Chapter Text
Anakin was already regretting his choices as he waited outside a hangerbay that had seen better days. He has wasted no time in comming Quinlan Vos after he had sent Ahsoka off to her room to prepare for their departure. As much as it pained him Vos had been the first person he could think of that would have all the connections he needed and willing to help him. Well, him by association anyways. Vos had truly only agreed when Anakin had mentioned that he was going after Obi-Wan.
“I can feel your impatience four blocks away Skywalker.” A figure appeared out of the shadows. A fitting entrance Anakin thought.
Anakin merely shrugged. Any other time he would respond with something witty as he has before in the past but not tonight."Is it here?”, he returned instead straight to business.
“Indeed.” Vos' head tilted to his left. “Follow me.”
He took Anakin through a series of security doors before reaching their destination. The outside of the building must be doing well at discouraging wandering eyes, for if anyone bothered to look inside they’d find a jackpot of ships. Anakin was unwillingly impressed.
Vos did nothing to hide his amusement at Anakin's reaction but he did hold his silence. They walked past a few ships before stopping before one. “She’s nothing too fancy but she’s fast, can fit a decent crew and won't stand out much.” He placed a hand on the ship. “She’s also well stocked in medical supplies.” He’s eyes turning from the ship to catch Anakin’s. The implications of his last words setting heavily between them.
Anakin lets it sit for a moment more before breaking it. “And the codes?”
“I'll send them to your comm. See you on the other side.” Vos turned and made his way across the hangar disappearing once more.
Anakin took a steading breath before he entered a very rarely used comm code. He waited a minute before it was finally picked up by a rough voice. “It’s the middle of the night, Skywalker.”
“True.” Anakin admitted with a false idle tone. "But I thought you might want to know that a ship will be leaving soon to retrieve a certain missing Jedi.”
“Send me the coordinates.” Cody’s voice was suddenly void of the roughness from sleep before being replaced with a hard edge letting Anakin know that it was not a request but a demand.
“See you soon Commander.” He returned before hanging up. Already adding his name to a group of others waiting for the same information.
As the time in hyperspace dwindled down he could feel everyone’s concern and anxiety build. He could also feel as they one by one turned their eyes towards Ahsoka. Watched as she immersed herself deep in the Force in a way that he had seen Obi-Wan do before a hundred times. It sent a sharp pang through his heart.
The men had been wary of bringing one as young as her along but she had made it clear she wasn’t going to be left behind. Anakin had backed her, adding that she was the one who would be leading them to Obi-Wan. He however did choose to refrain from mentioning that he wasn't sure if he even had permission to bring her with. Mace had not specifically said that she shouldn't be involved and that was what he was going with. He settled in a seat next to Cody and watched as well. It's become a ritual throughout the journey for her to sit on the ship's floor with data pads filled with information of their target planet and meditate. Upon opening her eyes she’d diligently eliminate what wasn’t needed. It was impressive to watch the large stack of data dwindle down to so little. Even more impressive he had thought and commented on was that Master Nu had let her remove all of it from the Archives. Her guilty look had stopped any more questions or comments on that subject. Better he didn’t fully know. If they lost or destroyed any of it he wanted as much possible deniability as possible when facing Master Nu.
Cody’s arm bumping against his julstling him out of his thoughts. He turned his attention to the stern face of Commander Cody who’s own eyes were also dead locked on the girl. “Do you think she’ll be able to pinpoint him more,Sir?”, he quietly asked as if he raised his voice even a bit more it would bring her out of her meditation. Anakin has tried to explain in the beginning that deep in the Force she would not hear them or be distracted by their regular tones. He’d know, he had tried to distract Obi-Wan many times during his meditation. It was futile though. The men were unwilling to risk it. So far she had narrowed it down to a side of the planet that left them with two options, neither the most pleasant.
“Yes, I can.” Her voice answered for him. Her eyes slowly opened to meet theirs. “And I'm sure you're not going to like it.” Her hand reached for a datapad beside her. Turning it on she swiped a few times before flipping it over to show them.
The Nightmare Lands. Of-kriffing-course.
Anakin sucked in a large amount of air and released it. He’d rather have had the mines. “Anything more?”
She nodded. Pulling another datapad closer towards her. “I think I can narrow it down even more based on terrain. I know that's not exact but…” She tailed off, her face taking a helpless look to it. That look didn't belong on her face.
