Saga Always in Motion: If You Love Me - Obi-Wan (Darth Avarik), OFC - Important Announcement

Love to stay on the PM list. Thanks! =)

 

To Everybody: So I am sure you all noticed there was no update last weekend, and there isn't going to be this weekend. Work got a little nuts unexpectedly and took away my weekends for the past little bit. I haven't even had a chance to really reread "Always in Motion," yet, though I did start it! This busy time should be over with by the end of the week and then I can come back to this. I just wanted to leave a note since I had said I would update and obviously that did not happen. Once again thanks for everyone's patience. I don't want to bog this thread down with anymore status updates, so if anyone has any questions feel free to PM me.

 

I'm still here, and will be whenever you get a chance to update again.

 

To Everybody: Good news! We have an update. It's a short one, but it's still an update. As always, I apologize for the delay, its been one thing after another with DRL. This chapter is short, but it will work better with what has to come next. I'll try not to be as slow next time with the update, but I can't promise anything with DRL (except that I will finish this story one of these days).

Chapter 40: Farewells

The time in the cell block on the troop ship had been short for the Skywalkers? before it landed on Lord Avarik?s Star Destroyer. A grim expression clouded Anakin?s features as he visualized all the horrible things that could happen to his family. He was not concerned for himself, but could not bear the thought of Padmé, Luke, or Leia suffering because of Avarik?s vendetta.

Anakin?s mind raced through different diversionary tactics he could employ to give Padmé a chance to get herself and the twins to safety. However nothing seemed plausible under the watchful eye of his former Master. Obi-Wan knew him too well and would likely predict anything that he tried. He would have to put his trust in the Force that somehow patience would help him find a solution to this dangerous situation.

However, all of his good intentions to wait for the right moment was shoved aside as a large contingent of clone troopers opened their cell aboard the trooper vessel and escorted them from the ship. At first, Anakin assumed they would be transferred to a different cell aboard Avarik?s Star Destroyer, but panic welled in him once they made it out of the troop ship and into one of the Star Destroyer?s main hallways off one of the landing bays. Rather than him and his family being directed to the detention area together, he was directed to go in one direction while the clones ushered Padmé and the twins in another direction.

?No!? Padmé shouted, sensing Anakin?s fear over their Force bond. Her own panic rose as she tried to push her way towards her husband, cradling her two children against her. Although the clones were not forceful with her they did stand in her way while Anakin was taken from her.

?Padmé!? Anakin shouted, on instinct he tried to call his lightsaber to his hand forgetting that the binders at his wrist negated his Force abilities and that his saber had been confiscated by Avarik. ?Don?t hurt her!? He barked at the clones. Then despite losing his connection to the Force, Anakin was able to kick the legs out of one of his clone captors and rush towards Padmé?s. He tackled one of hers to the ground, and the clone gave a grunt as the air was knocked out of him. However, even the ease of dispatching these targets would not allow for escape.

Before Anakin could reach Padmé a sharp growl from Lord Avarik rang over the commotion in the hall as a lightsaber ignited behind Anakin. ?Enough!? Anakin could see the faint reddish glow that Avarik?s saber cast upon the hall. Over his Force bond he pleaded with Padmé to back away from him and the approaching Sith. ?There is no escape, my former padawan. You are coming with me.?

Anakin took a deep calming breath as he very slowly turned and faced his former mentor. ?I?ll go with you Obi-Wan, just please don?t hurt my family.?

?Anakin?? Padmé half sobbed out her husband?s name as he gave himself to the Sith.

?Stay back, Padmé.? Anakin spoke over their Force bond before addressing Avarik out loud again. ?Please, Obi-Wan.?

?Avarik!? The Sith corrected. ?And you are in no position to negotiate, Jedi.? He spat with vehemence.

?Please!? Anakin pleaded. ?I?ll go with you. Just do not hurt my family.?

Avarik gave a derisive scoff. ?You will not need to worry about them, Aila has seen to that already. Despite all you Jedi have done to us, she can?t seem to see that we would be better off without all of you. It is only for her sake that your family will be spared.?

?Aila?? Anakin sighed gratefully.

