Was I dreaming: or had Anakin really been holding my hand...did he really come to rescue me..?
Did he know yet..?
I hope he finds out before I wake up...
Dream
My eyelashes fluttered as soft sunlight poured in from outside, glossing warmly over my skin. A soft smile spread across my lips as I looked across at the love of my life who in urn was staring back into my eyes with a gentle adoring stare. Stepping closer his hands cups round mine and interlocked our fingers while dipping down and pressing his forehead against mine as we were enveloped by the setting sun of Coruscant. My eyes not straying from his I felt myself captivated by the man before me while a priest spoke quietly from behind us.
My gaze lowered to our hands, smile growing as I watched him slip a ring gently onto my finger. I admired the loop of metal, but I knew I admired the man who gave it to me more.
My love, Anakin Skywalker...
Dream ends
'(Y/n), (y/n) please wake up.'
The voice was faint in my mind like a call echoing down through icy water. I couldn't focus on it no matter how I tried, my mind was just numb and hazy, barely even awake. Flashes of memories crashed through my mind as I began to become aware of a growing pain from my abdomen. The last few events of my life where coming back in waves of sound and colour: the igniting of a saber, a crash from nearby, and a scream erode darkness.
"Pathetic Jedi."
A deep voice mocked as an echo in my mind with a menacing chuckle. I turned me head and tried to cry out in discomfort but heard no sound.
"Oh I see, my dear little sister trained you," The sith spoke again while smirking down at me as he breached my thoughts and scanned through my mind, causing me a great deal of pair as he searched for the memories I kept hidden away. "No wonder you're weak." The man spat while grabbing my chin and pulling my head up to face him.
Again I tried to more, beginning to feel my fingers twitch as pain to my stomach area grew and became accompanied by another dull searing along my right leg.
"Still silent?...I'll break you soon enough...."
A red glow shone through my mind and my breathing shuddered as my body remembered the pain that shortly followed that remark.
"No..,no stop please..." I whispered allowed while turning my head from side to side, finally able to here my own muffled voice while I fought to open my eyes. As the pain intensified the brief yet striking memories became more vivid and frequent, my heart rate picking up with each one and breathing becoming ragged.
"She's destabilising.....stitches have come loose....starting procedure now." I heard a robotic voice say in patches, a ringing going in my ears preventing me from hearing every word and a delirious unfocusedness bought on by pain clouding my mind.
"Let me go! She's in pain I can help!"
Anakin...he is here...
I gasped and cried out as a new pain presented itself to my abdomen, crying out in that same muffled voice and opening my eyes a little. All I saw was white light and the occasional movement of a grey arm. I tried to move but quickly felt something hold my limbs down which ultimately caused me to fall further into panic. There was a rapid beeping echoing around the room in tine with my heart beat, the sound not helping calm me as I continued to try and move and break free. I felt trapped and not just by the restraints, but by my own mind as well. Those memories of what had happened were tormenting me, tearing me apart I eve by piece until I felt I couldn't breath. I had to break free, I needed to break free.
"If you're so desperate to keep her alive let us help now!"
I heard another familiar voice yell out from across the room, the voice of my master Kaida. I couldn't help but be surprised to realise both her and Anakin had come to rescue me, surely that wasn't a decision they'd made by choice. Still it brought me some warmth to know the two people I cared most for in this universe had come for me even despite my lack of interaction. The woman I was honoured call a sister and the friend who'd become so much more to me.
"...be quick, attempt to escape and you will be terminated." Dooku's voice replied unwillingly from somewhere within the room, though it was getting incredibly hard to place what was where of where what was.
The next thing I was aware of other than pain was a hand on mine and the restraints round my limbs breaking away with a series of strained snaps and squeals. The hand was warm and reassuring, holding my weakened one in a comfortingly tight grip.
'(Y/n) I'm sorry, I'm so sorry this happened to you, please, please just be alright.'
