I mentioned Wat Tambor in the previous chapter and for those who don't know, Wat Tambor is a seperatist general, he's mostly portrayed in the Clone Wars. BUT you can see him briefly in Revenge of the Sith, it is during the Mustafar scene. You can see him around the time we see Anakins Sith eyes for the first time, he's in the background inside of a conference room and is then killed off-screen(unfortunately cause his death in the book is insane and a little terrifying in my opinion) I put a picture above!

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Painted Red

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Anakin's POV
It was difficult focusing on the task at hand when I had Mother Talzin in my head. Not literally, she's long gone now, but knowing I will likely have to stick to my promise and bring her Maul was frustrating in itself.

There was too much on my plate right now.

"This is where Luke is, I can feel him, he's inside somewhere." Ahsoka whispered as we hid in a bush, both of us nearly tripling on an unconscious body that we I start linked to Luke. The man was out like a light with no physical injuries, Luke putting him to sleep was the only logical explanation we could come up with. That or he's taking a nap, which was highly unlikely.

"Looks like we're going in," I stepped out and walked to the entrance with Ahsoka panicking behind me.

"Wait, shouldn't we—"

"No," I interrupted, "I'm sick of being cautious or waiting for the right time, or coming up with a plan that will probably go to shit anyway. We're going in, I'm getting my damn padawan and going home." Let them try and stop me.

I slid the doors open and walked inside. I didn't know where to look, so I was going to go through every hallway and room until I find them. I pushed my arms forward, causing every room in the hall to open, "Where are they!" I yelled for everyone to hear me.

"Anakin, heading in guns blazing is a really bad idea," Ahsoka ran in behind me, worry in her tone, "We don't know who is—"

"Stay outside then," I turned for a second to push my hand against her chest, causing her to fly backwards and out of the double doors we entered through. She hit floor and got the wind knocked out of her, It was harsh of me and I felt bad for it, but I was tired, scared, and angry. This is going to be the last time her life is threatened, and the last time she's taken as a hostage.

She's been through so much and I'm supposed to be her mentor and protector, yet I'm failing miserably at every turn, never again.

No one was coming to face me, so I spent the first few minutes checking every room I walked past. I turned down a hall and froze in place at the sight of a dark figure at the very end of that hall. They had a mask on that hid all of their features, and their clothes were black. I had no idea if it was someone I would know, but from what I can tell, it was a woman.

Bodies littered that hallway with one being under her foot. He was still alive and struggling to get away from her. She pushed down harder against his neck and he choked, "This one, I can leave for you if you'd like. He is what they call the chief after all." Her voice was soft and smooth, like silk. And the way she spoke was clear and mannered, she's sounds like she was raised in high household.

"Who are you?" I asked.

She tilted her head, "The rest are dead, as you can see. It was all easy enough, for me at least. So do you want him?"

Her energy though, it was dark. I haven't felt anything this dark since... well never actually. I stayed silent and became cautious, with her it seems I need to be. She feels powerful, she has a lightsaber on her belt, she murdered all these men—brutally. This hallway was painted red.

"No? Fine, suit yourself." She put all of her weight onto the man's neck and I heard a loud deafening crack. She exhaled when she was done as if the act alone was giving her a high, and scraped her boot against the floor, "The ones you're looking for are in here." She waved the door open and grabbed her lightsaber from her belt. I went for my own lightsaber as a reflex—despite it not being there—and she laughed, "Relax, I can't kill you even if I wanted to," She threw her blade down so it pierced the ground in the room. Then she called it back to her, "Tell Luke something for me. Would you?"

She's a Sith, her blade was red. I thought we were free of them after Mauls supposed demise that day.

Again I didn't speak, I didn't know what to say and I had no idea if she was tanking my chain and waiting for me to lower my defense to attack me. She retracted her blade and put it back on her belt. Then walked in my direction until she was next to my ear and whispered, "Tell him Leia says hi." She pat my shoulder, which had tensed up, and left.

I stood there, dumbfounded. I was ready to be the hero and take down these people myself for everything they had done. I was ready for the fight of my life. Instead a girl beat me to it and treated it as though it was just a normal day for her. A girl that knows Luke too, it seems.

He just keeps getting more and more interesting as the days go on.

"You son of a dick!"

I knew what was coming, so I moved out of the way to avoid Ahsoka's rage-filled slap, "Watch it."

"Now I really understand why no one can stand you! How dare you use the force on me!" She went for a slap again and I grabbed her wrist to stop her.

I stared daggers into her, and she did the same in return, "You wouldn't stop yapping and I knew you were going to hold me back with your bullshit. You're not hurt and now I have Cal and (y/n) so drop it." I threw her hand down. Her eyes drifted to the room I gestured towards and it was then I realized I hadn't actually seen them myself. I was only going based off of what that woman told me and I had no reason to believe her.

