could help me." He slowly says. He glances around, testing to see if his response has set off the storm again.

Everything is still frozen, waiting.

Obi-Wan drops his gaze, lowering his lightsaber. The red blade is almost touching the ground, heating a small circle on the floor. "Well, he was wrong. It seems you've been just fine without me." He says, self-pity evident in his tone.

Anakin tilts his head, trying to process what's going on. What does Obi-Wan want? Does he want to be told that he was an awful teacher? Perhaps he wants to be told that Anakin failed constantly after he left his side. They are both extreme and not quite right, so Anakin pushes them aside.

Obi-Wan is so confusing to him now. He's practically unstable with his emotions, which was never the case with the Jedi master. In this very moment, Anakin can feel these shifts happening to Obi-Wan through the Force. It's like a teeter-totter, one side up then down. Darkness dominating him and his actions, then the light winning and taking back the reins. It's almost like a painful battle taking place with him constantly.

Before, Anakin could guess what responses Obi-Wan wanted. He knew what would make him happy, what would upset him. Now, things are too complicated for Anakin to process. Even the Force can't seem to help him chose the right answer to move forward. Perhaps there isn't one that can balance the light and dark in his master right now so he changes the subject. "What are you doing here?"

Obi-Wan is taken back. He wasn't expecting the subject to be changed so quickly. He thought Anakin would want to fight until a clear winner came out on top. But unlike the padawan Obi-Wan constantly argued with, Anakin let it drop. He's yielded, leaving them on mostly neutral grounds. "I came here for information and that's what I'm leaving with." Obi-Wan answers with a shrug.

Information? Anakin doesn't know of anything in here that could be of possible interest to the Separatists. He glances around the room, doing a quick search when it hits him. "You stole something, didn't you?" He asks, narrowing his eyes at Obi-Wan. He raises his lightsaber, using it as a light to study his master closer.

"I'm just borrowing," Obi-Wan says, raising one of his hands in surrender. He then reaches into his pocket. "If it makes you feel better, I'll return it after I'm finished." He smiles, removing the datacube. He rolls it in his hand, showing it off to Anakin. In the dark light, it casts purple swirls onto the walls and their faces. Anakin has to admit, it does look intriguing and special. He's almost tempted to ask Obi-Wan if he can hold it in his own hands then return it back.

"Think of it as a library book. I'll get what information I need then give it back so others can use it."

This comment brings Anakin back. No. He can't let Obi-Wan run off with it. He and Dooku could use what they find against the Jedi and the Republic. The last thing Anakin wants to do is hand off important knowledge to the enemy.

Anakin raises his lightsaber up to show that he'll attack. He was called here to defend the property and prevent it from being stolen. If that means having to fight his former master, he'll do it. His duty as a Jedi comes first, no matter how much Obi-Wan means to him. Just as he was taught, personal feelings can not get in the way of his mission. "I'm sorry, but you don't have an account here. Guess you won't be getting any information today."

A half chuckle escapes Obi-Wan. The sight of Anakin so defensive is amusing. He's never been able to be on the other side like this. Now he gets to witness Anakin's anger from a new perspective. "What do I have to do? Get past you?"

"Yes."

"Alright, but I won't go easy on you." Obi-Wan replies. He stuffs the device into his pocket then quickly raises his lightsaber to block Anakin with one hand. The two blades crackle and make loud pops as they met. The blue and red blend, creating a deep purple color where they press together. "You're quick."

"Well, I had a good teacher before he disappeared." Anakin fires back as he pulls his lightsaber away. He gives it a few twirls as he watches Obi-Wan. He is trying to predict his next move. After years of training together, they have a solid idea of what the other plans to do. Even a year apart can't take their experiences together away.

"I didn't disappear. I'm not a ghost." Obi-Wan laughs as he dives at Anakin.

