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| - Obi-Wan watched how a huge building disappeared into the lava fall, taking Anakin with it. He breathed out of relief; it was good that Anakin should die in the burning heat and Obi-Wan was not forced to kill him personally. Suddenly, the boy came out of nowhere, landing on a droid hovering near the platform Obi-Wan was standing on. This was to be done in the hard way, after all. Anakin used the faster speed of his droid to circle around Obi-Wan, trying to get an upper hand in their duel. Stepping as far back as he could Obi-Wan decided to admit something that had been gnawing at him for a long time: he too was to be blamed for his apprentice’s failures – not the boy alone. “I have failed you, Anakin,” he said looking the boy into the eyes. “I have failed you.” “I should have known the Jedi were plotting to take over,” Anakin countered. It appeared that the boy had misunderstood Obi-Wan’s point. “Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine is evil!” Obi-Wan cried just to say something; he had to keep Anakin talking. “From my point of view, the Jedi are evil.” Wait a minute, Obi-Wan thought, what’s that supposed to mean? “Then you are lost!” was all that Obi-Wan could think of saying. He didn’t want to believe that himself; he was searching for any hint that it was not true. Anakin answered to his gaze as they circled around each other. “This is the end for you, my master,” the boy threatened. Obi-Wan’s mind flashed back a few years to the lower levels of Coruscant where he had joked to Anakin that the boy was going to be his death; now that same boy was making his best to prove that prediction to be true. Suddenly Anakin gave up his droid and landed on the same platform with Obi-Wan; now they were dangerously close to each other with lightsabers. When the blades stuck together Obi-Wan gathered his strength and leaped back. He reached the bank of the lava river above Anakin who was still standing on the floating platform. The boy forced it close to the shore just below him. “It’s over, Anakin,” Obi-Wan called trying to stop the fight. “I have the high ground.” “You underestimate my power,” the boy said looking as he was planning to jump over his former master. “Don’t try it,” Obi-Wan warned knowing the intentions of his former friend. Anakin made a tremendous leap aiming his lightsaber towards Obi-Wan. The older Jedi turned around raising his blade to block the attack but instead of electric crash of their weapons he heard soft hissing which is created when a lightsaber cuts through flesh. “What?” he thought pulling back his blade and hearing another hissing sound. Anakin’s lightsaber went off and Obi-Wan saw that he had accidentally cut off both of his friend’s legs and left arm. The helpless torso fell to the ground right at his feet, tumbled down the black sand and stopped critically close to the lava river. “What have I done?” Obi-Wan asked in his mind, turned off his own weapon and stared at his friend who was slipping closer and closer to the burning flow. “You were the chosen one!” he called holding back his tears. “It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!” Believing his friend was already as good as death Obi-Wan turned around to notice the silvery handle of Anakin’s lightsaber on the sand. He picked it up, took a few steps further and turned around to look at his friend for one last time. “Obi-Wan,” Anakin breathed. “Help me!” Without hesitation Obi-Wan fastened both lightsabers to his belt and jumped down on the black sand. It was so hot that he felt the heat even through his boots; he didn’t want to think how bad the pain had to be for Anakin who was lying on the sand only tunic between his body and the burning ground. Obi-Wan gathered strength from the Force and lifted Anakin on his arms. Above them he saw a metallic flash; a ship was descending through the clouds. Obi-Wan felt a dark flow in the Force which could only mean one thing: Emperor Palpatine had arrived. “Hold on, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said. “I’ll get you out of here, I promise.” He carried his friend aboard Padmé’s ship. Threepio and Artoo were there waiting for him. “Master Kenobi!” the protocol droid said coming down the ramp. “We have Miss Padmé on board. Is that Master Anakin? What has happened?” “A long story, Threepio,” Obi-Wan said. “And now is not a good time for it. We have to get out of here. Can you fly this ship?” “Naturally,” Threepio said happily. “Mistress Padmé ordered me to fly here and –“ “Just get us out of here, Threepio!” Obi-Wan snapped almost loosing his patience with the droid. “And find us a proper medical facility.” Obi-Wan had no time to worry about where they were going; Anakin was in terrible condition. Obi-Wan carried him to the humble medical centre