Memories

Chapter 24.

Anakin's POV

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I tucked my cloak closer to myself, my eyes wide open and my senses attuned to anything and everything. Someone was definitely coming, and from the warnings that were screaming in my head, I guessed it wasn't someone I liked. My stomach clenched when wisps of the Dark Side flickered through the Force, probing into the corners and picking out what they were hiding – or, in my case, who they were hiding.

Pressing harder against my mental shields, I held my breath and waited. Maybe they didn't know I was here. Maybe they would just walk past. Maybe they wouldn't see me.

But I knew it was more likely than not that they would find me. And I was right.

"Skywalker," a chilling voice greeted me, "this is no place for a mighty Jedi such as yourself to be."

I remained sitting on the damp ground, looking up at the slender figure standing before me, one hand on her hip. "Asajj – you have a lot of nerve coming to Coruscant."

She waved a hand carelessly around the street. "This area isn't exactly marked out as Jedi territory." She bent over me as, despite the glint in her ice-blue eyes, she added innocently, "It looks more like a Sith's hideout, don't you think? What does that make you, sweetheart?"

"Don't call me that," I said tiredly. "What do you want?"

"What do you want?" she responded lightly, resting her weight on the other hip, placing her hand on it casually. "Answer that, and you'll have the answer to your question."

I frowned. What did I want? I wanted a lot of things, but how would she know about any of them? No, she must have been referring to something more topical. It was probably related to her, so what did I want with her? Well, quite simply, I wanted her. Therefore ....

I cocked an eyebrow up at her. "You want me?"

She smirked slightly in the half-light of the dark street. "You're quick. Yes, I do want you. I want you to come with me."

It was my turn to smirk. "And while I'm at it, why don't I just give you my lightsaber and let you stab me in the gut?"

She laughed, but there was a coldness to it that sent shivers down my spine. "Why don't you? I like that plan." Then she huffed, the Force suddenly snapping with disgust and displeasure. "But Dooku doesn't, so you'd better come with me."

I stayed where I was, watching her calmly and with a hint of suspicion. "Why should I want to do that?"

Again, she seemed pleased, her disdain vanishing as rapidly as it had appeared. "Because I can make you an offer."

"What do you have that could possibly encourage me?" I responded with a yawn. "Besides which, it's never a good idea to make a deal with a Sith."

She tapped her fingers against her side tensely. She didn't like that I wasn't appearing interested, and she was getting impatient. "If you come, then I'll leave your friend Kenobi alone."

She caught me mid-yawn, but I finished it, despite nearly choking on my own throat. Now that was an offer that had my attention. But I didn't want her to know that. I wrapped my cloak around myself a little more comfortably. "And in which galaxy would I trust that you aren't going to cheat me somehow?"

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and she inspected her nails nonchalantly. "That's a good question. And one that I don't have an answer to. The other thing you could do is not come with me and let me hound out you and Kenobi in much more unpleasant ways."

I pursed my lips. I had my comm on me: I could try and contact Obi-Wan. But the likelihood of that happening without Asajj realizing was so painfully small I didn't think it was worth the risk.

I straightened up, dusted off my trousers, then faced Asajj, standing a full head taller than her, though I kept my voice calm. "No. I don't want to come with you."

Her face twisted in confusion and irritation as she watched her supposed failsafe plan crashing to the ground. She set her jaw and snatched her dual sabers, switching them on and planting one foot behind as she readied herself for a fight.

I sighed. I did not feel like fighting, but if I could win, maybe the Jedi wouldn't be so disappointed in me. Maybe ... maybe Obi-Wan would be proud of me. I could almost see the pleasure on his face. I flicked on my lightsaber and began the duel.

"Fight all you want, Chosen One," she cooed, throwing a ferocious thrust followed by a double strike from her blades, "but I just can't wait to see you lose. You're such a disappointment to those around you."

I ducked her swing, rolling out of the way as her saber stuck into a building. Her words stung more than I wanted to admit.

"You keep failing the Jedi Council, you blasted your own padawan, and you're pushing away Kenobi." She swiped at my chest and smacked me in the leg with her other saber.

I crumpled to the ground, holding my leg, gritting my teeth against the pain.

"What kind of a Jedi does that make you?" she asked snidely, standing over me. "Or maybe you're a Sith. Who can tell? What would Kenobi think if he could see you now? It took me three minutes to beat you."

I panted, my thigh burning from the wound. That happy image of my proud master was being quickly replaced by a picture of the disappointed frown that such actions as mine would probably elicit.

"What would he think?" Asajj demanded, holding her lightsaber so close to my neck that I could feel its heat.

"He ... probably wouldn't be pleased," I said quietly, unable to look up at her.

"I think you're right," she responded smugly, then her tone turned bitter. "It hurts when it seems all you do is disappoint people, doesn't it? Welcome to my world, kid. I don't think you'll like it."

Then I felt the Force curling around my throat and shutting off my windpipe. I struggled against it, fighting back, but I had next to no strength left. Just before I slipped unconscious, I saw two faces in the darkness: my mother, dying in my arms, and Obi-Wan, frowning in disapproval. I had failed – again.

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Oooh, Asajj has come to say hi .... That not good. Did anyone see that coming? Who can I give a (figurative) gold star for guessing correctly? :D

And yes, Anakin's beating himself up again. If only he'd just let his friends in, they'd be able to help him. But Anakin will be Anakin. So here we are. :)

Thanks for reading, and I hope yous are all enjoying this! We'll be seeing some Obi-Wan next chapter, methinks! Hang tight; more important plot points to be revealed in the coming chapters ....