Anakin is thrown off for a moment, not expecting Obi-Wan to go on the offensive. "Well, you didn't exactly make your presence known to anyone. Lots of people thought you were dead." He says as he sidesteps the assault, using his lightsaber to deflect Obi-Wan's away. "It was formally declared by the Council not too long again." He adds. Anakin himself for a while thought that his master was dead. Well, part of him wanted it to be true. Having his master taken away to be killed by Dooku seemed simple.

It made the thought of carrying on without him a whole lot easier.

"Sorry to disappoint," Obi-Wan says. "But I am very much alive." He glances at the walls then raises his free hand up. Anakin turns to follow his gaze, his eyes widening. At that moment, one of the tall shelves begins to creak, slowly tipping down toward them. Anakin has to roll away to dodge the falling debris.

Dust clouds the air, making it almost impossible to see anything. Anakin tries to use his lightsaber as a light, but it does nothing. It's like using his ship's bright lights in the fog. He won't be able to see clearly until the dust settles again.

When it finally does, he can't sense Obi-Wan anywhere.

As if he really is a ghost, he's gone. Here one minute, gone the next. Anakin continues his search but comes out empty-handed. He's somewhat glad that Obi-Wan's runoff again. Anakin's not sure if he really could attack his former master. What just happened was nothing more than taunts and some quick deflections. It is clear to him that neither one actually had any intent on harming the other.

"General, there is an alert going out for a missing Holocron."

Anakin turns, looking to his captain. He knows who has it and that they likely won't get it back today. Obi-Wan is now gone. He's disappeared into thin air like on Geonosis. "Let's go hunting, Rex," Anakin replies, forcing down his knowledge. There's no reason to explain that Obi-Wan has it. Rex doesn't even know who that is. And even if he does, he won't believe him.

After all, Obi-Wan is thought to be dead.

xxx

When Anakin arrives back at the Temple, he heads right for the one person there he can trust. He quickly knocks on the door, hoping that they're home. Thank the Force, the door opens and Anakin rushes inside.

"Anakin, what is it?" Master Tiin asks, surprised at the young man's appearance at his door. It's been a while since the two of them talked. Their recent conversations have never been anything more or less than neutral in feelings. Master Tiin had grown worried that whatever connection they had was severed the day Obi-Wan was declared dead. Clearly, Anakin still somewhat trusts him.

"I'm sorry to barge in, Master. There's just something that I need to get off my mind." Anakin says, taking a seat at Master Tiin's table. He runs his hands through his hair, feeling a mix of crazy, exhausted, and confused. He just needs to get them out in hopes of organizing his thoughts.

Anakin's never felt comfortable sharing his personal thoughts with his jumble of makeshift replacement masters. But if he had to choose any, it would be Master Tiin. The man has always said that he could come to him with any problem. Anakin only hopes that statement still stands because he's about to take him up on that off.

"I can sense your distress. What is on your mind?" Master Tiin asks, sitting beside him. Master Tiin holds back his excitement. Finally, Anakin is seeking out help. He's glad to see that the young man doesn't want to bottle everything up like in the past. Anakin seeking him out shows that he feels safe with his presence. 

Maybe Anakin really is growing more mature with this war.

"It was something that happened while I was on my last campaign on Bancar. It's been bothering me and I thought to tell you what I encountered." Anakin says, trying his best to stay composed. His skin feels like it's crawling with little insects at the memory of what happened in that basement. Add that on top of the feeling like he's being watched, Anakin has been a little more than uneasy.

"What was it?" Master Tiin asks, concern clear on his face. "I hope that it hasn't caused you any harm."

"Not physically, no," Anakin admits. Inside, his heart feels as if it's been crumpled. His head is swirling with mixed emotions about everything that happened. He's hoping that Master Tiin can help him sort it all out and keep him on the right path.

Master Tiin tilts his head. This response is strange, especially for Anakin. "Not physically?" He repeats.

