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Anakin never recalled the hallway being so long. Having just awoke, he
rushed out the door toward the turbo-lifts, but with every step, it felt like
he was staying in the same place. The lights appeared unusually dim, as well.
Not sure of whether his eyes were tired, or the light fixtures were some how
blocking more light than normal; he noted to mention it to the staff
supervisor when he saw him. Silence. It was quiet. That hall bustled at this
time of day, but there were no people. No padawans. No Masters. No staff. No
one, but him. Continuing on his way, Anakin narrowed his eyes for at the end
of the hall stood an open door. The only open door through the entire length
of the room. He shook his head, having not remembered that door before, but
struck out for it; his curiosity getting the better of him. Passing the
doorway, he glanced at every corner and back. White walls and nothing else.
Entering, the young man threw out a bit of Force energy. Intuition told him
something felt wrong, though the room could be no more benign.
“Hello, Anakin.” He whirled around to find Arshea. He sighed and shook
his head.
“Your Majesty, you scared me near to death.”
“My apologies it wasn’t my intention.”
“It’s all right. I.. I better get downstairs, I have a meeting to
attend.”
“Oh, but Anakin... You have a meeting to attend here.” With that, the
door slammed shut and locked. his eyes grew wide at the woman, and he stepped
back slightly. Her slender body shown through the skin tight red dress, and
something about her tiara. It glimmered almost too brightly.
“Is everything all right, Your Majesty?”
“Not exactly, Anakin. I have reason to believe you haven’t been very
trustful with the Council, myself and your Master. Oh, speaking of your
Master.” Whatever had been lighting the room shut off, and a spotlight shone
down upon a bare place on the floor. Anakin jerked around, but Arshea
disappeared.
“Your Majesty?”
“Oh, Anakin... Poor lost little boy... Poor lost little padawan.. What
side are you on, Anakin? Which side will have you?” A second voice echoed on
the walls of the empty room. It sounded like Arshea’s but younger...
sweeter... softer. “That’s right.. Your Master.. Your Master will guide you,
if you’ll only listen. Listen.. only to listen.” A slot in the wall slid
open, and as though pushed, Obi-Wan fell under the spotlight. His hands bound
behind his back, and bare back flexed in hostility.
“What’s going on here, Arshea?” Obi-Wan demanded, squirming under his
shackles.
“Answer questions. He must answer questions correctly for you to go free.
Answer wrong and terrrr-ible things will happen.” Ominous, the voice settled
heavily on the two men.
“What questions?” Anakin asked, searching the darkness for the queen.
“The darkness won’t have you. The light doesn’t want you. Oh, Mother...
Where are mothers when you need them? Anakin doesn’t have one anymore... no
mothers, no fathers. Lost little boy.. lost...lost...lost.”
“You’re not making any sense, Arshea. Release Master and I. You love us.
You love him. Release him.”
“Oooh, my poor jedi master. My poor love.” Arshea emerged, kneeling
beside Obi-Wanm her lips against his ear. He merely froze, and listened, his
eyes drifting shut. “The torture you endure for love. Of love. About love.
You are not his master. Anakin has another master. No jedi could hold him. No
jedi could want him.”
“What are you talking about!?” He clenched his fists, turning his
knuckles red, then white. Arshea vanished before his eyes.
“Answer the questions, Anakin. Correct and you can go. Incorrect...
terrr-ible things will happen.” The second voice said again, a giggle
trailing the end of the sentence.
“What questions?! You haven’t asked me any questions!”
“Aww.. he continues to not answer. How many is that now?”
“Three.”
“Three.”
“Three.” Small groups of different voices replied, singing together.
“Three? That’s too bad. Bad for the jedi knight.” A splitting growl
erupted from Obi-Wan, drawing his padawan’s attention to him. An invisible
whip sliced itself acrossed his chest once. Snap! Twice! Snap! Three times.
With each snap, a punctuated growl and groan followed.
“Stop! Arshea, what’s going on?!”
“Obi-Wan can not save you. Qui-Gon can not save you. Mother can not save
you. Oh, mother... no mother... no family... Save Obi-Wan, answer
questions... Questions, boy, questions.” Anakin growled and took a step
toward Obi-Wan. “No-no, little boy.” When his second step was firmly
planted, a wall of flame shot up to block apprentice from master.

“Darkness in darkness.”
“Darkness in darkness.”
“Darkness in darkness.” Soft whispers etched into the young man’s mind.

“You’re hiding, Anakin. Hiding and running. Running and hiding. Your
emotions will set you free. Tell me you are darkness, Anakin. Tell me you are
afraid.”
“I *am not* darkness! I *am* not afraid! Stop this, Arshea! Stop!”

“Darkness in darkness.”
“Darkness in darkness.”
“Darkness in darkness.”

