An Even Greater Sin

Chapter 4: ...becomes the need for revenge

The sensation was electrifying- warmth, sweet softness, something deeper than a mere fling, and Luke drank it in with a dire desperation. Here was someone who wanted him, who wanted the comfort he could offer, who could offer comfort of his own.

For the first time, Luke was fully consumed by the here and now.

But Anakin pulled away from the kiss, hissing defiantly, "I can't. I'm a married man!"

Gasping for breath, Luke nodded, although in his heart, he wished for the contact to continue. Struggling to his feet, he glanced around the deli. Good, no one was gawking at them. The last thing Anakin- or Luke for that matter- needed was to attract attention.

With a nervous chuckle, Luke returned, "I'm sorry. I was just trying to help."

"I know." Anakin met his eyes, and for the first time, Luke began to realize that this man was not much- if any- older than he was. A profound vulnerability lay deep within those tearful sapphire eyes. "How is it that I feel- never mind."

"What? Tell me."

Anakin scoffed. "It's ridiculous, but it's like I've known you forever. When I met my wife, it was almost the same way. I knew that I would marry her. I foresaw it- even before my training." Shaking his head in self-deprecation, Anakin continued. "It's so strange. I've always been able to see little things about how a person fits into my life- but you, you're a mystery. All I see is a painfully bright blue light, all I feel is your agony."

Reaching across the table for Luke's hand, he whispered, "I have this chilling feeling that we're going to cause each other pain."

Taken aback, Luke blinked away tears. "I... can feel it too." Gripping Anakin's flesh hand, he hung his head. "We shouldn't see each other."

"I know- but the last thing I want is to lose you." Shuddering, Anakin studied Luke's artificial hand. Tracing along the exact path of Vader's blade, Anakin asked, "Who did this to you?"

Swallowing hard, Luke tried to come up with a way to explain it. "I was reckless- I faced an enemy before I was anywhere near ready."

"What enemy?"

"His name was Vader. He was the previous student of my first mentor."

"Is he still alive?"

'Oh, he's not alive yet,' Luke wanted to say, but he forced himself to bluff. "I don't know."

Anakin scowled. "If I find him, I promise I will kill him."

Images of guilt... pain... terror... flashed through Luke's mind. If Anakin found out- This made it even more important that he kept his secrets.

"I hope to stop him myself. I was told that I had to face him to become a Jedi."

"Oh." Grinning bitterly, Anakin shot back, "One way or another, next time you face him, you'll probably make peace with the Force."

"I don't intend on letting him kill me."

"I know." Closing his eyes, Anakin reached out with the Force, and Luke felt his presence brush against his mind. It was dizzying... and yet calming. Keeping his guard up, Luke allowed Anakin to lightly search the areas of his mind that would be harmless- but he wanted to let this warm spirit in fully, to allow Anakin to know him, to learn the true nature of Anakin Skywalker.

"You have strong blocks. You have been trained well. You will be a powerful Jedi." As Anakin said this, Luke could swear he heard a tone of... jealousy?

"I'm not trying to be particularly powerful. All I want to do is make the right decisions."

Anakin looked up, a confused expression on his open face. "You're not trying to develop your power?"

"I'll learn what I learn at the proper rate. If I rush myself, I'll just be likely to get my hand lopped off again. Power can be a good thing- but to try to have too much too quickly- that's suicide."

"I don't believe there's such a thing as too much power." Anakin's voice was defiant, challenging.

Luke didn't want to start an argument- not right now. He was aware, now, that Vader's downfall had something to do with Luke's mother's death. He was certain of it- and if it was true, then he had to step carefully. This man was vulnerable- volatile. With a smile, Luke responded, "Well, we'll see what happens to both of us."

"I guess so." Anakin stuffed the final bite of his sandwich- which he had to gather again after tossing it aside- into his mouth, picked up his drink, and swiped a paycard in the slot on the table. As he stood, he glanced at his chronometer, and cursed. "Fuck it all- I was supposed to meet Windu at one!"

"Who's Windu?"

"Master Mace Windu- Yoda's second in command. He told me to meet him in the Senate building today at one." Muttering some Huttese cuss words, Anakin began running. "Gotta go! I'll send you the coordinates to meet me at later!"

Left to his own devices, Luke wandered around the Coruscantian streets, keeping a careful watch on his surroundings. Something was wrong, and he knew it.

He didn't have any credits on him- and definitely not Republic credits- so he looked on a news terminal to see if there was any local entertainment that was free. He hoped for a concert- he was always into the music of the earlier generations anyway. As luck would have it, he found an advertisement for a concert at the Rallying Point amphitheater, only a tenth of a megablock away. The band was Pynque Phloide, an alternative group who Luke practically worshipped. Although now that he was alone, he was missing his own time- his friends- his sister... he decided that there was nothing he could do. The Force would send him back when it was ready. Now... it was music time.

The concert started at three hours past noon, so he had plenty of time. He began to walk.

Padme Amidala was restless. Her baby was still kicking madly, though not nearly as much as earlier. She was confused. Was it something in the Force? Anakin didn't come home last night- was he okay?

To relieve her stress, she had glanced into some stories on the 'Net, but not even well-written dramas could take her mind off of things- and the baby still couldn't read, of course. So she looked in the newsfile, and found immediately something of interest. A Pynque Phloide concert! Her favorite band!

Grabbing her comlink, she set out, telling only her handmaidens Elle` and Motee`.