Anakin takes a deep breath, hoping to keep his tone steady. "While I was checking the grounds, I went down into the basement of Bancar's capital building. I wanted to make sure everything was in order when Obi-Wan suddenly appeared." Anakin says. He tightens his fists underneath the table to prevent them from shaking. Just saying Obi-Wan's name makes him feel anxious. Add that onto the soft fear of telling Master Tiin about his recent experience, it's taking almost all of his strength to prevent his whole body from shivering.

Master Tiin's eyebrows furrow at Anakin's confession. This is not what he was expecting to deal with. He thought that the hopes of finding Obi-Wan had disappeared over the past few months. By giving Anakin a padawan and distracting him with the war, the Council hoped to clear away any thoughts involving Obi-Wan. The less free time Anakin got, the less time he got to dwell on his old master.

But now Obi-Wan has made himself known in Anakin's life again. He's presented himself to Anakin while he was on a campaign with no other witnesses. He made sure that they would both be alone so he could get to him.

"I'll call the Council together for an emergency meeting. You need to tell them what happened while on Bancar."

"The Council?" Anakin repeats as Master Tiin rises from the table.

"Yes. They will know how to proceed." He says as he gestures for Anakin to follow him.

Anakin finds himself numbly staying in step with the master as they march to the council room. Does he have to tell the Council about his meeting with Obi-Wan? Will he have to go into detail? If so, how will that affect their opinion on Obi-Wan? Will they be harsher on him, demanding that other Jedi hunt him down and kill him?

And what does all of this mean for Anakin? Will he have to confess how he was giving in to the anger that Obi-Wan was spewing? Oh, he hopes that he doesn't have to admit that he let Obi-Wan run away with that datacube. The last thing he needs is to make himself look like a bigger failure to them. They already think so little of him. He would hate to give them another reason to be disappointed in him.

Anakin is surprised at how quickly the members meet up. The masters present in the Temple rush into the room, moving past Anakin and Master Tiin. Together they stand in the center of the room, waiting for all of the members to show up. Anakin can feel their eyes on him as they sit and stare at them.

"Take a seat, Master Tiin." Master Yoda says, gesturing to the man beside Anakin. He parts, making Anakin feel smaller and more vulnerable. He's stood in front of them plenty of times before, but this feels different. He can sense the irritation coming from Master Windu and the exhaustion from Master Ti.

None of them want to be here, let alone for whatever problem Anakin has.

"Go ahead, Anakin." Master Tiin gently says, gathering everyone's attention. "Tell them what happened on Bancar."

Anakin gulps, unsure where to begin. How does he say this without startling them? They'll probably be worried and shocked at the fact that Obi-Wan is very much still alive. They won't believe him.

Anakin has to stop himself from laughing out loud at this situation. He's been waiting for this moment for over a year, eager to watch their reactions to how he was right and they were wrong. Now he finds himself terrified to admit it to all of them. He's nervous about what they'll say and how they'll react.

It's ironic, really.

"I've just recently returned from my campaign on Bancar," Anakin says, rolling his shoulders back. He stands taller, pretending that he's much more confident than he feels. "While this might shock you, I discovered what you might consider to be the worst."

The air stills. It seems like everyone has stopped breathing. You could hear a pin drop as every Council member leans forward, anticipating what the young knight has to say. The worst? What is he talking about?

Anakin holds back a smile at their reactions. These are the looks he wanted. "While I was there, Obi-Wan made himself present to me. He is still alive and out there in the galaxy."

Anakin waits, ready to hear their gasps of shock. He stills, prepared to block off their feelings of hurt and fear.

Instead, everyone seems to relax. Is he actually hearing sighs of relief?

"What did he say to you?" Master Windu asks, leaning back in his chair. He takes a glance at Master Yoda then back at Anakin. He seems calmer than Anakin has ever seen him. This information doesn't seem to affect him.

