Chapter Text
"Leave him, Anakin. There's no time."
As the Chancellor continues to babble on about their impending doom, Anakin feels a spike-- no. A wave of annoyance towards the man. It could even be described as dislike. Because Palpatine might be a friend, and a dear one at that.
But Obi-Wan is so much more.
He is a best friend. A teacher, a father, a brother. Even though he can be uptight and controlling, he's only like that because he cares. Anakin knows that now, after three years of war. Three years of leaning on his old master for support and guidance, despite being Knighted ages ago. They bicker and argue, but that's only because they are both so stubborn and they both care so much. (At least, that's what Padmé says. And since he trusts Padmé's judgement more than anyone's, he's inclined to believe it's true.)
He had complied when Palpatine ordered him to kill Dooku. It had felt so right in the moment, but the aftershocks of guilt, disappointment, and horror had seeped into his mind shortly after. It was wrong, and he knows it. Nothing Palpatine says can justify it. Just like nothing he says can make Anakin leave Obi-wan behind. Anakin looks at his Master and sees the faces of all those he loves. Those he's lost. Qui-Gon, his mother, countless clones under his command, Ahsoka, Fives. No. He will not lose Obi-Wan. Not today.
So when the Chancellor suggests he leave him to die and go down with The Invisible Hand when his breath is steady and his pulse is strong, Anakin forces himself to take a deep breath. His voice comes out a little sharper than he meant. After all, he's just an old man who's never seen war, who doesn't fully understand what Obi-Wan means to him. "We'll all be adrift together. His fate will be the same as ours."
As Anakin drapes the unconscious jedi across his shoulder, he has to fend off a shiver that the Force sends down his spine.
...
Okay, Palpatine is managing to freak him out and piss him off at the same time.
The Force is ringing alarm bells within his head now, and the Chancellor's temptations and needling are causing his jaw to clench up. While defeating Grievous and ending the war is all he wants to do, Obi-Wan is still dead-weight on his shoulder. And his life and their orders from the Council are more important. This is a rescue mission. He says as much to Palpatine, who frowns. If Anakin didn't know any better, he would think the Chancellor held irritation in his gaze.
"I will never be safe while Grievous lives. Master Kenobi will recover at any moment. Leave him here with me--"
At that moment, Anakin's head tightens with discomfort and he can feel goosebumps raising beneath his robes. No, no, no. Not safe, not safe. The voice in the back of his head is soft and light, but its warning is anything but. Anakin feels like his presence in the Force has been wiped and polished clean, like a datapad screen being rid of smudge marks. Because he can suddenly feel the hatred dripping off the Chancellor. It's overwhelming in its totality. And it's directed at Obi-Wan. And suddenly Anakin is very, very afraid.
One of the most powerful men in the Republic hates his Master. Wants him dead, even. And he doesn't know why.
Instead of being sick, he swallows down bile and responds shakily, "I-- I would like to, sir, but--"
"I can make it an order, Anakin."
The shivers increase. But quickly, he let's heat and rage overtake them instead, and he responds hotly, "With respect, sir: no. You can't. My orders come from the Jedi Council, and the Council's orders come from the Senate. You have no direct authority."
Palpatine glares at him, and the jedi is reminded of the Dark. Of Maul's burning rage, Dooku's icy disdain, Ventress' boiling hatred, and even Quinlan Vos' lapse of empty apathy. "That may change."
Once, Anakin might have agreed that maybe it should. But now... with the menace so obviously dripping off of every syllable, all he can do is hold Obi-Wan tighter to him and pray to the Force that it doesn't.
...
Anakin walks through The Negotiator's halls, only one destination in mind. His head is full of scattered thoughts, each more distressing than the last. All centered around the four people truly closest to him.
Ahsoka and Rex. They are on their way to Mandalore, to defeat Darth Maul. The Sith that wouldn't die. Who killed Qui-Gon and hurt his master in more ways than he could count. Who took over an entire planet merely for revenge and power, who craves pain and destruction. Who was a devoted and powerful pupil of the Sith they are still searching for. And they had sent an ex-Padawan with half a legion of troopers to bring him in. While he knows she and the men are trained well, he can't help but worry about them. Wonder how many will return to him alive. Anakin knows if he failed her again... he would never forgive himself. And if he loses Rex too (because the captain would never let anyone hurt his vod'ika,) Anakin knows he would cope no better.
Padmé. His beautiful, smart, and lovely wife who makes his life better just by breathing. And now, she's giving him a gift he doesn't deserve. She's been pregnant and he didn't know for five months. She's almost full term, and she had wanted to surprise him upon his return. Now that he's finally home, on Coruscant, he gets to see her and their child everyday. His little girl, or as Padmé guesses, his little boy. Oh, he'll love them either way. He just wishes that the nights at their side weren't accompanied by nightmares. Of her death. Maybe the baby's. He wakes up twisted in the sheets, sweat dampening his hair and making it stick to his neck. Before, he'd gone to sit in the living room. Wait until he could get a hold on his tears and return to bed. But now, he's left a note by her bedside and taken a shuttle to his home away from home.
Because he's also worried about Obi-Wan. After their rescue of the Chancellor, his former master has been staying in the Temple, taking time to recover from their campaigns in the Outer Rim. He deserves to rest.
