Dreams

Chapter 30.

Anakin's POV

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Get yourself away from her! Keep her safe! Keep away from her!

My brain pleaded with me, begging me to stay away from Ahsoka, to remove the danger from her. So I listened. And I ran. I put as much distance between my former padawan and myself as I could. I didn't want to be the reason she left again.

I dashed through the streets of Coruscant, slipping and tripping over bits of rubbish and other junk lying around. My mind whirled and heart pounded. Get away from her, get away from her, get away from her ....

"Master!" Ahsoka's cry from behind me could have been coming from the other side of the planet for all I cared. She sounded so far away, more like a memory than a reality. But she called out again, this time her voice more desperate, more urgent. "Master, look out!"

But she was too late. I wasn't watching where I was going, and I ran straight into a clone trooper. I stumbled backwards, falling over and catching myself with the Force before I hit the ground. I hovered for a moment before dropping to the street. My eyes were wide as I stared up at the clone captain. Wait ... his armour had blue paint on it ....

My concentration was momentarily broken, having been arrested by my recognition of the clone in front of me, and I suddenly realized twenty guns, in a circle around me, were being pointed at me. I sat stiffly, my hands shaking as power continued to surge through my body. 

Mace Windu entered the ring of clones, stopping in front of me and looking down at me, hands on hips. I felt more than just intimidated. "Skywalker," he began grimly, "I hope you have a good explanation for your behaviour. You are in trouble if you don't."

My whole body was trembling as I watched Mace nervously. All I could see was the past flashing before my eyes: Ahsoka's heartbroken face as she pleaded with me, telling me she wasn't guilty; Obi-Wan's unhappy grimace when I growled at the Council, saying they had already made their decision about Ahsoka; Ahsoka's sad eyes when she told me she wasn't coming back to the Order. And I didn't want history to repeat itself.

The power inside me swirled and gathered, just like it had when I was Tatooine a year ago, but this time was different. There was such a raw strength to it. It felt like fire in my veins, spurred on by fear and frustration. The more emotion I felt, the more the power grew. And right now, I was feeling quite a lot.

It felt like dark fingers of blackness were wrapping themselves around me, soaking into my bones and strengthening them. I didn't know whether to be afraid of it, but I wasn't, not especially at least. My thoughts centred and collected around my beautiful wife, coaxed on by the nightmares that had been disturbing my sleep. If I could learn to use this power, maybe I could become strong enough to save Padmé. I felt I had failed Mother and Ahsoka, but maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't fail Padmé. Maybe I would succeed this time.

"Skywalker," Mace's voice broke into my web of internalizing. I shrunk back instinctively, feeling the Force drawing close around me. Hairline cracks began splitting across the buildings around us. The ground trembled. The power inside me grew.

Mace's face was set in stone. "You will be coming back to the Jedi Temple with us."

He seemed unaware of the strength in and around me. The Force darted out and back to me, leaving cracks in the enclosure of solid structures we were nestled in. If I could control the power, perhaps I could use it for whatever I wanted. I could save lives, help people, and finally stop failing. Maybe I would finally live up to the title of "Chosen One."

I shuffled backwards slightly, faltering under Mace's unwavering gaze. I didn't want to go back with him. They would likely accuse me for something I didn't do. I didn't want to take the fall for that. It wasn't my fault; I was only trying to help! Why couldn't they see that?

A flash of anger flared in my heart, burning bright like a red-hot flame. I was trying to protect them! Why did they think I was responsible for the bombs? Didn't they remember my character? Why would I do such a thing as that?

But I quietened the flame, quickly simmering it down again. They didn't understand. Hopefully they would understand. Hopefully things would get better.

"You're under arrest." Once again, I was startled by Mace's words, shaken from my own world. It took me a moment to understand what was happening, but I realized that the clones were encroaching in on the circle, closing in around me. Rex was coming up behind me, a pair of cuffs in his hands.

No, don't let them get you! My head was screaming one thing and my heart another, and the Force was muddled and confused, coiling around me in tight ringlets. I felt the power brewing in my body, flowing down my arms, and collecting in my hands. I could get away from them. 

I gathered myself up, feeling the power brimming nearly to overflow, but suddenly a voice called from outside the ring.

"Anakin, no!"

I could just see her, standing in the shadows, reluctant to be revealed but desperate for me not to let the power go. What was I thinking? At such close range, this power inside me could seriously injure those around me! I might even hurt Ahsoka, as well.

My attention was diverted for a moment too long. I heard Mace shouting a command to the clone troopers, then a gun fired behind me.

Everything went black.

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Okay, this might not be so good. Things aren't looking too great at the moment. :/ Where's Obi-Wan when you need him? ;)

Is Anakin right in his thinking? Should he be staying away from his friends? Should he be trying to increase this power? Will it actually be able to help Padmé? Hm.

Your reads, votes, and comments are so very appreciated! Thank you so much! ^o^