Confusion clouds Anakin's thoughts. "Wait. What?" He mumbles, looking around at each of their faces. He blinks, trying to understand what is happening. He knows that they're professionals at hiding their emotions, but he expected at least some facial reactions. Why aren't they more shocked at this revelation?

Then it hits him.

They're not surprised or afraid because they know this already.

They've known this for a while now.

"What did Kenobi tell you?" Master Windu repeats, annoyance lacing his words.

"You all know that he's alive?" Anakin asks, hurt spiking in his heart. These are the people he trusted and they've kept him in the dark. His chest tightens and his eyebrows furrow. "How long have you known?"

"Matters not, that does." Master Yoda says, pointing at Anakin with his walking stick.

"It matters to me." Anakin spits back, getting the gasps he was expecting earlier. The fear he was feeling before has washed away. Replaced in its slot is bubbling anger. Why didn't they tell him that Obi-Wan was alive? How long have they known this? How long were they planning on keeping this from him?

"Skywalker, it's not how you think." Master Ti says, trying to calm him down.

But this does not calm him. If anything, it makes him want to swipe at her hologram until she's nothing but wavy blue lines. "Then how it is?" He asks, his cheeks heating up. He's so upset that he feels like exploding at all of them. They know how much Obi-Wan means to him. Why wouldn't they tell him?

"Anakin," Master Tiin says, his expression one of worry. Anakin finds himself freezing, surprised at the sudden show and feel of emotions. It's so uncommon for any of them to express their inner thoughts to him. It catches his attention, making him listen to the man. "I'll explain it to you later. For now, just tell us about Bancar." He says as he waves his hands down, acting as if he can ground Anakin's emotions.

He finds his rage wanting to disappear. Yes, he can trust Master Tiin. He somewhat understands him or at least acknowledges his emotions. He needs to stop his anger from controlling him and just answer their questions. The sooner this end, the sooner he and Master Tiin can talk.

He takes a deep breath, imaging his anger disappearing with the wind. He sees the storm in the Force from when he was with Obi-Wan and watches his rage be carried away in the sickly twister. He finds it somewhat calming. It's almost like they're still connected through that twister.

When he opens his eyes again, he's ready to answer Master Windu's question. "Obi-Wan didn't say much that would be helpful to this war. It was mostly personal stuff, things only we would understand."

Master Windu's expression doesn't change, remaining stern and hard. "This is an internal matter. We would like to know what he said, even if you think that it isn't important."

Anakin is taken back. They don't care if it doesn't involve the war? Then what is the point of this meeting? What happened out there was personal, not a Council matter to discuss. They don't deserve the right to know, especially after hiding this information from him.

But Anakin finds himself caving in. After all, maybe he missed something.

"We talked about him falling to the dark side. I tried to get him to come back, but he's still lost. We battled for a bit, but we both left without harming the other." Anakin says, hoping to keep it summarized enough for them. He wants to give everything and nothing.

Master Windu gives a quick nod. He looks around at the rest of the Council members, ignoring Anakin in the center. "That settles it. I believe that Obi-Wan is now a threat to us and the Order."

"I agree."

"I also agree. What he's doing can not be good. I think that we need to prepare ourselves in case he attacks."

"What?" Anakin asks, watching them all begin to agree that Obi-Wan is now their enemy. Few start to say they want Jedi sent after him to stop him from harming others. Others begin shaking their heads, disappointed that he has fallen to the dark side.

No one has offered the idea that maybe he can be still be saved.

Anakin feels it all beginning to slip away from him. This isn't what he wanted to get out of telling Master Tiin about Bancar. He just wanted to tell them that Obi-Wan was out there. He hoped that his appearance to him would allow them to send him after Obi-Wan.

Instead, it seems to be guaranteeing his master's death at the Order's hands.

Anakin tries to change the topic. Rather than have all of the pressure on Obi-Wan's failures, he moves it onto himself. They've always seemed interested in his downfall anyway. Why not use it to his advantage this time?

