Saga Children of Circumstance (AOTC A/P story ) A story about Anakin, his love and his path

Incredible, you've got Anakin pegged so accurately, I'm amazed and absorbed every time I read this! *shakes her head* I'm at a loss for words at the moment, I can't wait for the next one!

 

Wow!!! Holiday colors!!!!! Unexpected, this is!!!!!


Chapter 10.1 Hostages


On the D?laian battle cruiser Darth Tyrannus waited patiently in the command center, observing the panorama that the computer screens laid out before him.

The Republican fleet had arrived and was holding its position. The Yacht would shortly be under the control of his old friends, the D?laians, who cared far more about personal gain than about civil war. They could have Naboo, for all he cared ? if they could defeat the Republican fleet. It was of no importance to him. He did not intend to remain to find out.

Of more interest to him was the prospect that his enemy would play directly into his hands. He had probed every part of him and thought he understood him well.

?Keep your enemies close?? the Jedi had always taught. This enemy was too close.

There could be only two: a Master and an Apprentice.

He was not about to allow himself to be replaced. Not now.

The boy had to go.

* * * * *

Anakin came too late. Two Nubian security guards lay dead in the quiet, luxurious rooms. One was slumped by the door. The other had evidently fallen from the hatch in the bedroom ceiling. Both had their throats cut.

A silent death, Anakin thought. The sensors had been deactivated.

Everyone else was gone. There were signs of struggle; chairs were overturned. The pale blue veil Padmé had flung onto one of them the last time he saw her lay crumpled on the floor.

He sent the Force surging through the ship. It directed him toward the bridge. But which way? The D?laians had gained access from two entrances at once; it was plausible that they would have left in two groups. Even a sorcerer can?t be in two places at once, he thought bitterly.

Sensing life directly above he decided on the high road and hurled himself into the maintenance duct above the sitting room. The third Nubian guard lay crumpled inside by the opening. Anakin sent him some healing energy and dropped his cloak over him before making his way along the tube toward the prow of the vessel.

He heard blaster fire ahead and sped up, moving as fast as he could on his knees and forearms. Rounding a bend he saw that the remainder of the duct was empty, so he let himself down through the next hatch. He found himself in the empty galley, and crept toward the corridor that led to the front of the ship.

There was more blaster fire. He reached out to locate Typho and followed his Force signature. He was close. They converged in front of the bridge door, which was closed and showed signs of damage. Typho was there, blaster in hand.

?Which way in?? Anakin asked shortly.

?Only through that door. The ducts end out here.?

Anakin took out his light saber to sear through it. Typho restrained him.

?They have them all ? Senator Amidala. Dormé and Vespé. The little girl.?

?I know.?

?He says they?ll kill them if we try to break through.?

?He won?t.? Anakin felt certain he knew exactly what Wolan wanted, and he was through accepting advice. Wolan wanted hostages, and he wanted to bait the Jedi with them.

?Sabé and your people are taking over the Salon,? Anakin said shortly to Typho as he began to tackle the door. ?They?ll probably need your help.?

The Security Chief wasn?t ready to be dismissed by the likes of Anakin.

?Don?t!? Commanded Typho.

?There?s a wounded man in the ducts above the Queen?s stateroom.? The heavy metal was beginning to yield.

?You?re endangering the hostages!? Typho hissed.

?I know exactly what I?m doing,? Anakin said, already halfway through. He was not interested in having any further conversations about it. The door was beginning to glow red as the light saber cut through it with white heat.

It took him a few minutes to cut a hatch into the heavy blast door. As he had expected, he was not fired upon when he crawled through it, leaving Typho to make his own choices about what to do next. Anakin could feel how badly Wolan wanted him there.

The bridg

 

Ack! I can't -believe- you left it there! What's Padmé going to say to him? Hmmm?

Come on, I'm dying here!

Awesome finish for our resident badguy! A force choke! Classic Anakin! and in front of Padmé?! Yeowzers! Stunning, I loved it!

