Dreams

Chapter 8.

Anakin's POV

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Beep ... beep beep ... beep beep beep!

I frantically tried to defuse the ticking bomb, but no matter what I attempted to do, I couldn't even get the thing open. If I sliced it open with my lightsaber, it would explode. If I broke any part of it, it would explode. If I left it, it would still explode. I couldn't defuse it.

In the split second I had to decide, I glanced over the edge of the ledge, briefly wondering which of the options I could see before me would hurt less: jumping off the ledge and hoping not to injure myself upon landing, trying to get higher up the Jedi Temple roof, or staying where I was and letting the explosion aid my descent to the ground. Somehow, the last alternative didn't entirely appeal.

I shoved the piece of wall panel back over the bomb as a last-ditch attempt to dampen the blow, even a tiny bit, then flung myself off the ledge, trying to catch the edge of it so that I could swing and break my fall somewhat. My fingers latched onto the edge but then slipped off just as quickly; whatever had happened, though, it wouldn't have made much difference. The bomb blew while I was still mid-air.

The blast sent me flying with such force that I was unconscious before I even hit the ground. The last thing I remembered was a comforting presence flashing through the Force, then I was knocked out.

It felt like no time at all before I was forcing my eyes open and trying to focus my swimming gaze on anything I could. Blurry images of fiery debris and large clouds of smoke filled my vision, and I was sure someone was kneeling beside me, but my sight was swallowed by blackness again. Although my eyes refused to work, sounds exploded in my ears: people shouting, heavy objects crashing, and a hundred sirens wailing. 

A gentle hand was resting on mine, with another on my chest, but whoever was next to me didn't speak. The person's touch was light and hesitant, and soon it disappeared completely. I tried to call after them, but my tongue felt like lead in my mouth and my whole body ached.

I slipped in and out of consciousness a couple of times before I was roused more definitely by someone talking to me.

"Sir, sir, can you hear me?" His voice was urgent, worried almost. He was checking me for injuries, his expert fingers knowing the best and most efficient methods. 

I let out a soft moan as pain throbbed in my body.

"Sorry, sir," he apologized, retracting his hands. "I would call for Kix, but there are some medics already on their way. Just hang in there, okay?"

I peeked my eyes open and managed a small smile when I saw Rex, the leader of the 501st, sitting on his knees beside me. "Hey, Rex," I croaked, then started trying to sit up.

My clone captain stopped me, placing his gloved hands on my shoulders. "Take it easy, General."

I gave him a wonky smirk. "Is that an order, Captain?"

Because he didn't have his helmet on, I could see him chewing on his smile. "Not quite."

My eyes scanned the area, and I winced to see the destruction and devastation all around me. The front doors lay in at least twenty different pieces, the stone floor was cracked and broken, and debris and rubble were scattered far and wide. Some of it was still tumbling down the stairs. Smoke and dust billowed through the air, adding a kind of misty lens to the brilliant sunrise, and the fire team were working hard to put out the flames that burned around the entrance to the Jedi Temple.

My breath caught in my throat as memories barged their way into my mind: explosions, running, lightsabers, voices, stun bolts .... The images came thick and fast, pounding through my head like a series of blows that an unprepared boxer would take. I scrunched my eyes shut, trying to escape the pain that burned almost tangibly. She was framed. It wasn't her fault. She was proven innocent. But she left. I had done everything I could ... hadn't I? What would have happened if I had tried harder? Would she have remained? Maybe it was my fault she left.

Someone shaking my shoulder dragged me from the depths of my thoughts, and I tried to plant my feet back in the present. But my stance wasn't steady, and I slipped over, tripping back into the past and being engulfed in the pain and hurt.

"I believed in you! I stood by you!"

"I know, and I'm grateful for that. But I can't stay here any longer, not now."

"You can't just throw it away like this! Ahsoka, you are making ... a mistake."

"Maybe, but I have to sort this out on my own, without the Council ... and without you."

No, Ahsoka, please don't leave. Please don't go. We've been through so much together; we've survived so many battles and so much worse. Please don't go. Please .... 

I miss you.

"I miss you, too."

My heart leapt into my mouth. Something – or someone – hung close by, hovering in the shadows, lingering, waiting. But they didn't approach. The Force flickered and curled around us, as though attempting to usher the hidden person out from the darkness. But my mind was reeling, and dizziness was threatening to steal my consciousness. Those words ... they sounded so real and felt so sincere, but they weren't spoken. I didn't hear anyone say anything out loud. 

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as a sadly realistic idea dropped into my head. The voice had sounded so much like her, but hadn't that been the case every other time I thought I had heard her? I had imagined talking to her so many times over the last few months that sometimes I almost believed it was really happening. Why would this time be an exception?

"Are you awake? Can you hear me?" an instructive voice asked from above me, and I felt hands once again checking for injuries.

"Yeah, I'm 'wake," I mumbled, feeling like a sailor tossed about on a stormy night. Even if I just saw her once more, maybe it wouldn't hurt so much. I just wanted to know if she was okay.

"Are you okay, sir?" I heard another voice – a female paramedic, probably – asking me.

"Are you okay?" Her question rattled around in my head until I didn't think I could take it anymore. Is she okay? I wanted to yell it, I wanted everyone in the galaxy to hear it if it meant she could hear it.

Are you okay?

That was when I blacked out.

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Poor Ani, things are rough for him atm. :( He's really missing Snips, isn't he?

It was nice to see Rex, though, wasn't it? He's got a bit of cheek, that clone captain! ;)

I'm thinking about switching to Obi-Wan next chapter ... but I'm not quite sure. *hums thoughtfully* We'll see. :) Thanks for reading!