"Wouldn't you rather hear what happened after? I think it could help shed some light on this situation." He begins, hoping to catch their attention. "Though we battled, Obi-Wan let me go without a scratch. I'd say there's hope that he can still be turned to the light."

But none of them are listening. The only person's eyes he finds are Master Tiin's. Swirling inside them, all Anakin sees is pity and regret. Though Master Tiin has claimed that he cares about Anakin and his emotions, it's clear that he is on the side of the Council in this matter. He can say all he wants that he is on his side, but Anakin knows deep down that the master will vote in favor of the other Council members.

Suddenly, Anakin doesn't want to hear any more.

He turns, exiting the room without being dismissed.

He expected to hear calls demanding that he come back, but he hears nothing.

They're so wrapped up in the idea of how to get rid of Obi-Wan that they don't notice or care that Anakin has left.

xxx

He returned from his mission a few hours ago. He informed her of his safe landing then proceeded to tell the Council of what he encountered. He promised to tell her when they were in person, but he's been strangely quiet and distant. Usually, when Anakin returns from campaigns as long as these, it's hard for him to peel himself away from her. Whatever has happened must be important or chilling. "What's wrong?" Padmé asks, rubbing her hands on Anakin's upper arms.

She attempts to draw his attention to her and his feelings. She doesn't like seeing him so wrapped up in his inner thoughts, especially when they could be harmful to his mental health. She cuddles close to him, placing her hand on his chest. He looks away, keeping his eyes on the floor. "It's nothing. I'm just feeling a little down. That's all." He answers.

Padmé sighs, slightly shaking her head. Typically, it doesn't take this much work to get him to open up. They've always been honest with each other about everything. "What happened today?" She asks, her voice reminding him of soft cloth, so warm and comforting. "And don't tell me you don't want to talk about it. I know you do. Whatever happened is eating you up inside, I can see it."

Anakin frowns. As usual, she's practically on the nose. What happened today is eating him up. It seems unreal, almost like some hazy dream. He's just not sure he wants to talk about it, hoping that maybe he can make himself believe that he imagined it. Right now, he just kind of wants to deal with it himself. Besides, it doesn't really involve anyone but him. He doesn't need to drag her into this mess.

"Come on." Padmé softly encourages. She turns his head so that he looks into her eyes. Her eyes meet his blue ones. Inside, she sees a hidden sadness. It's so strong that she almost finds herself on the verge of tears. What is he bottling up? "I promise I'm a good listener. I won't interrupt." She adds, her hand holding onto his cheek.

He gives a soft smile, comforted by her efforts. "I know. That's one of the things I love about you." He says. He takes her hand, kissing the back of it. He adjusts, turning himself to face Padmé better. He clears his throat, trying to figure out what exactly to say, but he finds himself just spilling his concerns without much thought. "I saw him."

"Saw who?" She asks, tilting her head.

"Obi-Wan." He replies. His face drops, sadness washing over him. His name strikes his heart after the events in the Council room. If he would have kept this secret to himself then there wouldn't be Jedi sent out after him. He should have listened to his gut. He shouldn't have told anyone.

"But the Council declared him dead months ago." She says, her brown eyes widening.

"We never officially knew. We just said that to close the case and have an excuse to stop sending Jedi to look for him." Anakin sighs, his head hanging low. "But he's out there. He found me and stole a datacube from Bancar. He's fallen to the dark side and must be working with Dooku."

"Obi-Wan didn't hurt you, did he?" She asks, running her fingers through his hair. The last thing Anakin needs is to lose another limb. He lost his hand to Count Dooku on one of his first mission as a knight. She can't bear to see him harmed again.

"No," Anakin says, shaking his head. "But I almost wish he did. Then I would know that he is my enemy. Instead, he talked to me. We gave a few swings at each other, but neither of us had the intention of harming the other. "

Padmé hums, unsure what to say. She has to admit that it is strange. She knew Obi-Wan before the war just a bit. From what she could tell, he held no dark traits inside of him. In fact, she thought he had a pure heart, considering she saw him at his weakest when burying his master on Naboo. How is that the same man Anakin claims has fallen?