 

*does a happy dance* It's Vader, it's Vader!

Oh, that was masterful. The Dooku part I didn't see coming at all!

You know, when the realization hit Anakin, all I could think of was Admiral Ackbar: "It's a traaaaap!"

Once again, great Anakin. The conflict within him is amazing -- so angry with Wolan, so gentle with Bale. Fabulous!

I would love to see you write Anakin dueling Dooku and then confronting Obi-Wan when he arrives -- but somehow I think that may exceed the scope of what you're planning. Too bad. Maybe another story?

 

She'd better be tasting his tonsiles after that!!




J/K!!!

Wonderful as always my freind.........

 

Oh, dear. That action part was a bit frightening.

But, like DB said, will there be tonsil hockey in Anakin and Padme's future?

Great post(s), geo3


starwoid

 

See, geo? It's not a problem that the PMs arrive more times- by the time I'm back there are several posts But it's actually good 'cause this way I have more to read!!!

And here comes the action!!! WOW! It was great idea to show us Ani/Vader's first choking- a historic event...

Little Balé's sooooo cute...

 

Great post!!! That kid was really attached to him huh?

I cant wait to see what Padme has to say!

 

Up!

 

Once again I posted, left for the day, and came back to find all of your lovely feedback. It makes such a difference to hear from you! I find it downright inspiring...

Jade_Max - Of course I left it there! I keep hoping you'll come back for more.

Darth_Lex - Well, you did predict it a few posts back...

Darth Breezy - Of course!

starwoid - Sorry to frighten you, but this IS Star Wars. Mush coming up.

LadyZ - Thank you! And thanks for the up!

AG - You'll see in the next post!

 

Chapter 10.2 Hostages


Once he saw the Nubian ship return to the Republican fleet with its fighter escort, Darth Tyrannus made a quiet departure from the D?laian vessel.

His Master?s plan was obviously working.

His own, however, required further thought. If he did nothing Sidious would sooner or later force him into another confrontation with the boy. It was something he wanted to avoid. The Jedi Padawan was not yet fully trained, but the Force was stronger with him than it had any right to be.

He had to dispose of him soon, before his Master got his hands on him.

He couldn?t remember having felt this threatened before.

* * * * *

Padmé headed for the small conference room, which at the moment was likely to be the only private place on the ship.

When Anakin had entered she locked the door and turned to look at him.

There was a long silence.

Not taking her eyes off his, Padmé said, ?You did it again. You saved all of our lives.?

?I will always protect you,? Anakin said. ?No matter what.?

?Doesn?t anything ever frighten you?? Padmé wondered out loud, not certain how to reach out to him. He seemed to be speaking to her across a great distance.

?Yes,? he said with his usual heart-wrenching honesty. ?Losing people I love.? He stayed where he was ? awkward, stiff, but with fire in his eyes.

That did it. With desperation comes inspiration.

Padmé crossed the room to him with those four or five steps that she should have taken earlier in her stateroom, took hold of his leather tunic both fists and shoved him against the wall. Hard.

Surprised and more than willing, Anakin let it happen.

?Pay attention,? she said, not more than two inches from his lips. ?I am not afraid of you. And you are very easy to love.?

Her pulse pounded in her throat while she waited to see what he would do.

Not more than a couple of heartbeats passed before he met her lips with a hunger that took her breath away. As he gradually let down the rest of his defenses their embrace became as passionate as it was healing.

The ache Padmé had been carrying around since he left her disappeared.

?Padmé,? he said when he could speak again, pouring all of his love and relief into the single word.

?Don?t leave me again,? she whispered, still holding on to him tightly.

?I thought you wanted me to.?

?No. Never. I?m sorry for everything I said...?

Anakin cut her off with another breath-defying kiss. He was mindfully focusing on the here and now.