of the ship and put all possible life supporters on his friend; he was not going to let the boy die now when he had just got him back from the Dark Side. When he had done all he could to help Anakin he turned to see Padmé lying on another bed looking feverish. He went closer to see if he could help her. “Obi-Wan,” Padmé whispered opening her eyes briefly. “Is Anakin all right?” “He is here, Padmé,” Obi-Wan assured her though he was not sure if she was able to understand a word he was saying. “I will take both of you to a hospital. Don’t be afraid.” Believing that the best he could do for both of his friends was to get them to a real medical centre as fast as possible he went to the cockpit. Threepio was sitting on the pilot’s seat; they had already made a jump to lightspeed. “Where are you taking us?” the man asked sitting down on the co-pilot’s seat. “To Polis-Massa, if you know where that is, Master Kenobi,” the droid answered. “I also had contact with Senator Bail Organa; he said he would meet us there with Jedi Master Yoda.” Obi-Wan took a deep breath of relief; at least both Yoda and Organa were still alive. Then a dark thought brought him back to ground; Yoda was alive but so was the Emperor. It was not over yet. “Very good, Threepio,” he said closing his eyes and reaching to the Force to find calmness. “I’ll go back to medical. Inform me when we arrive to our destination.” “Of course, Master Kenobi,” the droid said facing the console. Obi-Wan stood up. He went back to his friends; Padmé was unconscious and her head was covered with sweat; Anakin lied on his bed perfectly still. To his surprise Obi-Wan noticed that Anakin’s eyes were open and he seemed to be perfectly aware of his surroundings. “Is Padmé all right?” the boy asked through burned lips. “I don’t know, Anakin,” Obi-Wan admitted sadly. “I can only hope that she will survive.” “Promise me that you won’t let her die,” Anakin demanded weakly. “Nor the baby?” “I’ll do my best to save all three of you,” Obi-Wan promised. “Padmé, you and the baby. We –“ His commlink beeped. “Are we already there, Threepio?” he asked turning it on. “Yes, Master Kenobi,” the droid’s voice spoke. “Medical bays have been prepared for Miss Padmé and Master Anakin. Jedi Master Yoda is waiting for us with Senator Organa.” “I’ll be right there.” Obi-Wan turned away but Anakin reached for his robe with his still working mechanical hand. “Thank you,” the young man said. “And forgive me.” Obi-Wan smiled at Anakin. He felt a little twinge in the Force; something important had just happened. The Force had changed; Anakin had fulfilled his destiny, Obi-Wan was sure of it. You two did it! Qui-Gon’s voice suddenly spoke in his head sounding jubilant. When Obi-Wan stepped into the cockpit he saw that the ship was almost on the landing pad. Near the archway he saw several people waiting for them; they had two hover-beds with them. “Good,” Obi-Wan muttered. “Those beds are useful; I cannot carry all of them.” He turned back from the cockpit door and went to the hatch of the ship. When the hatch opened and the ramp went down Obi-Wan saw that Senator Organa stood outside with a few aliens who were pushing hover-beds. Without a word he led all of them to the medical room where Padmé and Anakin were lying. Obi-Wan had no time to think, but he noticed that the Senator seemed to feel sick when he saw Anakin’s wounded body. Organa and the aliens raised Padmé on the hover-bed. “I’ll do that,” Obi-Wan said when the aliens turned to move Anakin. “Just hold the bed steady.” The aliens didn’t question his orders. He used the Force to help raise Anakin because he knew that any touch would cause unbearable pain to Anakin. The boy seemed calm, he looked like he was only sleeping but Obi-Wan believed that he had entered in a healing trance. Entering to any kind of a trance, in such pain as Anakin’s, was a huge achievement; Obi-Wan admired the willpower of the young man. Half running they took both patients to the medical centre of the asteroid mining complex. The local medics drove them outside the operation rooms; through glass-walls they watched how aliens worked with the help of some medical droids to save more than two human lives. “What happened?” Bail Organa finally asked nodding his head towards the room where Anakin was covered with medical instruments. “We had an argument,” Obi-Wan answered evasively. “An aggressive negotiation, as we usually call them. Situation ran out of my hands and Anakin—well—ended up too close to my lightsaber.” “What about her?” the Senator continued turning towards Padmé. “She is in labour that much is clear. But is there something wrong with her?” “Anakin was angry with her, too,” Obi-Wan admitted. “But I don’t know if that still affects.” “Sensed your arrival, I did,” Yoda spoke coming to Obi-Wan and Bail. One medical