Rumors spread around the Republic that the mysterious Jedi who uncovered Kamino disappeared with the one who made them. Of course, no one could prove anything because Obi-Wan was considered dead.

"I don't know what to think," Anakin confesses. "I know that he's gone to the dark side with Dooku, but I can't stop imagining him as who he was before he fell. My head and my heart are conflicted." He says, touching both of them gently as if that will fix them.

"What is your head telling you?"

"That I should follow the Council's thoughts about it. I should want to see Obi-Wan destroyed considering he is now a product of the dark side. If he really is working with Count Dooku, then he is a threat to the Republic and the Order. He should be taken care of and wiped out of the galaxy." Anakin says, his fist tightening. "It is telling me that he is not the same person I once loved. He left me behind. He made me struggle to reach knighthood. He made me embarrassed to talk about my lineage and to be seen in the Temple."

Padmé kisses his temple. Anakin's eyes close for the moment, savoring her sweet gesture. His head seems to be clearing because of it, everything starting to be sorted out.

"And what does your heart tell you?"

Anakin sighs, the building tension in him releasing. "That he is the same man that I once loved. Somehow, Dooku has twisted his mind, making him think that the path he's following is right. If I could just get to him, I could set him right. I could lead him back to the light and everything could be almost as it once was, the both of us side by side."

Padmé leans down, kissing his chest. Though it seems laughable, it's almost as if he can really feel her kissing his heart, making it feel better as well.

"So which will you follow?" She asks, looking into his calm, blue eyes.

"I don't know," Anakin confesses quietly. "I'm still confused."

Padmé sits up, taking his hands in hers. "Which path will be the easiest?"

"My head. Following the Council's wishes will help me stay on their good side. It'll be much easier to just destroy Obi-Wan and his darkness from the galaxy."

"Which path will be the most fruitful? Which will bring you more happiness?"

"My heart. Having Obi-Wan back in my life will bring so much joy not only to me but the whole Order. We lost one of our own to the dark. If he was to return, everyone would celebrate him and his journey back to the light."

Padmé smiles. "I think you know what path you should take then."

"It'll be difficult. There will be many obstacles in my way trying to stop me."

"Sometimes the hardest part is taking that first step," Padmé says. She kisses his hands, making him blush. "I know you will succeed. You just need to believe in yourself and your abilities. Let the Force guide you and everything will work out the way you want it."

Anakin chuckles. "No wonder so many in the Senate fear you. You've got a way with words." He whispers mostly to himself.

Padmé smiles, placing her head into the crook of his neck. "Perhaps. But I'm not trying to persuade you to sign a bill. I just genuinely want to see my husband happy. If giving a pep talk is what I have to do, I'll do it a million times until he's satisfied and knows his worth and strength."

Anakin closes his eyes, leaning against her. Time and time again, he finds comfort and security being in Padmé's presence. How can a love like this be so wrong when it heals him and brings him to his senses?

He kisses her hair, grateful for everything about her. Her wisdom, her patience, her kindness. He doesn't deserve any of it. He doesn't deserve her.

What would he do without her?

~~~~~~~~~~~

Unfortunately, a lot of things have come up. I was going to shoot for finishing up the next chapter and publishing it two weeks from now, but I don't think that will be possible. With school starting up on Monday and the unexpected loss of a very close loved one, I'm not sure I will make it work. My new plan is to have the next chapter ready to publish the second week of March (which is my spring break). I probably won't have a continuous update schedule until my summer break (which I will further explain possibly in March).

I hope you all understand and will stick around to see how the story plays out. All of you have been very kind and helpful to me. I read through every comment and love hearing what you think! So thank you with all of my heart!! 

See ya in March! :)