?Is none of your concern.? Avarik barked sharply. ?Now come with me, I will personally show you to you

 

Nice to see an update.

Darth Avarik will have to turn back soon.

 

Good update!!

Can't wait to see what happens when Anakin is brought before Sidious.

 

Hello, just wanted to pop in and say hi! Haven't spoken to you in a while. Nice to see your still at it with this story.

 

Yay, an update!!

Poor Padme, poor Anakin! This is going to be so hard on them. I'm glad Alia is looking out for them and hopefully she fix things. Great update, as always.

 

Oh, wow... there was a lot of emotion in this chapter! Poor Skywalkers. Hopefully they will all make it to the end safe and sound.

Excellent update

 

Gkilkenny: As frustrating as he is Avarik does have a ways to go, but if its any consolation the story isn't as long as it originally was going to be, so that "could" mean good things will happen sooner. However that being said there is still a significant amount of story left.

DarthCambius: The Anakin taken to Sidious think is at least a chapter away, it depends on pacing as I write it. Aila isn't going to be thrilled about it, and she'll have words with her husband over it.

darksideyesplease: Hey! Nice to hear from you, it's been a while. Yes, I'm still here, hard to believe I've been at this since 2005. Somedays I wish this thing would just write itself.

Lady_Jade: Aila has her work cut out for her, but if anyone can melt Avarik's heart its her.

CommanderK23: Yeah I thought it was funny that Aila wasn't in this chapter and instead it got to be about my secondary characters. That is what I get for having way too many active characters at one point in time. Aila gets to come back in Chapter 41 though. We just needed a transistion chapter because there is a lot going on in a short space of time.

To Everybody: Crazy week as seems to be the trend for me, but I did get a bit of writing done. This chapter is not done yet, but I tend to get writer's block if I leave it hanging and I don't want that. So I am posting the first part because I know that won't change. The next part of the chapter will be with Aila and then there is another portion with Anakin to bring everything together, so this will be a longer chapter when it is all said and done. There is a lot going on in this portion, so I don't mind posting it separate from the rest of the chapter.


Chapter 41: Secrets of the Force

?In here Jedi!? Avarik barked as he used the Force to open the cell door that would lead to Anakin?s new home.

Anakin quietly entered the cell and then turned to his former mentor. ?Obi-Wan, please tell Aila thank you from me.?

Avarik growled in frustration. ?You don?t deserve her sympathy and one day I will make her see that. But right now I won?t stress her it is not good for her or my son.?

?Don?t you mean??? Anakin began, but a stern voice in his head shouted a garbled warning, the binders cutting off his connection to the Force, preventing the message from coming through clear.

?Mean what?? Avarik spat.

Anakin ignored his former mentor?s question as he strained to hear the message that was being shouted at him through the Force. His brow furrowed in concentration as he struggled to concentrate on the voices in the Force.

?Don?t even think it Jedi.? Avarik warned with a touch of menace. He drew his crimson lightsaber up to Anakin?s neck, ready to strike if needed.

Anakin opened his eyes before answering his former mentor. ?Obi-Wan? you know fully well that with these binders?? He raised his bound wrists to emphasize his point. ?You have made it impossible for me to sustain my connection to the Force.?

?Yes, but you also have the highest midichlorian count of any Jedi, which is why, if I am not mistaken you can still talk to Padmé over your Force bond. Otherwise she would have put up more of a fight earlier. I am not taking any chances with you.?

Anakin could not help the roll of his eyes this statement brought. ?I would probably feel Padmé regardless, just as I?m sure you would feel Aila. My relationship with my wife and your relationship with yours is stronger than any power in the Force, light or dark.?

?I do not need a lecture from you, padawan. If you remember I was a Jedi far longer than you.? To emphasize his point, Avarik pressed the tip of his lightsaber closer to Anakin, forcing the younger Jedi to raise his chin so he would not get singed by the blade.

?Yes, but you aren?t acting like it. You always told me to stop and think about a situation. If you would do the same you could explain to me what motive I would have to hurt you or Aila??

?I no longer try to fathom the moti

 

Anakin is going to have to do more to crack the shell Avarik has put up around himself. I am also curious to know what the Force was trying to tell him...