I heard Anakin beg apologetically in a frantic mental state, unsure wether he knew I could hear or not by the phrasing of his words. While he was trying to comfort me a felt another hand pull the hair back from my throat, a cool thumb tracing over the artery in my neck giving me some indication of what was coming. Sure enough a few seconds later the sharp pain of a needle stung at my neck causing me to gasp. Feeling like my connection to the force had intensified for moment I could sense the worry coming from both the woman and the young man beside me as my body tensed and tried to some to terms with the drug that had just been presented into its system.
After a few painstaking moments the heart monitor to my left began to slow to a more stable pace and I breath of a long heavy breath as the pain from my stomach area subsided. Slowly I began to try and open my eyes again, blinking a few tears away as I stared up into the bright lights and waited for things to come into focus. The first thing I noticed was two sets of distinctly different blue eyes staring down at me with varying flecks of relief. I looked at my master, who for the first time in a long while seemed to crack a tiny relieved smile, and then I looked over at Anakin. I could still see remnants of fear lying as tired shadows across his face, sorrow and regret even, but now at least there was a spark of relief to light his crystal blue eyes.
'I'm sorry...'
I whispered through our convection, wondering if the words would even break through as sleep began to consume my mind again. My body needed rest in order to heal, and now it had the strength it was trying to pull me back down into slumber so it could begin to repair the damage inflicted to it.
'You don't need to apologise angel.'
I heard him reply while giving my hand a small squeeze while I fought to keep my eyes open in order to watch as droids began to round behind my dear friends.
'No...I do...'
I responded with all my remaining strength as my eyelids dipped down or to open again, falling down into a more comfortable state of rest than before, o e free of nightmares. One where I could dream of a perfect future with Anakin...
Anakins pov
My brows furrowed as I heard (y/n)'s last comment, confused as to what she could mean. I continued to hold her hand close, not wanting to let go as I watched her drift to sleep, peacefully this time. I let out a small defensive growl as I heard the droids approaching behind me, tempted to force push them away but knowing their was no safe way to get (y/n) out this place.
"She's stabilised," Master Starfallen stated flatly while checking the monitors her side before looking down to her stomach and surprisingly softly setting her hand down and tracing along the stitches. "This looks like a stab wound, what happened?" She went on to ask, airing the question that was on my mind as well. There was just one scar on my dear Angels body either: there was also a burn along her left thigh, her robes pulled away to expose the dressed mark, and then there was a series of bruises around her neck and shoulders, a few more purple marks across her abdomen. It pained me to see her so beaten, and I swear I'll make whoever did this pay.
"That isn't any of your concern master Jedi," Dooku spoke coldly from behind us, his answer only increasing my irritation. But at least (y/n) was with me now, her presence was just so, soothing. "Now, take them away apprentice." The count instructed while walking round to beside (y/n)'s. My body tensed as he moved round, defensively wanting to protect my Angel. Glancing from him round out the corner of my eye to Kaida I noticed she had also tensed up as two droids moved in to take hold of her wrists. I gave another warning growl as one of the other droids tried to remove my hand from (y/n)'s.
"...I'm not leaving." I grumbled while glaring round before looking back down at (y/n), holding her hand a little tighter. I meant what I said, I was about to leave her side again, not now not ever.
"You will leave of I will have you removed by force, the choice is yours to make Skywalker." The count reaffirmed bluntly while shooting me a glare. I had half a mind to choke him right there and then, even though it would probably end badly, he deserved to feel pain for all that he'd dragged (y/n) through.
"Don't test me Count, even without my lightsaber I can still take you down." I warned in a low voice, looking directly across and locking eyes with the sith.
"Anakin..!" Master Starfallen hissed I'm frustrated disapproval while snapping her head round to give me a pointed stare. My eyes flicked between her and the count for a moment, unwilling to step back, especially when it was Kaida giving the order.
"Tch...I thought you of all people would be behind me..." I muttered while stepping round so I was fully facing my love instead of the pair frustrating me.
"There's hope for you yet as a leader it would seem Miss Starfallen, now take them away." I didn't even look round as Dooku spoke this time, instead I savoured every second my hand could hold (y/n)'s before the droids and Ventress marched us both away. Not looking at the Jedi who was supposedly on my side I clenched my teeth and tightened my hands into fists as we were walked to the sententious cells and put in cuffs.