droid working with Padmé came to the passageway. “Medically, she is completely healthy,” the droid said speaking mostly to Obi-Wan. “For reasons we can’t explain, we are losing her.” “She’s dying?” Obi-Wan asked shocked; he had known it but didn’t want to believe it. “We don’t know why,” the droid pointed out. “She has lost the will to live.” If that was indeed the reason, then Obi-Wan knew why. “We need to operate quickly if we are to save the babies.” “Babies?” Bail Organa repeated, seemingly taken aback. “She’s carrying twins,” the droid said as if it was obvious. Obi-Wan felt his legs turn to jelly. “And Anakin?” he asked quietly. “Why are you asking me?” the droid said. “The male is not my patient. But if you want to come and support the woman in childbirth you can come in.” “I won’t let Anakin’s stupidity to cause her any more pain,” Obi-Wan muttered stepping into the medical room. Droids were rushing around working as fast as they could. Padmé was pale; she seemed to have great pains. Obi-Wan stood next to her and took her sweaty hand into his. She turned her head and saw who was there with her. Suddenly she stiffened and screamed; the grip of her hand was so strong that Obi-Wan felt his fingers go numb. “Hold on, Padmé,” Obi-Wan encouraged. “Your children need you, Anakin needs you.” The droid stood up holding a screaming child for them to see. “It is a boy,” Obi-Wan said. “Luke,” Padmé named the child trying to focus her eyes to her newborn son. The droid pushed the baby on Obi-Wan’s arms and returned to the end of the bed. Padmé reached out with her hand and touched her son carefully. “Luke needs you, Padmé,” Obi-Wan said holding the child with one arm and taking Padmé’s hand to his again. “Don’t leave him. Don’t leave us.” The woman cried again and crushed Obi-Wan’s fingers harder than ever. The droid was soon holding another baby on a towel. “It’s a girl,” Obi-Wan said trying to sound encouraging. “Leia,” Padmé breathed. “They need you,” Obi-Wan repeated. “Anakin needs you. He too is fighting for his life, Padmé. Don’t bring the pain of your death on him.” “Anakin—“ “Don’t leave us, Padmé,” Obi-Wan said fighting back his tears for the second time in one day. “Don’t leave us.” The door behind him slid open. “Skywalker will survive,” Bail Organa said sounding like he wasn’t sure if it was indeed good news. “How’s Padmé?” “Did you hear that?” Obi-Wan asked Padmé, ignoring the Senator’s question. “Anakin will survive. You have to hold on. He needs you. We all do.” “Tell—“ Padmé whispered. “Tell him I love him. Tell him—“ “Don’t give up,” Obi-Wan said noticing that this time it was he who was crushing Padmé’s fingers. “He loves you too, don’t you ever doubt that.” Suddenly Padmé smiled weakly at Obi-Wan and tried to stretch her fingers. “You are crushing my hand, Obi-Wan,” she said more strongly. Obi-Wan let go and felt a funny urge to dance; now he was sure that Padmé would stay alive. He felt something warm and wet slither down his cheeks; this time he didn’t bother to hold back his tears. You are a great man, Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon’s voice said in his mind. I’m very proud of you. Obi-Wan laughed. He had had no idea that he was that tired; now he was hearing voices in his head. All the excitement had probably made him mad. “I’ll be right back,” he said to Padmé allowing his hand to squeeze the woman’s shoulder briefly. “I’ll go and see Anakin.” “We’ll wait,” Padmé said struggling to the sitting position holding one baby on each arm. When Obi-Wan stepped to the corridor his eyes met Yoda’s. There was something funny in the muddy green depths of the old master’s eyes. He knows. Qui-Gon’s voice was back. Obi-Wan shook his head. His mind had played tricks on him many times with the voice of his former master, but that was too much; the voice had never been as clear and strong as it was now, nor that happy. He decided that he would concentrate on that later; Anakin was more important right now. Obi-Wan entered another medical room. Anakin was lying on the bed surrounded by droids. He turned his head when the door opened. His eyes were bright; Obi-Wan did not remember Anakin looking so calm ever before. The boy – not the boy, a man – had found his inner peace. “I would shake your hand if I could, Master,” Anakin joked. “But that is out of the question right now, because these droids took off my old mechanical arm, too.” Obi-Wan had to force himself to smile through the tears that tried to burst out again. “Hey!” the young man said. “I’ll be up and about in no time.” “Do you want to hear the news?” Obi-Wan said, grinning. “Padmé just gave birth to twins; a boy and a girl. Now you have to try and learn what it means to be a father.” “You knew?” Anakin asked sounding surprised. “I have always known that you love Padmé, Anakin,” the older