 

Stupid, stubborn Avarik!! At this point I'm really wondering just what it is going to take to turn him back to the Light. Alia might need some extra help.

 

Oh, Avarik, don't do it. Poor Anakin. Awesome update.

 

Listen for once, Avarik! Sheesh. Hopefully he will think about what Anakin said.

 

Obi-Wan called Anakin 'Padawan' I think he's cracking.

 

Oh, boy... Can he be any more hard-headed? Looks like things may start to get really interesting... Lovely update

 

DarthCambius: I don't think Anakin can really "crack Avarik's shell" right now. But at this point, every little bit helps. Maybe if he hears he is being an idiot from enough people he'll "see the light."

Lady_Jade: Aila might just get that help.

Cole_Kenobi: We'll see what Obi-Wan does, but it doesn't look good.

Jaira: He's very anti-Anakin right now, I think we need another voice of reason in the mix.

Gkilkenny: He does have moments where Obi-Wan shine through Avarik, just not enough of them.

CommanderK23: Obi-Wan is pretty messed up, but he's proven he can turn from the Sith when he wants to, we just need him to turn away completely.

To Everybody: Well so much for preventing writer's block. I do apologize for not posting, but as some of you all probably guessed I did in fact get a bad case of writer's block. It's all Kestin's fault, she wasn't behaving. However, last night as I was trying to go to bed I figured out how to fix her issues and get this story going again. I got the whole rest of this story outlined on 2 pages of notes (I write small so there is still quite a bit to go, but I think it will go fast). I'm going to try to get better about posting once a week, but as always that depends on DRL and the writer's block. So as always thanks for your patience. I do know it is frustrating when I do not post and I do feel bad when I leave you all hanging, so your patience is appreciated.

That being said, originally I said there would be two more parts to this chapter, but Aila's section ended up being longer than I thought it was going to be and Anakin's next scene will work better in the next chapter, so this post will be the end of chapter 41 and we'll move on from here.

I also want to take a moment to thank those who nominated both Aila and Lord Avarik for best Female OC and Best Villain in the Saga Awards. Neither won, but it was nice to have my work nominated. So thanks for the recognition.

Now without further ado, here is the conclusion of chapter 41.

Chapter 41: Secrets of the Force (Part 2)

?Stand aside.? Aila stated to the two guards standing before the door that led to the rooms that now housed her friend Padmé and her two small children. The two guards cast a look at each other and shifted uncomfortably before one addressed the lady Avarik.

?Milady? It would not be proper. Lord Avarik??

?Would be very unhappy if he found out you disobeyed my orders.? Aila smiled at the shudders the two clone troopers gave at her words, knowing she would get her way. However, she was upset that she had to use idle threats of her husband?s anger to get her way. She knew Obi-Wan would want the exact opposite of what the clones were about to give her. However, Aila was determined not to be barred from her friend?s presence. If nothing else, Obi-Wan was going to know her position on his capture of the Skywalkers and know that she would not be swayed no matter what Sidious fed to her husband?s mind.

A sigh escaped both clones as their shoulders slumped in defeat. ?Very well, milady.?

Again Aila smiled as the clones stepped out of her way. However, again she felt guilty over the position she had put them in. Wanting to spare them her husband?s rage she dismissed them to the other side of the ship. She hoped they would stay out of her husband?s way and not let her gift to them go to waste. Knowing she had done all she could for the clones Aila walked into the apartment that now belonged to three of the Skywalkers.

The room was abuzz with activity. Clones were moving furniture and boxes to various parts of the small apartment with Kestin overseeing the operation. Off to the side, Padmé was wrestling pieces of C3PO?s broken body from her two small children who seemed content to play a game of toss with the golden droid. Normally R2D2 may have been helping her, but he was propped against the wall, still inoperable after the blast he took on Alderaan.

?Here, let me hel

 

Now why is Luke babbling at the unborn? Hmmm Nice to see an update, those writer's blocks are horribly evil things.

 

Kestin is not a happy person. I think Aila should watch her closely.

 

At least Avarik is keeping his word about Padme and the kids...for now.

I wonder what Luke was saying to Alia's unborn child?