“That’s more than we had before.” Rex piped up offering encouragement. “Anything you got we’ll take, kid.”
Anakin sent a grateful look his way once Ahsoka immersed herself in a holomap of the planet and her own personal notes. Steadily elimateing areas.
He was growing more and more restless as they waited.He had nothing useful to do until they came out of hyperspace. It agitated him that he could do nothing more to help Obi-Wan than sit.
“We’ll find him, Sir.” Cody’s low voice reached his ears.
“I know, Commander.” He replied out loud. It’s the condition we’ll find him in that worries him.
“Stay with the ship.”
“But I-”
“Ahsoka. Stay with the ship.” He repeated.
Her eyes narrowed and it looked as if she was prepared to argue. He fixed her with a hard stare and watched as her shoulders dropped in resignation. ”Bring him back Anakin.” Her words barely above a whisper ment for the two of them. Her eyes met his once more, holding his gaze demanding a promise.
His throat felt tight as he answered, “I will.” Unsure if he was lying to her or to himself at this point. He turned away from her and headed to take the lead point. “Let’s move out.” He slipped back into the role of General with ease. This was something he could do, could focus on then the possibility that it may already be too late.
He knew they didn't have too much time to spare as he picked up the pace. The codes Vos had given him worked to get them through the planetary defense but it wouldn't be long before they figured out that his ship wasn't one of the wealthy industrialists as they had landed far away from any true civilization. Ahsoka had guided them as far as she could and it had been enough. They had spotted a small clearing from above that was dotted with droids. Anakin was sure that they were heading in the right direction. The Force urged him on.
Stopping just before the large clearing they watched the droids move about. ”There. He has to be there.” Anakin pointed to a large hatch in the ground."They are all centered around that area instead of the hangar over there.”
He quickly ran through a few options before settling on one. “Fives. Echo. See that building? Think you can handle that?”
“Yes, Sir!” They responded as one.
“They won't know what hit them.” Fives added.
“Good. Once the explosives are set, get the hell out of there. Double back here.” He instructed them before they set out around the edge of the forest.”Stay focused. The forest can play tricks on one's mind.”
His warning was met with nods as they set off. Anakin could feel the strength of the forest pulling at his senses and pushed it away. It wouldn't do to lose focus now. Not when he was so close.
“General..what is the plan exactly?” Cody asked.
Anakin blinked owlishly at him before he grinned. “Simple. Once that hangar goes up in flames and those around the hatch area go to see what’s happening, that will be our queue to go.”
“You're just assuming they will move?” Cody questioned in disbelief.
“Don't question it,vod.” Rex muttered. “It’s pointless.”
He could feel Cody’s disapproving look through his helmet. It was oddly comforting for it reminded him of Cody’s General. “Don't worry Cody. You'll be back to boring, well thought out plans in no time.”
The sound of charges detonating minutes later and the movement of droids had them edging closer to the clearing. Holding out his hand to stop the others he waited until he saw the hatch open and more droids come out. As they made their way away he gave the signal to run for it. Quickly crossing the short distance to the hatch before being noticed. He was the first down and dealt with any remaining droid close to the entrance of the small underground tunnels. “Cody, Rex take the right and Kix and I'll go left. Yell if you find him.”
One by one they quickly search the few rooms that littered their side. Dealing with any droid that had remained inside. His comm beeped and he hurriedly answered it. "General. Second room to the last. We have him.”
Anakin wasted no time in turning around and running down the halls to reach the room. Nothing he did to steal himself for the sight to see was enough.There chained and obviously tortured, was a half conscious Obi-Wan. He hurriedly stepped into the room and made quick work of the chains cursing as he noticed the force suppression collar around his neck. Anakin knelt beside him and pulled him into his arms. "Obi-Wan.” Drawing Obi-Wan’s eyes towards him. He watched as Obi-Wan worked to open his mouth and speak. “Shhh we’ll get you out of here.Save your energy.”
Obi-Wan wouldn't be deterred. In raspy breaths he muttered the words back soon and Dooku . Anakin felt another wave of anger at their fallen Grandmaster. Only to be brought out of it by Cody's voice.
“We need to go now .”
