Another Chapter!
Chapter 4
Time Irrelevant
Andrian followed the One through his life. He observed his weaknesses and strengths. He watched who he associated with. He was being pulled in two directions, one by the Jedi, the other by the Sith. The Sith lord Sidious was working to pull Anakin into his control while the Jedi Obi-wan Kenobi was putting every ounce of strength he had into keeping Anakin with the Jedi. Obi-wan couldn’t know what the Sith were planning for Anakin, but he did sense that darkness in Anakin that could pull him to the dark side.
This Obi-wan cared for Anakin Skywalker. In all the years these two worked together, Andrian only witnessed the bond between them strengthen.
If he was to gain control of the One, this Obi-wan Kenobi must be eliminated.
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Aboard the Wingjewel
The engines hummed softly as Budo entered in the autopilot controls. His passenger was in his small cabin, sleeping no doubt. Glancing over his shoulder, the Rodian slipped a small weapon from a pouch in his vest.
“It would be best to keep this handy,” he whispered to himself.
A sound drifted to his ears. His passenger was awake. He slid the weapon into his sleeve just as a voice behind him said, “How soon until we arrive?” He turned around.
“We will arrive in 20 minutes.” Budo said neutrally.
Kenobi said nothing. He simply nodded and drifted out of the cockpit.
Obi-wan shuddered involuntarily. His captain had seemed so decent in the cantina, but now he wasn’t so sure. There was a darkness about him, but it was hazy. The Rodian might just be unsure about Obi-wan’s intentions, causing anxiety. It was difficult to tell.
Returning to his cabin, Obi-wan allowed himself to drift into a deep meditation. He became one with the Force again, as he had done on Tatooine. Faces drifted by him as they did before. This time, he had a face in mind. “Hear me Anakin,” he projected, searching. It was like swimming through fog. Faces appeared and disappeared, but none he recognized.
He found a warmth. He found familiarity. He found Anakin. It was difficult to read the mind of his former padawan as it was awash in confusion. His thoughts concerning Obi-wan were the most turbulent. His positive feelings were entwined with the negative. Anger and relief. Love and hate. Self-Loathing and caring. Obi-wan tried to reach him, but he wasn’t receptive enough. His mind was too clouded to feel the full power of the Force. Obi-wan reached for him and simply said “Don’t give up. I’m coming.” He hoped Anakin would at least sense who the message came from if nothing else. Aside from his emotions, Obi-wan sensed hunger and fatigue in Anakin. He had been there for some time.
Obi-wan rose out of his meditation calmly, his eyes began to grow moist. He dashed the gathering tears from his eyes and whispered, “It’s alright, Anakin. I’m coming for you.”
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Same Time - Mustafar
Anakin huddled in the poisonous heat. For an entire month he had waited on this demonic planet, sheltering himself in the shielded facility, living off the meager rations contained within. Humanoids rarely stayed on Mustafar. Anakin doubted they ever would again. In one room, a conference/admin room, he had found corpses. Slashed, dismembered corpses. They weren’t facility staff as one of them had been the body of Nute Gunray, viceroy of the Trade Federation. A slimy individual, yes, but not deserving of such a violent death.
His rations had run out a week ago and he had clung to life using Jedi hibernation techniques taught to him by master Yoda. But the Force could only sustain him for a short while longer. Frustration surfaced more and more frequently as the situation grew more dire.
He felt a tingle, a warmth pass through him. He ignored it, but then he heard the voice, extremely faint drift through his mind.
“Don’t give up. I’m coming.”
It was Obi-wan.
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1 year earlier
Andrian landed on Tatooine, disguising his ship. The path of the One and Kenobi had crossed here for the first time and it was here that they would cross again.
He remained in the city of Mos Eisley and blended into the shady crowd. He didn’t care how long he needed to stay. The Sith were patient.
He waited.
He waited for a year, inserting himself into the city. He had friends. He made enemies. Most astonishingly of all, he went into business.
When he saw Kenobi for the first time, he didn’t even raise his lightsaber. It wasn’t time yet. He waited for the time when Kenobi and the One would be together.