 

Things are getting interesting... Does Avarik really think he can keep his wife away from Padme and the twins? Luke's babbling was very cute.

Excellent update!

 

Hmmm, I would be keeping an eye on Kestin if I were Alia. Things need to get better soon.

Great post.

 

Valairy_Scot: My writer's block is horribly evil, I'm just hoping it will stay away because I am determined to finish this story. To your other comment, obviously Luke has found a friend.

Gkilkenny: No, Kestin is definitely not happy. And Aila sort of senses that, but she doesn't sense Kestin's feelings for Obi-Wan because Kestin hasn't really revealed that to her. Aila is reading it as loyalty to the Empire. Kestin's feelings for Obi-Wan have been there since day 1, but it wasn't something she has been acting on until Obi-Wan defied the Emperor. There is a reason for that which will get revealed in a chapter or 2.

DarthCambius: What Luke was saying to Aila's unborn child isn't really important, he was just having a conversation with said growing person. At one point that was going to be a bigger storyline in this story, but since I've changed things around its not as big of a deal anymore. The details remain because it will probably get a mention when I write the Epilogue to this.

CommanderK23: Aila might give in to some of Avarik's wishes, but I doubt staying away from Padme and the twins will be one of them. Of all the characters in this story, she has fought with her husband the most to his great annoyance.

Lady_Jade: Yes, Kestin isn't entirely stable which is really kind of a sad story depending on how you look at it, but there will be more on that later.

To Everybody: Next chapter...


Chapter 42: Voices of the Force

?And he used to call me stubborn.? Anakin massaged the place where the Force binders had once been. Once his cell door had closed, the binders had fallen from his wrists, but Avarik must have had the cell outfitted with some sort of Force dampening device because he still could not fully connect to the Force though his Force bond with Padmé was still clear and strong and he could faintly feel the rest of the Force at large despite Avarik?s attempt to cut him off.

Still grumbling, Anakin went to situate himself onto the ledge built along one of the walls of his cell. It was no bed, but he had slept in worst surroundings. At least the stark durasteel surfaces of his cell were clean. It might not have any comforts, but the cell was set-up similarly to the quarters he used while fighting in the Clone Wars. As Anakin reflected on his surroundings, he also seethed over Obi-Wan?s completely irrational behavior. It was hard to believe that the Sith who had left him in this cell was the same man who trained him to be a Jedi Master.

?He?s fallen a long way, young one.? A voice echoed oddly in his cell, the words fading in and out as if from a damaged comlink.

Anakin jerked up into a sitting position and looked all over for the source of the voice. ?Who?s there?? He called.

There was a moment of silence before the voice answered, ?It?s been a while since I have talked to you, young one.? Again the voice faded in and out.

Despite the problem in clearly hearing the voice, Anakin thought he recognized it. ?Qui-Gon?? He asked and closed his eyes and concentrated on the Force. The Force dampening within his cell was strong, but his high midichlorian count helped counter some of it and allow him to make some connection to the Force though the connection was not strong enough to allow him to release himself from this prison. Just to obtain the connection he sought with the voice forced him to strain, but his suspicions were confirmed when he felt a distinct ripple in the Force.

?Yes, young padawan. I thought it wise to reveal myself to you after what almost transpired.?

?How? How is this even possible? You?ve been dead for?.?

?Quite some time.? Qui-Gon finished for Anakin. ?Dead, but not gone. I am now a part of the living Force and I have learned how to communicate from beyond.?

?Yes, yes. To Master Qui-Gon, you listen.? Another voice echoed throughout the Force, momentarily breaking Anakin out of his concentration.

Blinking rapidly in dazed confusion, Anakin called out, ?M?

 

Hmmm, Anakin sounded a few chapters back that he was not supposed to contradict "son" with "daughter" but why would Sidious care? Now, non-Force sensitive cild I could see.

So - new tactics to reach Obi-Wan are acomin', eh?

Explosive, I predict.

 

You go get'em Anakin!

Wow that was an incredible conversation. I think Anakin had some good points; Yoda and Qui-Gon have their points as well, though... I think they've got to find a middle ground in the two strategies. Then hopefully we can get somewhere!

Incredible update!