As always when Anakin was alone with her he let go of his mental shielding. It was the only time that he was completely open, vulnerable, and wholly himself. The unleashed Force surged around them and through them like a torrent as they clung to one another in the quiet room. Padmé had the oddest sensation of the physical barriers and boundaries between them blurring and disappearing.

She wondered, somewhat disjointedly, how she had ever imagined she could go on without him. Then she stopped thinking at all.

Someone knocked on the conference room door.

Padmé ignored it.

The knock came again, more firmly.

?My Lady!? It was a security guard. ?Captain Typho needs Jedi Skywalker in the Salon!?

Padmé clutched him tightly. She wasn?t ready to relinquish him just now, for any reason. It was Anakin who reluctantly pulled away from her.

?No?? She protested, feeling torn in two.

?You know I have to go,? he whispered, and moved toward the conference room door. He was still protecting her ? this time from being discovered.

Padmé was beyond being able to compose herself. Anakin had no such difficulty. As soon as he opened the door he once again looked every inch the Jedi ? remote, self-contained and focused. To Padmé it felt as though a drawbridge had gone up, leaving her on the far side. She was beginning to ache again.

?Tell him I?m on my way,? he told the guard.

Padmé took a deep, deep breath.

Anakin, she called out again just to see whether he would hear her. He looked up and smiled

 

I loved it!!! Once I was an elected Minister of Mush... so no wonder... But it was not really mush...

"He was still protecting her ? this time from being discovered." Nice try but I don't think he's got a chance to succeed in it. In a relatively small ship, surrounded by guards and aids... What the hell would she do with him behind closed doors anyway?!?! LOL!

"...shoved him against the wall. Hard." Yessssssssssssssssssss!!!

 

As always, this was awesome. You have their emotions just right. And so true to their relationship in AOTC -- he loves her deeply, watches her pull away, and waits patiently for her to come back to him. Gotta love the will of the Force that way...

And it just tore at my heart the way you captured the real meaning of "fear is the path to the dark side" in such a subtle and moving way. "Losing people I love." Especially if it's symmetrical ("Losing people who love me"), it really does put a whole new impact on the end of ROTJ, doesn't it? Wow.

 

The last few posts have been fantastic -- tense, with great action, and romantic, just the way Star Wars should be! The angle with Tyrannus is great. And Anakin's character is heartbreakingly believable.

I personally hope you write more Star Wars stories.

 

*jaw drops* Ack! She shoved him into the wall? Why can I see Padmé doing just that? *scratches her head*

You have Anakin written so incredibly accurate, ever time I read one of these scenes I'm shocked at how believeable it is!

Wow. e's very believeable... And the Dooku angle is great. I'd love to see you do an original story with these characters, incredible.

 

Mush.






Beautiful. I like how you described the way Anakin's shields go down - it really DOES make him more vulnerable!


Wonderful stuff.



starwoid

 

I like your Padme and Anakin very much. She's so vulnerable as a woman would be if she were in love with Anakin.

 

Whoa.. This story, the way u describe Anakin is quite amazing.. And hte last post.. Pure mush! hihihi Can't wait to read the next post!

Luv Cindy

 

So many lovely commments, I hardly know where to begin.

LadyZ - I suspect that Mush is in the eye of the beholder. A vivid imagination comes in very handy!

Darth_Lex - very interesting perspective about symmetry w.ROTJ - as always, you make me think!

Dally -Thanks so much! For my part, I hope you keep reading and enjoying....

Jade_Max Thanks, but I'm still pretty tangled up in this one...it's not over yet!

starwoid - Thanks, as always!

Dana28 - Welcome! I think that for everyone, love=vulnerable

jedi scholar- stay tuned - they get a lot more comfortable with one another...

Cindy_Cupido - Welcome and thank you! Next post coming up.


Just a comment about the next chapter - less dramatic than chapter 10, it is one of those necessary transitional chapters that takes us from here to there. Still, I think it has its moments. I hope you'll bear with me.