man said seriously. “I just tried to pretend that I know nothing; it was easier for you.” Anakin stared at his master for a few silent moments. “I had hoped that you would have trusted me enough to tell me yourself,” Obi-Wan said. “This never needed to happen. You could be somewhere else with Padmé and your children; it would have been lost twenty-something with you gone but it would have been better than what happened.” But Anakin would not have fulfilled the prophecy, Qui-Gon’s voice spoke. “What?” the both men asked. “Did you hear that too?” They stared at each other in the eyes. “Yes,” they answered together. Now that was creepy; both of them were hearing voices. All three of you, actually, the voice went on. I have been talking to Yoda about three years now. “Qui-Gon?” Anakin and Obi-Wan asked together. “What in the name of the Force is this?” That is an excellent question, the voice said laughing. I haven’t figured it out completely even myself; but the main point is that though I’m dead I’m still aware about myself. In short; I believe I’m a kind of immortal ghost, what ever that means. Both men looked at each other unsure if they were really hearing Qui-Gon Jinn’s voice or if they should have their brains checked for damage. “Immortality,” Anakin muttered. “Isn’t that what the Sith are looking for?” I didn’t ask for it, the voice said sounding insulted. It was granted to me. The only way to reach it is compassion and selflessness; two things that the Sith can never understand. Anakin was no longer able to look into Obi-Wan’s eyes. He knew that he had searched immortality from the Sith when it was the Jedi who had found it. Don’t blame yourself too hard, Anakin. There was a sweet sound in Qui-Gon’s voice. Before now I was unable to reach you even if I tried. You had to settle your inner conflicts before you were ready to hear me. Anakin looked at his master, but Obi-Wan seemed to be dropped out of the conversation. “He would feel himself stupid,” Anakin answered aloud. “What?” Obi-Wan asked. “Who would feel stupid?” “Um—“ Anakin said looking sheepishly at the older man. “You.” He had to laugh because Obi-Wan looked so funny his mouth hanging open out of amazement. To cover his embarrassment Obi-Wan turned back towards the door and muttered something about ‘telling Padmé that Anakin was all right’. The passage outside the medical rooms was empty; Organa and Yoda had gone to somewhere else. A droid was standing guard near the door leading to Padmé’s room. “Senator Organa and Jedi Master Yoda asked me to tell you to meet them in the …, Master Kenobi!” the droid said when Obi-Wan passed by. “They said it was important.” “I’ll just go and see Padmé first,” the Jedi answered opening the door. Padmé was lying on her bed eyes fixed on a baby’s bed next to her; the twins were sleeping on it back to back. “Padmé?” Obi-Wan said stepping closer. “How do you feel?” “Where is Anakin?” she asked turning her adoring eyes away from her children. “Why he hasn’t come to see us yet?” “He needs medical aid,” Obi-Wan said trying to avoid his guilty feelings. “He’ll come as soon as he can. Or maybe you can go to him a little later. Right now you both need to rest. We will protect you and take care of you. You can let go from everything for now and be happy about your children. Enjoy their innocence while you can, we cannot know what the future will bring.” “Thank you, Obi-Wan,” Padmé said smiling. “Thank you for everything.” Obi-Wan left the room and went to find Yoda and Organa; they were sitting around a table in a conference area. The Senator seemed worried but Yoda was as calm as ever. “I don’t like this, Master Yoda,” Organa insisted. “What ever you might think about young Skywalker now, it goes against everything I have ever heard about the Force. How can you be sure that the Emperor has lost control over him? All that might as well be nothing but acting.” “Anakin is not acting,” Obi-Wan said feeling himself to be sure about it for the first time. “He might cheat us but he cannot fool the Force.” “Your master’s voice heard have you, young Obi-Wan?” Yoda asked. “Yes,” Obi-Wan said straightening to his full height. “And he is sure about himself. I trust Qui-Gon’s judgement; as I have always done.” Why do I remember you doubting me more than once? Qui-Gon asked. Starting from the day when I refused to take you as my Padawan learner till the day you argued with me because of Anakin. “I guess I was a pretty stupid apprentice,” Obi-Wan admitted. “But I have learned so much since then.” “Am I missing something here?” Bail Organa asked; only then did Obi-Wan realize that the Senator probably considered him mad talking to himself. “Just some Jedi stuff,” Obi-Wan assured. “Don’t mind about that, Senator. The droid down the corridor said you two wanted to see me.” “That we do,” Yoda