The Guardian's Path

Chapter 18 - Escape

Night comes far faster than Anakin would have expected, especially since he has nothing to do in the cell except brood and think about how everything came to the place it currently is. He feels so conflicted, so confused, and... he misses Palpatine. He knows he shouldn't, but he does. The Chancellor has long been a friend and a mentor to him, and while he intuitively knows that the man is also a Sith, his mind does not seem to be getting the message.

Palpatine was always able to help him sort through his conflicts in the past, and Anakin hates that his confidence was betrayed so badly, that he was being manipulated by the one person he thought would care for him. At times, he thinks this might be a horrible nightmare, and he wants to wake up, even though he knows it's impossible. He can't go to Palpatine with the conflict that is slowly tearing him apart, but he can turn to Custos. As soon as they're safely away from the prying eyes and ears of the Jedi, he'll talk to him. If he doesn't find a way to deal with this, he'll – he'll... he doesn't know, but it won't be pretty.

His whirling thoughts finally slow when he realizes that the Force around him is far calmer now than it was earlier. That's how he knows it's nighttime. Once the sun sets, and especially as it gets around midnight, the Force is far calmer and more peaceful – at the Temple, at least. It's more obvious outside of cities – and Coruscant. But still, Anakin's instincts don't fail him, and he knows.

Closing his eyes, he reaches out with the Force, painstakingly using it to deactivate the ray shield on his prison cell. It won't be long before someone notices – or senses – so they have to hurry. Anakin delves into the Force, opening himself up to it so much that it feels like it's burning him. But he doesn't back down, reaching up with his hands and yanking down the ceiling, lowering the debris to the floor with the Force. It's the fastest – albeit messiest – way out of here.

"Come on," Anakin urges Custos as he deactivates the ray shield of the Sith's cell. "Let's get out of here."

Custos is visibly startled, but there's a hint of pride and awe in his eyes as he willingly follows Anakin into the hall. They leap to the floor above them right as the alarms go off. Well, a small head start is better than no head start, Anakin supposes, as he tears down the ceiling above them as well. Once they're two floors above the prison level where they were confined, they take off running down the hall, Anakin in the lead. He lets the Force guide him as they skid around a few corners, taking a side staircase up a few levels.

The most important thing is for them to lose their pursuers. Anakin can feel how the entire Temple is on alert, and he and Custos have cloaked themselves in the Force. The Jedi might still be able to sense them, but not nearly as easily. "This way," Anakin pants, letting the Force guide him as they make a dash for the turbolifts.

The doors slide open, and they freeze when Yoda comes into view. Anakin begins backing away, ready to run, but Yoda makes no move to attack them. "Going somewhere, are you?" he questions, something almost amused in his tone. "Room in the lift there is."

"You are... helping us?" Anakin asks, bemused.

"Hmm perhaps," Yoda agrees, shuffling aside, the invitation obvious. Anakin and Custos exchange glances before wordlessly entering the turbolift. Anakin pushes the button for the floor where his apartment is located – he and the others had agreed that hiding inside the Temple would be far less predictable than trying to make a mad dash for freedom, and besides, the exits have probably all been locked down as of now.

"Why are you doing this?" Custos inquires warily.

"A Sith you might be, but helping both Skywalkers you have been," Yoda replies, looking up at Custos. "Balance they are finding. Support you are giving. Planning to turn them to the Dark Side, are you, hmm?"