 

Chapter 11.1 Crossroads


The Senate had a vast new clone army but not enough commanding officers. Seasoned soldiers and new recruits alike were pouring into Coruscant daily from around the Galaxy for processing and training. But the war did not wait and commanders had to be found for the interim. Until the new cadre of career officers could be qualified and put into action, the Jedi Council faced regular demands that Jedi Masters be taken from their duties and given temporary command positions. It was a source of great displeasure to the Council. Only three days before Master Andros had been pulled away from an important training mission to command a fleet in the Naboo Sector.

With Tec Andros in command, it was a simple matter for Obi-Wan Kenobi to obtain permission to board the Galactic Cruiser even as it faced off against the D?laians. Making his way from the vast docking bay to the command center along identical, brightly lit corridors filled with identical, unnaturally quiet troopers he had the eerie feeling that he was the only living thing inside of a vast machine. Robbed of their individuality and their will, the clone troopers left odd Force signatures that had more in common with those of plants than of sentient beings. Even animals had more individuality.

Of course, Obi-Wan thought, sifting through his impressions. The Force does not love a machine. He pulled his cloak around him more tightly as though it could ward off the deep inner chill he felt in those surroundings.

It came as a profound relief to find Tec, who with his lopsided face, rough Jedi robes and powerful Force signature was a warm and vibrant presence in an otherwise sinister place.

?What is it about this Sector?? Tec Andros asked his friend as they embraced. ?First me, now you. I didn?t think the Council could spare us. These D?laians really don?t look like that much of a threat to me. They have hesitated to engage us so far.? But for the robes, the brawny Corellian who was now Supreme Commander of the Fleet looked more like a pirate than a Jedi Master but he was a legendary fighter and strategist.

?I?m really here as a visitor,? Obi-Wan said. ?I was on my way to Naboo to meet my Padawan, when I heard about this little confrontation.?

Tec raised his eyebrows. ?And you paused in your journey to join us in our battle? That was kind of you, but I think we can manage.? He gazed out the view screen and then checked the computer array. ?In fact, there may not be one. There was a clear shift in their intentions around the time our fighters picked up the Yacht.?

Obi-Wan smiled with satisfaction. That was something no computer array could have told him.

?My Padawan is on the Queen?s Yacht.?

?Skywalker? That Padawan?? Tec looked at him doubtfully. He didn?t envy Obi-Wan his responsibility for the so-called Chosen One. Skywalker, he remembered from a few training missions, was a handful. Given only two options the boy always created a third and a fourth, usually with some kind of mishap attached?.

?The very one. Why??

?Well, there is certainly a strong Jedi presence on board. They lost their communications but we managed all right.? He looked down at data readout. ?We have just brought the Yacht on board, in fact. Do you want to go down??

?No,? Obi-Wan said. ?Not now.?

Tec looked up from his screen.

Obi-Wan felt called upon to explain.

?This is actually his mission. He doesn?t know I?m here.?

Tec grinned. ?The old stalking Master trick. Well done. How are you going to keep him from sensing your presence??

Quite easily, actually, Obi-Wan thought with some pain. ?I have my ways.?

?I imagine you do,? Tec remarked sympathetically. ?It can?t be easy to have that one as a Padawan.?

?Oh,? said Obi-Wan neutrally. ?We have our ups and downs.?

Tec heard and felt his way through the comment.

?Well,? he said, hoping to cheer his friend up, ?He seems to have done his job on this one. The Senator is safe. The Nubians lost a few, and so di

 

Are you a psychologist in real life? If not, you should be! It amazes me to no end how perfectly you get inside these characters' heads: Obi-Wan's doubts, the brother-/sister-hood between Jedi, the tension between love and duty posed by Anakin (as harsh as taking children from their parents is, it solves this problem...), and the opaqueness of the looming danger of the dark side.

I stand (sit, actually, but whatever...) in awe of this story.

Can't wait for more!

 

Your interpretation of Anakin's character, and of Obi-Wan's good intentions and helplessness, are perfect, in my opinion.