Then she met my gaze again with a disturbance, she no doubt noticed the hallway painted red with the men that were cut apart, "Master Skywalker, did you—"

"Do this? No, it was someone else," I assured her, moving past to step into a puddle of thick blood that splashed underneath my boot.

"Who?" She followed, eager to get to them as much as I was.

"I really don't know." It was somewhat true. I saw her face but I don't know who she is or what brought her here or how she even knew we were all here in the first place. There are so many unanswered questions that my head was starting to spin.

We stopped at the room and I felt a great deal of relief spread from my chest to the rest of my body. They were all here and they were all okay—for the most part.

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We were back home.

Not long after getting them out of that cell, a ship had arrived to take some of the members off the island. So we hijacked it when we got the chance and made it home safely, with everyone still alive, "That one goes into interrogation," I informed the clones as they dragged the pilot we held captive out of the ship. A few more of the hunters were being dragged out as well, the ones still alive—which isn't many.

My goal is to extract as much information from them as I can. I want to know exactly who the chief was—since unfortunately I can't ask him now that he's been indisposed, and to see what they might know about the separatists plans. Because according to Luke, he heard one of them mentioning contacting Wat Tambor, which leads me to believe all of this really does lead straight back to the separatists.

(Y/n) who hasn't woken up was being rolled away by the medics and my eyes stayed locked on her the entire time until I could no longer see her anymore. Cal was taken away too, despite his protests of being completely fine, but Ahsoka insisted—demanded—him to get checked out. She left with him.

I heard someone approach me and stand by my side, "What happened out there?"Obi-Wan questioned, folding his arms across his chest to match my pose. My eyes were now on Luke as a nurse placed a light bandage on his forehead. I haven't told him about the woman yet, but I plan to when I get a second alone with him.

I finally gave my former Master my attention with a slow sigh, I was exhausted and my head was killing me, the pounding was becoming unbearable. I felt like I hadn't eaten in days—I probably haven't, "To put it short, we were each taken to an island to be hunted and killed for sport. It seems the separatists are in on this too, likely using this tactic as a way of diminishing the Jedi numbers and reducing the future generation of knights." All the Padawans that were killed were potential knights, that's dozens now we no longer have for the war.

It's a smart plan, I'll give them that.

I expected shock, but all I got was a suspicious silence. I turned to face my Master and raised a brow, "You already knew we had Padawans going missing, didn't you?"

He slowly nodded, "The council has known about it for some time now."

"And you didn't think about informing me or any of the other Jedi with Padawans? We deserved to know this!" I raised my voice, "We should know if someone is targeting them so we can keep a tighter hold on them Obi-Wan." I'm not surprised by this, no one would be surprised by the council withholding necessary information, but that doesn't make me any less angry.

"Anakin, I understand your frustration but they didn't want to raise panic—"

"So their solution was to be tight-lipped about it and allow more of our kind to be taken and tortured," I scoffed, "I expect this from them Obi-Wan, but not you." I hit his shoulder with mine and took myself out of this conversation before more was said. I was boiling with anger and I didn't want to say anything to him that I might regret later.

He called after me, but I ignored his pleas.

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(Y/n)'s POV
One minute I was watching Cal plunged a metal rod into someone's eye socket in an effort to protect us, the next I was back home inside the medical wing of the temple.

It seemed too good to be true.

I had to be dreaming.

"It's not a dream." Anakin walked into the room with a soft smile on his face. Not the reaction I was expecting from him, I thought when I saw him again after the little stunt I pulled, I'd be met with the complete opposite.

"How?" I whispered.

"I found you."

Him standing here, it still felt like a dream.

"I'll always find you." He was next to me now and caressing my cheek with the back of his fingers "I am mad at you though for running off like that so don't think you're off the hook, but I'm more relieved that you're okay."

I leaned into his touch. Once again I felt safe, I almost started to cry, "I'm so sorry." My eyes watered and my voice came out in a whimper.

He shook his head slowly with a soft and calming look in his eyes. Both of us finally felt at peace now that we were together again, "Don't apologize, just don't ever do that again, and I mean ever." His voice was stern, but still gentle.

"I won't, I promise." And I meant every word. No matter what, I will go to him first.

With the wave of his finger he locked the door to the room before lowering his face close to mine, "They forbid me from coming in here, they said you needed your rest." His voice lowered into a whisper, "But I couldn't help myself, I needed you more than anything." He pressed his lips to mine, gently and caressed my face with his fingertips. He was being so careful, as if he thought I was going to break at any minute.

I kissed him back and we both smiled into it. Our hearts raced and our minds fogged. All that mattered to us in this moment was each other.

I love you.

I love you too Anakin.

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