"Have a pleasant stay." Ventress laughed sarcastically before leaving us be in the room.
"Well nice going, now we're locked up with no ship or any way for any one else to find else, brilliant plan master." I said in a begrudging sarcastic tone, having no respect left for the woman sat opposite me.
"Stop being so dramatic and help me," She replied bluntly with the usual sharp edge to her words. Looking up I noticed she seemed to be trying to get her boot off...which struck me as odd so for a moment I just furrowed my eyebrows at her until she rolled her eyes with a sigh I looked dead straight over at me. "There's a transmitter in the heel, we can use it to signal Master Acaina our location and he'll bring reinforcements." She explained as though I were stupid-which I seriously didn't appreciate however the plan, I must admit, was a good one. Shuffling over I tried not to show her I was mildly I pressed and instead worked to help her retrieve the hidden transmitter.
"Got it." I stated once I felt the small device detach from under her heel into my hand instead.
"Good now press the-
"I got it." I interrupted when she stated using a patronising tone, pressing down the devices button and just hoping the message got through.
"...now destroy the transmitter." The woman sighed condescendingly over at me as though it were obvious.
"What why?" I replied both confused and irritated at how she persisted I. Treating me like a child.
"So he knows there's a problem, otherwise he'll just think we want a pick up." She explained with the same bitter voice as before while she leant her head back against the metal wall. Even though she made a fair point I still couldn't help but send her a glare as I crushed the device in my metal hand. That's one benefit to my new limb I guess, it's pretty strong.
"Yeah alright, now just stay quiet." I muttered while sweeping the broken pieces away across the floor so no one would figure out we'd made a transmission for help.
"Finally something we can agree on..." I heard her mumbled while I just stared out the small panel in the door to the hallway, my thoughts drifting back to (y/n). Being away from her had been slowly tearing me apart each and every day: and now that I was so close, the pain was greater than ever, knowing she was simply a few halls away, but ultimately out of reach for the time being. Seeing her earlier hooked up to machines to keep her from slipping..it broke a part of me to see. (Y/n) was strong, she'd been through enough in her life, she deserved better.
She deserved so much more...
(Y/n)'s pov
When I finally regained consciousness I was disappointed to sense Anakin wasn't there with me, worried about where he may be now considering Count Dooku knew him and my master where here. I just hoped they were safe. Trying to sit up I groaned on realising it would be to much effort and let my body slump back down, instead just looking up at the bleak ceiling.
"You're awake I see." Again I groaned as I heard the all to familiar voice of my father. I'd given up denying him at this point, I just felt to tired and defeated to fight the facts presented any longer.
Count Dooku was my father, I'd just have to come to terms with it.
"...no thanks to your insane apprentice..." I muttered under my breath while going to move but then deciding not to when I realised just how stiff and sore I was. My entire body was numb: probably due to all the medication in my system, and parts of my skin even felt itchy which was most likely from burn scarring and stitches.
"Ex apprentice my dear, and I sincerely apologise for his actions." Dooku replied while stepping round so he was just in view of me from where I lay hooked up to various machines.
"...well isn't that reassuring." I muttered again while avoiding eye contact with my sith father and instead trying to glance around and get an idea of how my condition was.
"I know my dear I know, I just wish I hadn't left you in the first place." He.continued to say apologetically while resting a hand on mine, which honestly would've made me flinch a little if I had the energy to move.
"Yeah well I wish you'd left me on Geonosis, I was happy with the Jedi, you didn't have to kidnap me." I mumbled, feeling overly sarcastic for some reason, perhaps it was all that wasted energy from lying unconscious for, well however long it had been.
"The jedi are not your family my child, their teachings will only hold you back." He replied back, but I was completely ignoring him and thinking about other things. That sith apprentice, he wasn't just anyone, I knew I recognised his force signature but I'd never have guessed who he was. Now not only did I have questions for Yoda but Kaida as well, she'd never told me she had a brother-did she even know?
Was my master aware she had a brother on the dark side? That he'd nearly killed me for no particular reason?
The scary thing is, his presence felt so much like hers....
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Early release hope you enjoy, and thanks for 14k, love you all loads!!