But Anakin can't. Not knowing that he might be in danger. He needs to speak to someone he can trust. Someone who cares about Obi-Wan enough to help Anakin... do something! (Save the Republic? Commit grand treason? He hadn't decided yet.)
He doesn't know why Palpatine wants Obi-Wan dead. Whether he's a Separatist spy or a pawn for the secret Sith. But he does know that he has to stop him. No matter the cost. The Chancellor was his friend. But Force help the man if he ever layed a hand on his family.
Anakin stops outside a familiar durasteel door. He hesitates only a moment, before being polite and knocking. But because he's Anakin Skywalker, he walks in before getting permission to enter. Then, he is face-to-face with the Marshal Commander of Grand Army of the Republic.
"General Skywalker," Cody acknowledges. He's not wearing his armor from the chest up, and stacks of datapads are organized neatly on the desk he and Obi-Wan share during flimsiwork sessions.
"Commander." Anakin says as respectfully as he can manage. He knows Cody doesn't like him very much. It's not like he hates him or anything, but Anakin knows his own reputation. His propensity for reckless decisions and brash judgement calls. While most of the time it works out, he knows that it makes Obi-Wan nervous and it puts holes in some of the 212th's carefully planned strategies.
Another reason he feels he's walking on glass is because he doesn't actually know Cody that well. He knows that he's steady, responsible, loyal, intelligent, strategic, and good-hearted. Obi-Wan has said as much. "He's a capable partner, and I don't believe any man is better for his position than he. And his signature... Force, Anakin it feels like a sunrise! Warm and sure. I'm not sure I've ever felt one like that before." His master trusts the commander with his life. For Anakin, that's enough.
He just hopes that Obi-Wan has said enough good things about him for Cody to at least hear him out. He knows that the commander tolerates his "foolishness" for three reasons. The first is simply because he's a general, and it's kind of mandatory. Second, he is good to the clones, showing them the respect and kindness every living being deserves. Third, he has the trust of Obi-Wan and Rex, two of the people closest to Cody. Both of whom seem to have good judgement.
Force, I hope this works.
He uses the Force to loosen the wires on the mic he knows is wired to the wall of almost every room in the venators, and is pleasantly surprised to feel it's already been tampered with. Making it even easier to disable. Then he sits down across from the marshal commander and speaks softly just in case. "The bugs are disabled."
One of Cody’s eyebrows raise in intrigue. He sets the datapad aside before giving his attention to Anakin. "What is it, General?"
"It's about Obi-Wan," he starts tentatively. A rare thing in iteself. He's not known for treading carefully. It reminds him of how serious and important this is. It makes his heart rate spike even more. "I think he's in danger. Real danger."
The clone frowns, even more concerned than before. "What kind of danger?"
Anakin takes a deep breath. He really hopes this is the right choice. "I think it's the Chancellor. He was-- there was-- kriff!" It's like he can't get the words out. He's tripping over his tongue and his throat is tight.
"Skywalker. Hey. Breathe, and tell me what's going on. What about the Chancellor?" His voice is gentle and grounding, but he can feel Cody’s on edge at the mere mention of Palpatine. All of the clones are after Fives. They all know something was wrong that day. It became impossible to deny. Fives was a loyal, true, and most importantly, sane soldier of the 501st Legion. To suddenly attempt to assassinate the Chancellor... Anakin had been blinded by his friendship with Palpatine. He should've trusted his man more.
"When we were rescuing him. From Grievous... he wanted me to leave Obi-Wan behind. Told me to several times. And there was this warning. In the Force. It told me not to trust him. There was this moment where I could feel how much he wanted him to die. He hated Obi-Wan, and I felt the Darkness. I... there's something off with Palpatine. I don't trust him. He's either working with the Separatists or the Sith, or both. And something needs to be done. I need your help. Please." Now that it's out, he feels empty, hollowed out. Every heartbeat rings in his ears. Every miniscule movement catches his eye. He's always been highly sensitive, perceiving so much that sometimes it feels like too much. It feels like that now. He's ready to spring into action as soon as the Force so much as ebbs a different way.
Not for the first time, he wishes Obi-Wan were here.
Cody stares at him, studying his face before taking a deep breath in. Then letting out a heavy sigh and closing his eyes. It reminds Anakin of Obi-Wan trying to meditate after a long day, and it's familar enough to slow his frantic breathing, even just a little bit. He tries to copy, slowing the gasps to even, steady inhales. And only when he's completely matched Cody’s rhythm does the commander open his dark eyes. They are watching him carefully and when he speaks, it's still just as calm as before. "What do you want to do?"
Anakin swallows, exhaling one last time. For some reason, he had been expecting him to refuse, tell him he's being paranoid, advise him to get some sleep or get a check-up with a medic. But Cody is completely serious.
And it's then that the jedi realizes he hadn't planned to get this far. He had expected to talk himself out of it, or be talked out of it, before going back home to Padmé and his kid. But it feels like something is pushing him forward, and Anakin's never been one to quiet himself to the Force. Not since he's learned to know it. Trust it. He sighs tiredly, "I don't know. We need to get proof. Proof the Chancellor is up to something. And we need to do it quickly. But I don’t even know where to start."
"When do you want to start?
Anakin blinks. "As soon as possible."
"Now?" Cody’s standing up, collecting the rest of his armor. Anakin nods, feeling a surge of strength and determination flow through him.
"Yeah. Yeah, let's start now."