said. “Important decisions we must make. Whole galaxy affect they will.” “I’m listening,” Obi-Wan said sitting down next to the old master. “What you were arguing about?” “Master Yoda suggested that the whole Skywalker family should be hidden somewhere,” the Senator explained. “I don’t agree; they are too an easy target for the Emperor if they are all together. They should be separated; that way at least some of them might survive.” “They won’t accept that,” Obi-Wan argued. “They have been separated for years now because of Padmé’s political career and Anakin’s Jedi training. Now, when all that has been crumbled into dust there is no way to separate them; it would be cruel. I don’t want to do it to Anakin; I owe him too much. And it would ruin Padmé; none of us wants to harm her.” “Agree with Obi-Wan I do,” Yoda supported. “Separation only pain would bring.” “But what if—“ Organa resisted. “Meaningless ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’ are,” Yoda cut him short. “Lost the Emperor already has; an ace he gave to us when his intentions clear he made.” “What do you mean, Master Yoda?” “He came to open but lost Anakin to us,” Obi-Wan said with a stunning flash of insight. “Now he is alone but there are three of us; and the children will be with us one day. If we play our Pazaak right we can still fight another round; and win.” “So, what’s the plan?” the Senator asked. “Padmé suggested me to keep my head low and pretend that I support Palpatine’s government; she believes I should do my best to stay in the Senate and keep an eye on the situation. Mon Mothma and I were intending to follow that plan.” “I think it might be a good idea,” Obi-Wan admitted. “Disappearance of another Senator would draw too much attention; now is not a good time for it.” “Agree I do,” Yoda admitted. “As a Senator you should remain, Prince Consort of Alderaan. Together with Skywalkers you should stay, Obi-Wan. To some other planet I will go; find me you will when the right moment comes.” “Where will we go?” Obi-Wan asked. “Naboo and Tatooine are out of the question, the Emperor would find us there too easily; it doesn’t need an exactly brilliant mind to search those planets first.” “What about—“ Organa started. “And before you suggest that we come on Alderaan I tell you that we have no intention to endanger your planet with our presence,” Obi-Wan interrupted. “I see your point,” Organa admitted. “But I must say that I would have been happy to have you on Alderaan.” “Maybe Anakin or Padmé could come up with something,” Obi-Wan said. “It is their future that we are talking about now. They should be heard.” He stood up and went back towards the medical centre. Padmé’s window was covered with a curtain. Obi-Wan gently reached to her with the Force and felt that she was sleeping; his business with her could wait until she woke up. Rest was much needed and the troubles of the galaxy could wait; Obi-Wan wasn’t going to steal her happy moments with the children from her. Anakin was awake when Obi-Wan opened the door. The droids had done good work with him; all the scarring caused by the hot sand was cleared away and his remaining skin was as pink as his newborn twins’. He was moving the thumbs of his legs and arms testily. He stopped when he saw Obi-Wan entering. “What will my children say, when they see their father to be nothing but a torso and a head?” he said thoughtfully. “What am I talking about? They cannot say anything for a year or two; they are too young.” “Now we need you to say something,” Obi-Wan said sitting down on a chair next to young man’s bed. “Where do we hide you, Padmé and the twins? We don’t want the Emperor to find them and turn them against us. We have been thinking of that and we need to know if you have some ideas.” “I have no solution to offer,” Anakin said. “I’ll do what you see is right; all I want is that Padmé and the kids will get to safety.” “We got an idea after you departed,” Organa said coming to the door. “Corellia is independent; Senator Garm Bel Iblis is openly opposing Palpatine’s policy. We might be able to talk him to give all of you a political refuge. And he would appreciate Padmé’s advice in the politically unstable sector like Corellia. How would you like that?” “Sounds good to me,” Obi-Wan said shrugging. “Anakin?” “I already said that I’ll do what you think is right,” the younger man agreed. “Corellia is as good as any other place in this universe right now. I mean, if we cannot go on Naboo; Padmé would love that.” “I’m sorry, Anakin, but Naboo is out of the question,” Obi-Wan said shaking his head. “It is her home planet, she loves it and she knows it and she has friends there; that much is true. But so has Palpatine; he would find us there too easily. And Tatooine is dangerous too.” “So Corellia it shall be,” Anakin decided. “At least