Chapter 23 – The True Chosen One

Obi-Wan wandered aimlessly through the palace, pondering what he should have been doing here. But now that he had arrived on Naboo, he didn't really know what to do next. Sometimes, glimpsing the long green fields of Naboo through the huge palace windows, he had to resist the urge to step outside and just enjoy the day.

When he suddenly found himself in the hangar a short time later, he knew that this was no coincidence. The Jedi knew this hangar, there was a corridor in front of him. Pain shot through him and the images of a bygone time, a bygone struggle flickered in his mind's eye. Loss. The Force would show him the way, but he had to push himself to do it. So Obi-Wan focused on his heartbeat, calmed down, and walked resolutely into the hallway. He wanted to run, but forced himself to walk at a slow pace.

His heartbeat pounded hard as he left the corridor. Now he was standing in a round room. In the middle was a hole that seemed to go down very deep. With a quick glance, Obi-Wan noted the high ceiling, much higher than normal rooms. He slipped silently to the ground.

This was the room where he and Qui-Gon had once fought Darth Maul.

oOo

"Surely you don't believe her," Anakin said indignantly when Ahsoka told Padmé and him Ventress's story. He shook his head. "We can't trust her, she's an assassin. And she was Dooku's student and learned how to convince people."

Ahsoka could see that he wouldn't change his mind about Asajj.

Padmé regarded her husband thoughtfully. "We should give her a chance, Anakin." Ahsoka admired the senator for her overly thoughtful words. The three of them sat in their makeshift room, discussing how to proceed.

"Damn Padmé, how can you say that?" The young Jedi barely controlled his rising voice. His hair hung down his sides in a mess. He had his sparkling eyes on Padmé as if trying to read her mind, which he probably did so.

But the senator didn't let him upset her, put her hand on his thigh and gave him a confident look. "Everyone deserves a second chance," she said, smiling slightly at him.

He sighed in frustration and gave the two women an annoyed look. "I'm just trying to ensure your safety, but if you don't want to see that, please," he gestured, stretching out his arms, "Then do what you think is right." They watched him as he wearily closed his eyes and flopped back onto the mattress.

"I know that, darling. But it is beyond my power to do anything now. We have to do something." He hated it when she spoke to him like that. That undertone always told him he was about to lose. He sighed in resignation and shook off his protective instincts.

"I knew you would give up, Master," Ahsoka exclaimed, delighted. She got up, only to fall back onto the mattresses. "So how will we proceed? I thought about planning to unseat Palpatine from his throne. Asajj could help us with that, she's thirsty for revenge anyway, besides–"

"Not that quick, Snips," their Master remarked, straightening up next to Padmé and seeming to consider. He resisted trying to think of Palpatine. It scared him that he was all alone in power, without anyone in the galaxy who could stop him.

"Anakin's right," Padmé said, to Anakin's amazement. "But we could try and talk to her. If she's really that crazy about taking Palpatine down, then she's probably been working on a plan for a long time." Ahsoka grinned as Padmé turned to the window and looked out. Behind the glittering buildings, the horizon was slowly turning orange. The sunrise wasn't nearly as beautiful here as it was on Naboo, but to her comfort there was something comforting about it.

"But she has so much time," Ahsoka interjected suddenly.

Her voice pulled Padmé out of her thoughts. She winced almost imperceptibly. Anakin should have noticed, though, the senator noticed out of the blue. He noticed her every move, always. Dismayed, she wanted to turn to him, but before she could do anything, his voice came out.

"She's waiting for something," he said in a clear emotionless voice.

oOo

Obi Wan.

The Jedi Master didn't flinch when he heard him speak to him through the Force. And yet he was very afraid of what would happen now. Fear of the unknown. He felt the strength of his being, as if he were actually here at this moment. "Master."

You came.

"Of course." Since when did he doubt his promise?

You must know that I am exceedingly grateful.

Could he read his mind now? "You don't have to. It is my duty to help you. So what do I have to do?"

Only the Force can set me free.

It wasn't obvious from the outside, but Obi-Wan felt that if Qui-Gon didn't make himself clear soon, he would despair. "Master ... Qui-Gon ... I am not the Force, I am a Jedi Master. How am I supposed to be capable of such things?"

You are capable of this, Obi-Wan. You've always lived a humble life, living by Jedi principles for half a century and watching those you loved die one by one. And despite the pain, you stand before me today, hurt but not broken and more radiant than any other Jedi. A great path was always predetermined for you, even if nobody was aware of it. Not even me.

Unnerved, Obi-Wan took a deep breath and heard the air break against his lips. What was he talking about? Death must have done him more damage than he thought. "I don't know what you're talking about, master."

Of course you don't know that, nobody knew. Not even the Council knew anything about it. But I watched you. All those years wasted in the Clone Wars against an enemy you couldn't defeat. I'm sorry, Obi-Wan, so sorry. I was wrong. I was wrong, putting you and Anakin in danger.

Obi-Wan shook his head again, at least it seemed so to him, but in fact he was just fooling himself. "Master, no, what does this have to do with Anakin?"

Isn't that obvious? Anakin is not the chosen one. But I didn't realize it until it was already too late. He's way too dependent on the dark side. Not fallen, but he needs it. Even if he is strong, he would never be able to shed his fear. Or look past his love for the senator. That makes him vulnerable.

If Obi-Wan could tremble, he would have done so already. He probably would have swallowed now and then thought about how to phrase his question. But he was trapped in the Force, unable to think of anything else. Anakin wasn't the chosen one "If Anakin isn't the chosen one, then who is?" He almost, but only almost, saw Qui-Gon smile.

You are the chosen one.

oOo

Padmé had gone pale all over. "For what?" she asked breathlessly. She turned to Anakin, who took her hand reassuringly.

"I don't know," he admitted, pulling her into a hug, "She's probably waiting for a stirring from Palpatine. An attack, maybe." The Jedi stroked her hair while Padmé leaned against his chest and thought. It was still weird for her not to have to hide her feelings for Anakin in public.

"An attack? That's unlikely, he could launch an attack anywhere in the galaxy." Ahsoka offered, not bothering Anakin noticing her amused look.

He stared at her briefly, frowning as she grimaced as if to wiggle her nonexistent eyebrows, before arrogantly twisting a corner of her mouth and replying, "Not if the attack is intended to be aimed at anyone on Coruscant. And since the Jedi are a major threat to Palpatine, that makes sense, doesn't it?" Unbeknownst to Padmé, Anakin moved his lips and silently mouthed the word: Checkmate.

Offended, Ahsoka turned to the young senator who was still sitting on Anakin's lap, still thinking. "Padmé, do you have any ideas?"

Padmé turned and looked at the Togruta. "Well, given our current situation, we probably have no choice but to approach Asajj. This is our best possible shot at a plan right now."

At that moment there was a knock at the door. Nobody moved. Ahsoka looked questioningly at Anakin and Padmé. "Let me do that," Padmé said, getting up. "They'd rather talk to me than you." Anakin hesitated and grabbed her arm, but then released her when Padmé shot him a look. With one more step she was at the door and opened it with a creak.

Asajj Ventress was standing behind of the door.

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