Show Me the Future and Let It Go

Chapter 2 - To Make a Choice

Obi-Wan takes that as permission to inform the Council, so he rises. "I should go to the Temple in person," he informs them.

Padme shifts. "Ani, maybe you should go too? I'm going to be meeting with some other Senators soon, and besides, you can talk to Obi-Wan after he speaks to the Council."

Anakin doesn't appear happy in the least, but he nods. "Alright," he agrees reluctantly. "I'll go."

Neither of them speaks as they leave 500 Republica in their separate speeders and head to the Temple. Obi-Wan wastes no time in locating Windu, who is one of the few Council members still on Coruscant. "I cannot go to Utapau," he tells him, Anakin hanging in the background. He doesn't know what's going through Anakin's head right now, but he desperately wishes that he did. "I have seen something, had a vision if you want to call it that. If I go to Utapau, then I believe that the Sith will win the war." Anakin's shock flares into the Force, but Obi-Wan ignores him, focusing on Windu.

Windu seems pensive and also a bit disbelieving. "We can't exactly spare anyone else to go in your stead, Obi-Wan," he points out. "You don't have a choice."

"The Force itself doesn't wish me to go," Obi-Wan argues firmly. He won't leave only to come back and discover that everything he had is gone, that his best friend is lost to him. He knows that is one thing he could never bear. He's lost other friends throughout the war, but Anakin is different. He's special. The bond that connects them has often been the only source of light in the darkest moments of the war. It's attachment but... Obi-Wan can't lose him. "Fisto is here. He can take some of my troops if necessary."

Windu is visibly displeased. "You are supposed to be leaving within the hour," he reminds him. "We don't have time for a full Council meeting to discuss this."

Obi-Wan nearly glares at him. "We don't need a full Council meeting then. Send Fisto or Tiin and Kolar. They are more than capable of defeating General Grievous. Had the Council agreed with me in the first place, Anakin would be coming with me, and I'm not sure that the disaster I have foreseen would occur should he come with me."

Windu almost appears to be staring through him, and Obi-Wan wonders what he's seeing through the shatterpoints. Finally, he nods. "Very well, I will inform Fisto that he is to go in your stead," he decides, "But I want answers, Kenobi. You can't just declare that the Force does or doesn't want something without explaining what you saw."

Obi-Wan grimaces. That could prove problematic because he can't exactly go into details. Nor does he wish to reveal that he saw Anakin Fall. But he'll have to say something, and since Windu is going to ensure that Fisto departs with all due speed, he'll have time to think about it. Or not.

As soon as he and Anakin are alone, his former Padawan approaches him with a frown. "I don't understand why you're doing this," he states flatly, something almost suspicious in his voice. "Are you serious about the Sith winning if you leave?"

Obi-Wan nods, momentarily unable to give a verbal response. "I do not have all the answers or even most of them, but I saw that an Empire would form under the Sith," he explains. "I believe leaving for Utapau may have been the final trigger, but I can't be certain."

"So, the Force didn't tell you to stay?" Anakin queries, a hint of incredulity in his voice.

"From a certain point of view," Obi-Wan muses, stroking his beard, "It did." He deliberately lowers his voice so that no one will overhear him. "Your son speaking to me could not have been a result of anything but the Force's intervention."

"What else did you see?" Anakin wonders.

Obi-Wan is quiet for a long time, and he's unsure if there's any way for him to answer the question without breaking down. "Do you trust me?" he asks at last. He wants to repair their relationship. He hates the distance that has grown between them. It hurts the way losing a limb might. But for the life of him, he can't figure out what to do. "I know – I know that nothing has been the same since... Hardeen, but I don't think the distance between us is doing anyone any favors." He tries to pretend it doesn't hurt when Anakin draws back slightly at the name.

"Of course, I trust you," Anakin answers, and it's the truth. A wave of relief washes through him. As long as Anakin trusts him, to an extent, then it won't be too late. Now, he needs to find a way to get them both off Coruscant and away from Palpatine – Sidious? He'll have to tell Windu what he suspects.

Obi-Wan glances around again before sighing. "Let's go to our apartment," he suggests. "It'll be more private, and we really do need to talk." Anakin doesn't seem terribly happy at the suggestion, but Obi-Wan isn't going to take no for an answer.

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