Anakin made to stand with Obi-Wan in his arms but was stopped by Kix.“ Better I take him General. You'll be needed in the front.” His voice soft and firm at the same time. He must have seen the conflict in Anakin's eyes, for he whispered, “I’m sorry.” before taking Obi-Wan.
Kix was right. Anakin knew it. But he had just gotten Obi-Wan back. He didn't want him out of his sight. A part of himself railed against not being the one to carry him out and another that sounded a lot like Obi-Wan’s voice told him to carry on with the mission first. Squaring his shoulders he led them out. Deflecting all blaster bolts that came their way until they hit the trees. Fives and Echo laying down extra support to take out any droids that got to close.It was a mad scramble back to the ship.
Midway he commed Ahsoka to prepare the ship for take off. She had it off the ground as soon as the last of them entered the ship. Wasting no time to hit the accelerator towards open skies. Anakin raced to take over. She might be a decent pilot but she wouldn't be able to outfly all of the Sep ships guardianing the area outside of the planet. They had to know they were coming by now.
He was proven right as they entered space and dodged shots from vulture droids that had been deployed. He needed a path to clear space to make the jump.
Just as he was beginning to think he wouldn't find one, another ship jumped out of hyperspace behind the main body of droids and fired.
“Skywalker do you read me?” Came the indistinguishable voice of Quinlan Vos.
“Loud and clear Master Vos” Ahsoka answered for him before he could stop him.
“Ahsoka?!” Came his shocked reply. A heavily sigh followed it. “Nevermind. The Council can skin you alive later for bringing an Initiate along. Do you have him?”
“We do.” This time Anakin replied.
“Good. I'll clear a path and when I say jump. Jump. You'll only get a few seconds.”
“What about you?” Ahsoka’s concern clear in her voice.
“Don’t worry about me, little one. I'll see you back at the Temple.” He reassured her.
Anakin didn't need Quinlan's voice telling to jump a few minutes later when he saw the opening. He was halfway through the motions already. He wasted no time in hitting the hyperjump. He sent a small thank you to the Force and to Vos.
He spent as much time as possible in hyperspace as he could next to Obi-Wan as soon as Kix would allow it. Removing the force collar was a double edged sword. Relief that he could once more feel Obi-Wan in the Force but painful in the way he could feel all of Obi-Wan’s agony in the Force. They had done all they could until they reached the Temple. Until then Anakin tried to send him waves of peace to help soothe his pain.
He wasn't alone either. Ahsoka was his constant companion. She had refused to leave Obi-Wan and had only been coaxed out of the room through guilt. Cody was surprisingly good at employing it. Stating how disappointed Obi-Wan would be if she didn't eat or rest a bit.
They both sat next to his bed as he rested in an induced coma. The silence was comfortable and probably would have remained the way for the rest of the time if Ahsoka had not chosen this time to speak up.
“Why don't you tell him?” She whispered. They were doing a lot of that lately.
“Tell him what?” He returned in an equally low tone.
“You know.”
“No I'm not sure I don't.” He did but he wasn't about to admit it outloud.
“Anakin.” Something in her voice made him turn his eyes from Obi-Wan to meet her gaze. It felt as if her eyes were looking through him. Those eyes were too old to belong to one as young as her. “It’s alright. You don’t have to pretend. I know.”
He felt his chest squeeze tight at her admission. Knowing that someone else knows something so personal. Something he had worked hard to keep a secret. “Does he- does anyone else?” He managed to push out.
“No.” That one word had relief crashing through him. “No to both of those questions.”
“Then how..?”
She offered him a comforting smile. “I see things most don’t.” Slowly she stood from her seat and brought the hand she had been holding to rest in Anakin’s before releasing it. He instantly tightened his hold on it. “I’m going to grab some food before one of the men tries to guilt trip me again. I'll be back soon and I'll bring something for you.” She said before making her exit.
Once gone he turned his attention back to Obi-Wan.”You know I'm not sure who’s lucking out the most in your choice of potential padawan. Me or you.” He let out a small huff of a laugh. He brought Obi-Wan’s hand to his lip and placed a soft kiss on it before lowering it back down.
He replayed Ahsoka’s words over in his mind. He didn’t know if he would ever tell him or if he was ready to even admit it out loud yet. For now he was content to sit here and wait for him to wake once more.