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Without Anakin to provide them with the full story of how he came to be a loth cat, Obi-Wan doesn’t know how to reverse the effect and bring the human version back. Though, given the information they had, Obi-Wan concluded that the doctor must’ve injected him with something that transformed him into a cat—a toxin of some sorts. After their revelation on the command bridge, Obi-Wan takes Ahsoka and Anakin, who was in his arms, to the medbay, where Kix greets them at the door.
“General Kenobi, what can I do for you, sir?”
“Kix,” Obi-Wan says and holds out Anakin, “This is Anakin, and we need to figure out how to change him back.”
Kix blinks at him, stunned. Obi-Wan is pretty sure he accidentally short-circuited the poor medic’s brain. “S-sir,” Kix starts. “You said… the loth cat is the General?”
“Yes, Kix,” Obi-Wan confirms.
“The cat that everyone has been talking about for the past day?”
“Yep,” Ahsoka perks up. “We think Anakin has been injected with something while he was in the laboratory and we need you to do a check to see if you’re able to reverse the effect.”
Kix nods, leading them to a bed, “Let’s get started then.”
“I’m going to brief the Council about this,” Obi-Wan informs them. He turns to Ahsoka, “Watch Anakin. Don’t let him loose around the ship.”
The little Togruta nods dutifully, “Yes, Master Kenobi.”
“Good.” With that settled, Obi-Wan turns back down the hall to the command bridge to tell the Council about yet another one of Anakin’s shenanigans.
“So what you’re saying is, that Skywalker has been turned into a loth cat by a Separatist scientist and now you’re trying to find a way to change him back?” The holoprojecter version of Mace Windu asks, eyebrow raised.
“Yes, Master,” Obi-Wan replies.
The Jedi Master sighs and rubs his forehead before pinching the bridge of his nose with an exasperated expression. Obi-Wan felt much like doing the same, but of course he wouldn’t do so in front of the Jedi Council. That was improper.
“Important, Skywalker is, to the Republic,” Master Yoda says. “Right, the Separatists were, to target him.”
“You must find a way to change him back as quickly as possible,” Windu instructs. “He is an important asset to the front and we need him to win us back key planets from the Separatists.”
Obi-Wan bows, “Yes Masters.” The meeting ends, and Obi-Wan clenches his fists. A part of him was angry at the Council for treating Anakin like an “asset”, as if he were a mere tool for the war effort and not a human being. Obi-Wan takes a deep breath and releases his anger into the Force. The most important thing right now, he decides, is to find a way to bring Anakin back.
°˖➴☆➴˖°
Anakin sits obediently on the medical bed as Kix does various checkups on him and Ahsoka sits beside him in a chair.
“Well General,” Kix finally says, “you’re pretty healthy for a loth cat right now and your blood results say you have some sort of unidentifiable toxin in your bloodstream.”
“That’s it!” Ahsoka jumps out of the chair, “That’s the poison the scientist gave him! Can you make an antidote?”
“Uhhhh, maybe it’s best if we wait for General Kenobi. I’ll get Cody and Rex as well.”
Anakin tilts his head at Kix’s retreating figure. That wasn’t a good sign. Ahsoka seemed to have reached the same conclusion, for she started petting his head and Anakin instinctively let out a purr of content. Force, what had turning into a loth cat done to him?
“You’ll change back soon,” Ahsoka promises, “I’ll make sure of it.”
Anakin can only let out a soft “Meow” in response.
Soon enough, Kix comes back, this time with Obi-Wan, Rex, and Cody in tow behind him.
“So let me get this straight,” Rex was saying, “The loth cat that everyone has been calling Poofball is actually my General?”
“Yes, Rex,” Obi-Wan tells him.
Rex lets out a sigh that landed somewhere between resignation and exasperation. He looks up at Anakin, who was still sitting on the bed with Ahsoka’s hand on his head. “Well General,” Rex tells him, “at least you’re a cute loth cat.”
Anakin snarls and hisses with his teeth at the Captain, who merely chuckles.
“Since everyone is here, let’s get started then, shall we?” Kix asks, and immediately, the whole room sombers.
“Yes, tell us what you know about Anakin’s condition,” Obi-Wan prompts.
“I’ve taken a sample of General Skywalker’s blood, and there seems to be an identifiable toxin of some sorts. Unfortunately, the only antidote that can be used to reverse this is found only on the planet Pilara.”
Rex and Cody stiffen. “Kix…” Rex trails off.
The medic sighs. “The antidote requires a single feather from a phoenix, which is only found on that planet.”
“Where’s Pilara, and what’s so bad about it?” Ahsoka asks innocently.
“Are you saying, Obi-Wan says slowly, ignoring Anakin’s Padawan, “That we need to go to the land of witches and wizards and get the antidote from them?”
“Unfortunately, General Kenobi, that’s exactly what I’m saying.” Kix says.
The young Torguta’s eyes widened. “There’s a planet full of witches and wizards?” She asks excitedly.
“Yes, but it is extremely dangerous, commander,” Rex tells her. “Pilara is an Outer Rim planet. It’s ruled by a sort of cult that uses ancient magic, and they are also the only planet in the galaxy to have phoenixes.”
“Isn’t a phoenix a fire bird that can be reborn?”
“Exactly,” Anakin’s former Master interjects. “Phoenixes are incredibly rare, even on Pilara. They are small birds that grow into an adult fire bird. And once they die, they turn into ash but then they are reborn from that ash.”
“Wow,” Ahsoka breathes, “That’s so cool!”
Anakin wonders how Doctor Johanssen got her nasty hands on a poison that needed a phoenix to cure. Dooku probably threatened some wizards on Pilara to pull off this whole thing.
“Well, we need to set course for Pilara then,” Obi-Wan finally says tiredly. He turns for the door, presumably leaving to give the Council an update on the matter, before pausing and turning back with a frown. “What will Anakin eat?”
Kix thinks for a moment. “I supposed we can mash up some ration bars with nutrient pills.” He turns to Anakin, “That okay with you, General?”
Anakin nods. He didn’t usually eat much, anyways. Obi-Wan hums, satisfied, then leaves. Ahsoka asks Kix if Anakin can leave the medbay, and the medic agrees, much to Anakin’s delight. He hates being in the medbay.
His Captain stands awkwardly in front of him. “General,” he hesitates, and Anakin tilts his head in hopes to encourage him. “May I… carry you?”
Besides Rex, Cody snickers. Funnily enough, Anakin knew the Marshall Commander also wanted to pet him. He jumps enthusiastically onto Rex, who holds him tightly to his chest armor with surprising gentleness. Even though the Force was a little muddy to him, Anakin could feel the warmth from his Captain and he settled into his arms as the group walked out of the medbay.