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ladyofleithianDisclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: This was actually one of my favorite chapters to write, if only because of the emotional content. Let's say I'm a bit of a sucker for that -- the quiet, reflective scenes, etc. And I think I relatively got Anakin, for what it's worth.
It was even now, swimming through the caves in Utapau, trying vainly to avoid the clone troopers’ sights that Anakin forced himself to shove away his feelings. If anything, there wasn’t any time to dwell when they were in danger. And yet at the same time, there was something in him that could not help but wonder...why? Simply why?
But he didn’t have any time. Even now, dodging drones, as well as some of Utapau sea creatures intent on having him for their next meal (or whatever they wanted. Or wanting some of the dead lizard that he was carrying), listening to the first streams of muffled clone conversation from underneath the surface...
It was later, drenched, exhausted, relieved and yet still tense with anxiety, ready to strike if necessary, that he found himself in the hangar, where he had dueled Grievous. The General’s body was still there -- Anakin could only assume that not even the vultures of Utapau wanted him.
It was only now that he noticed Grievous’ ship, right there. He frowned -- if he could improvise a bit, pilot the ship off this blasted planet and get back to Coruscant before it was too late --
To some, it would be laughable. But to Anakin Skywalker, laughable was nothing more than a dare, and “impossible” was a challenge.
Even now, trusting in the Force and his instincts to guide him, he lifted off Utupau and into the sky. Once he was safely away from Utupau, he sighed, ran his head wearily over his brow, letting his emotions crash down on him. Shot at by my own friends... Over the course of the war, Cody and the others hadn’t just been clones to him. They had been his comrades, almost his brothers. He had given them names -- at the very least, it had been his idea to give them names. Odd, some would say, but from the time he was a small boy, Anakin had been skilled in terms of making friends in odd places. Or at least in places some would see as odd. Not the Jedi, per se. Merely outsiders.
Even now, punching in the emergency code and speaking into the transmitter, Anakin tried not to let his voice shake. And yet seeing Bail Organa’s hologram materialize...muscles that he didn’t realize had tensed up relaxed the moment he saw the Senator. Senator Organa...one of the few Senators who Anakin respected. Brave. Full of integrity. Friendly. And loyal to Satine and the Republic was a good bonus. If anyone could help him and any other surviving Jedi out there, it would be Bail.
“It’s good to see you, Senator,” Anakin said, his voice still shaking even so. “Are there any other Jedi out there?”
“Master Yoda is on Kashyyyk. I just rescued him. His own clones fired on him.”
“What?”
Even now, Anakin felt like an airlock had opened beneath his feet and he was being sucked out into space, even though he was inside a starfighter he had stolen from the enemy and safe, at least for now.
“Master Yoda’s clones shot on him.” Bail’s voice was quiet. “And this isn’t an isolated incident; it’s been happening all over the galaxy.”
“I already escaped from it on Utupau,” Anakin said. “I don’t even understand it -- one moment we were fighting side by side and the next...” He sighed. “Although I do wonder why Cody decided to give me back my lightsaber before he decided to kill me. Probably wanted to even the odds.”
“We’re still uncertain as to the origin and circumstances of them turning on the Jedi,” Senator Organa said. “We’re on Kashyyyk. Meet us there. And be careful.”
“I will, Senator. You too. Skywalker out.”
Even now, after the transmission ended, Anakin sat back, suddenly feeling wearier than he had ever felt before. The clones had turned on them. With luck, some Jedi may have escaped, but others...they could possibly be dead. He only prayed it was the former -- too many had already died in this horrible war. Too many of his friends. If he lost more...if Serra Keto or Ahsoka Tano or Obi-Wan had died --
Silently, Anakin sat in the cockpit of General Grievous’ ship, feeling the first hints of tears beginning to rush in.