until a better solution presents itself.” “Which I doubt,” Obi-Wan thought bitterly. You don’t want to follow that line of though, my old apprentice, Qui-Gon said. The Force will guide you; you can always trust it to do that. Will you be with us, Master? Obi-Wan asked quietly. From time to time, yes, Qui-Gon’s voice answered. And you can call me if needed. I will always be with you in the Force. “It’s settled then,” Obi-Wan said aloud, nodding. “We’ll go to Corellia and ask Senator Iblis to protect us. May the Force be with us all.” “It will, Master, it will,” Anakin assured him with a strange voice. “I should speak with you about a few more things, Master Kenobi,” Organa said stepping out from the room but stopping to wait for Obi-Wan. “Will you walk with me?” Obi-Wan smiled at Anakin one more time and their eyes met for a few seconds; for a moment they understood each other better than ever before. And then the moment was over when the door slid shut between the two Jedi. Organa said nothing before they reached another corridor. “Master Yoda has already gone to Dagobah,” Organa informed quietly. “And I have ordered my men to prepare a ship for you. But what about the droids?” “What droids?” Obi-Wan asked. “Those two which came here with you,” Organa explained with the voice that made Obi-Wan feel himself like an idiot. “What should we do with them? That protocol droid is speaking too much. It has already told everyone on this station who we are and why we are here.” “Have its memory wiped,” Obi-Wan said calmly. “I know Padmé and Anakin will be furious but it’s for their own safety. And for the kids’.” “You’ll take them with you, then?” “Those droids mean too much for them to be left behind,” Obi-Wan said. “Do you know that Anakin build Threepio with his own hands? And Artoo is the most devoted droid I have ever seen.” “I see,” Organa said thoughtfully. “I will—“ A sound from the commlink cut him off. “Organa,” he answered and listened for a few seconds. “I’ll be right there.” Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows questioningly. “A message from the Emperor’s office,” Organa explained nervously. “You want to see it?” “You need to ask?” They walked together to the communication centre. Obi-Wan stayed back while Organa stepped inside a holocamera circle. “This is Senator Bail Organa,” he said calmly. “What is the matter?” Mas Amedda’s face appeared to the display. “Senator Organa, your presence is requested in a special session of the Senate,” the alien said as expressionless as ever. “You must return to Coruscant at once.” “I’m on my way, Chairman,” Organa assured. “Senator Organa signing off.” He stepped out from the holocircle cursing heavily for an Alderaanian and turned to face Obi-Wan. “If I will play along I must get going,” he said looking disgusted. “I hate the idea of licking Palpatine’s boots but what choice do I have?” “May the Force be with you, Senator,” Obi-Wan said bowing slightly. And with that Obi-Wan was left alone to take care of Anakin, Padmé and their twins. In quiet of his mind he swore that he would do anything to protect them even if it cost his life. He had failed Anakin once but he was not going to do it again. When he came to the medical centre he sensed that both Anakin and Padmé were awake in their rooms. After brief hesitation Obi-Wan decided to go and see Padmé first and tell her about their plans. Padmé was sitting on her bed humming quietly and playing with her son. She raised her dreamy eyes to Obi-Wan when he entered; there was a flash of disappointment when she saw the older Jedi. Obi-Wan sat on a chair next to her bed and looked at the babies. “How is Anakin?” Padmé finally asked. “Why he hasn’t come to see us?” “He was gravely wounded,” Obi-Wan said biting his lower lip. “He is not exactly able to move around right now. I came to tell you about the plans we have to protect you from the Emperor.” “We?” Padmé asked. “Yoda, Organa, Anakin and me,” Obi-Wan told her. “We thought it to be wise if I would take you four to Corellia and we would ask a political refuge from Senator Iblis. He resists Palpatine openly and we would provide him a great propaganda weapon.” “You said Anakin is wounded,” Padmé changed the subject. “What happened to him?” “We started to fight after he had strangled you to unconsciousness,” Obi-Wan explained at length. “He – we both – made a mistake and my lightsaber cut off his legs and remaining arm by accident.” Obi-Wan saw a pained look on Padmé’s face. “I didn’t mean it to happen, I swear. I wasn’t really ready to kill him; he is like a brother to me. And now more than ever.” “Can I see him?” Padmé asked. At that same moment a polis-massan protocol-droid came in. “We have made all preparations to your ship, Master Jedi,” the droid said. “The medical is supplied with everything necessary for your