Obi-Wan screamed out, not being able to growl any longer. Lashes drew
themselves over his skin, and blood dripped onto the white floor below them.
“Make your decision, Anakin. Save your master, or turn your back. Admit
who you are. Admit what you are.” Queen Arshea reappeared in the light, arms
crossed over her chest.
“It’s your decision. You’re the one causing the pain. Stop, now, Arshea.
Don’t hurt him any longer.” Her lips curled into a deep grin and her hand
shot into Obi-Wan’s side, striking flesh with thick nails. His master’s
heavy body slammed against the floor and he groaned, holding his sluggishly
bleeding wound. Enough. Anakin readied himself to jump through the obstacle
when he saw Arshea vanish again.
“Where am I? How did I get here?” A small female child walked into the
light where the queen stood, rubbing her eyes out of sleep. Spinning, he
settled his eyes on the young girl.
“Remi?” He said quietly, unbelieving. He had met this girl in the
Temple. She was the daughter of a woman in the Healer’s Ward. Remi liked to
follow Anakin while he visited in the work space. The child’s presence made
everything lighter. At that moment, the padawan suddenly became afraid.
“Arshea, send her back to her room! Do not do this!”
“Questions, first. Child later. Laughter, laughter! Everyone is
laughing.... happy...happy! Happy-happy-joy-joy. In night there is happiness.
In darkness there is only you to hold yourself. Questions... questions..”
“You’re not asking any questions!”
“Yes, she is,” Remi exclaimed with a smile on her lips. “You must
listen, Anakin. The questions hide from you.” The red queen stepped up behind
the child, resting a hand on her shoulder. Remi continued to smile, and
bounce slightly in her place.
“So, lost little padawan, are you going to answer the questions or
aren’t you? If not, more terrr-ible things will happen and not necessarily to
your Master.” The grip on Remi’s shoulder tightened, but the girl didn’t
move and the smile on her lips remained.
“Leave the child out of this, Arshea, or I’ll...” Anakin gripped at his
side for his lightsaber, and before he could stop the impulse, it was
ignited. Arshea threw her head back and cackled. Pushing Remi aside, she
lunged and did something that terrified Anakin. All five of the woman’s
fingers wrapped themselves around the glowing blade of light and she wrenched
the weapon away, tossing it into the darkness. He staggered back, and glanced
vigorously for something to aid in his escape, and their escape of the child.
Nothing. Not one thing could help him now.
“Tell her, Anakin. Tell her what you feel...” Remi came to stand near
him, her hands behind her back and innocence shone in her gaze. He dropped
his head and growled deeply. He refused, but how would he get his master, the
child and himself out. The door had vanished into the nothingness that was
this room, and Arshea toyed with him, which made him angry. Anger. Yes, he
was angry. Almost enraged. Anakin could feel the darkness closing in on him,
as he did when his temper got the best of him. What did she want? She wanted
him to give in to it...? Give in to what everyone told him not to? Fine. If
it would get them out, he’d lie. Would she know? Could she read his thoughts
right now? Only one way to find out.
“I am darkness. I am afraid. I am what they fear... a ruler of my
emotions. A slave to the night.” Anakin whispered, his gaze peering at the
child under furrowed brows.
“Are you lying to me, little boy?” Her voice emerged from behind him;
all around him.
“No, Your Majesty. I see what you want from me, and I realize it is what
I knew all along. I am the darkness that the jedi dare not speak of. I will
not be the one to bring balance to the Force. I will shift it, and turn it to
the Dark Side.” He paused, and listened; praying silently that this was
working. A period of long moments passed, and the stillness was broken by the
flames erupting; before slowing falling to the floor.
“I believe you, and am proud you admit your true destiny.” Anakin went
to his master, enwrapping him in a hug. Obi-Wan could do no more than groan.
“However, you have one more impossible task, lost one. You must get them, and
yourself out of this building before the flames take you.” From under the
seal of the door, smoke rolled in making Remi shriek. Anakin sighed, and
picked his master up.
“Remi, come on! We have to get out!”
“No, I won’t. I’m afraid!” He grabbed her hand, and began dragging her
toward the door which slid open freely. That was easy, Anakin thought, but
his attitude quickly changed when he discovered a wall of flame on the other
side of the door. He went to the left.
The hall in front of him stood clear, but the flames drew close to his
back. He started running, dragging his master and a squirming child. He
wasn’t getting anywhere. The more he ran, the further the end of the hall
became. Another trick? Heat from the flames was no trick, and it closed upon
him. Force, get us out of this. Let me save us. His legs screamed out at the
effort, and still he didn’t make progress. It burned. He burned. Anger.
Frustration. Hate. Confusion. His emotions had hold, and yet they were a wild
as the flames nipping at his heels. He glance back, and they were on him. He
took a deep breath, and drew the girl in as a wave of heat grabbed them.
Scorching heat, pain.....
Anakin’s head flew up and off the table it had been resting on and he
screamed, patting down his chest. All the other padawans stared at him from
their lunch tables. It was a nightmare, but...
“Anakin, are you all right?” A young woman asked him. She smiled warmly
and rubbed his arm in comfort. “You fell asleep, you silly boy. Don’t get
much sleep in your quarters?” He glanced around and indeed he sat in the
lunch room with all his friends and comrades.
“I guess not.” He replied slowly.
“Well come on, we’re going to be late for class.” She stood, taking her
tray with her. Anakin followed uneasily, his tray wobbling in his grip.
“Hello, Your Majesty, good day today?” Arshea walked toward them, smiling as
softly as always. The young man froze, almost dropping his tray before his
friend grabbed it.
“Yes, very good indeed. You have a good day, dear. And you as well
Anakin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He wide eyes rested heavily on the queen. Arshea
grinned wildly and a devious glint filled her eyes. Anakin could hear the
cackle echo in his mind until he fell to the ground, faint.

End.

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