long voyage. And the droids are already in the ship.” “Thank you for everything you have done for us,” Obi-Wan said turning to the door. “Is Anakin ready to be moved?” “There is nothing more we can do for him,” the droid said. “We have no suitable equipment to replace his lost limbs. He needs more advanced medical treatment.” “Thank you once more,” said Obi-Wan. “I’ll go and tell Anakin.” “Tell him that we love him,” Padmé said when Obi-Wan stepped out from the room. Anakin was strapped on a hoverchair during Obi-Wan’s absence and now he was moving around the room using the Force to control the chair. Obi-Wan was slightly surprised to see the young man so active. “Did you think that I would stay in bed?” Anakin said. “No way! I’m so happy that my visions didn’t come true.” “Visions? What visions?” Obi-Wan said surprised. “What are you talking about?” “I saw a vision of Padmé dying in childbirth,” Anakin said sounding embarrassed. “I saw it more than once. It was like those I had about my mother. And I got scared.” “And you almost made it come true by yourself, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said quietly. “I know,” Anakin admitted. “Be kind and don’t remind me too often, all right. I will never forgive myself. If Padmé had died—if I had killed her—“ “But you didn’t kill her, Anakin,” Obi-Wan snapped. “She is alive, so are your children and so are you. Meaningless ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’ are—as Yoda says.” Keep your mind here and now where it belongs, Qui-Gon’s voice said. Obi-Wan couldn’t help but laugh. He had heard Qui-Gon to repeat that phrase so many times during his training. You are the master now, Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon said. You don’t need me anymore – but I’m still with you. Those we love never truly leave us; they will live on in our memories. “I was informed that everything is ready for us to take off,” Obi-Wan said to Anakin deciding that he would enjoy a long conversation with his master when they were off planet. “We will set out to Corellia as soon as you are ready.” “I’m ready right now,” Anakin assured putting the chair through a combination of tight turns and other incredibly fast manoeuvres. Together the men went to Padmé’s bedroom. Her eyes widened with shock when she saw Anakin. “At least you still recognize me,” the young man said with thick voice. “We’ve been through a lot, my love. We will live on.” “Oh! Anakin!” Padmé whispered tears running down her cheeks. I’m sorry to disrupt this happy reunion, Qui-Gon’s voice said sarcastically. But you must get going. Anakin and Obi-Wan glanced at each other and nodded. “Are you fit for travel, Padmé?” Obi-Wan asked. “I think so,” the woman said avoiding looking at her husband. She turned to the babies and picked them on her arms one by one. “This is Luke,” she said offering the babies for Anakin to see. “And this is Leia.” “I wish I could hold them,” Anakin said looking at the babies with adoring eyes. “But we must get going for their safeties’ sake.” They bid goodbye to the polis-massans and climbed aboard an unmarked ship that had been arranged for their escape by Bail Organa. They stepped into the cockpit and Obi-Wan almost sat on the co-pilot’s seat before realizing that Anakin could not handle the controls. With a sigh he eased on the chair and ran his fingers on the board getting the feeling from the unfamiliar layout. It took only a few minutes to get the ship away from the asteroids and guide it far enough to make a jump to lightspeed. Navi-computer gave a click as it fed the proper vector to Corellia to the maincomputer. Obi-Wan spend a few more seconds to see that everybody were strapped in and pulled the levers. Padmé was tapping the keys of communication board when Obi-Wan turned around. “I want to see if there is anything useful in the HoloNet news,” she explained turning display on. The news reader appeared on the screen. “… and now we are interviewing Arconan Si Treemba who is the leader of long-term development mining project on Bandomeer.” Obi-Wan didn’t get a word from the interview because his mind had suddenly flared up with a huge number of thoughts that tumbled on each other inside his head. He remembered Si Treemba just fine—their flight to Bandomeer together, the Hutts, the battle against Draigon, hunt of Offworld Corporation—he had not yet been even thirteen years old when all that had happened but he remembered it like it had been yesterday. Maybe, just maybe, Si Treemba too remembered. Padmé had turned off the receiver and was staring at him with worry by the time he returned from his memories to the present. She was just opening her mouth to say something— “Change of plans,” Obi-Wan said cutting the hyperdrive. “We’re going to Bandomeer.”
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