A/n: My apologies for the long wait. I've actually completed the chapter a month ago, a chapter focusing entirely on flashbacks, but then I decided afterwards that it wasn't the right move to push back the current matters at hand. So I took my time and rewrote the entire chapter.

Enjoy!

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Chapter: 5

"What troubles you, young padawan?"

The older Jedi held a warm smile; the kind that could seemingly melt all traces of uncertainty and fear. Obi-Wan Kenobi had always been able to sense his uneasiness and anxiety, no matter how hard Anakin tried concealing his emotions from his master.

"Nothing, Master."

The young boy pulled the Force around himself, shrouding his emotions in its embrace, further fortifying his lie in its surrounding concealment. "I was just-"

"Anakin…" the older Jedi frowned. "This is not what you're taught to do with the Force."

Obi-Wan merely waved an arm, and the gathered Force dissipated between the two, revealing an emotionally exposed and very much vulnerable, Anakin Skywalker. "You are not supposed to misuse the Force for your own-" The child's emotions came abruptly, unrestrained and overpowering; Obi-Wan felt the boy's growing fear, the uncontrolled anxiety, and in a moment of clarity, he suddenly understood Anakin's silent disquietude.

"Oh," the older Jedi paused, before reaching for the little boy's shoulder, giving him the most reassuring of squeezes. There was a long moment of silence, and though the action itself was physical, the meaning behind transcends that of a simple touch.

The boy's shoulder slumped and he looked up from behind a headful of sandy hair. "Master, are you not going to reprimand me?"

"I am not," Obi-Wan said.

Anakin's eyes, as blue as the lakes of Naboo, were filled with confusion. "Why?"

The older Jedi chuckled. "Because, there is nothing wrong with being afraid."

"But the Jedi code?" the boy stammered, "there is no emotion, only peace?"

"The Jedi teachings are merely guidelines." Obi-Wan shrugged. "They are useful, but ancient. Regardless of such, even the most experienced of Jedi will fear for their lives when being chased by a Bantha in heat during its mating cycle."

The child remained quiet, not quite understanding the older Jedi's humor.

"What I'm trying to say, is that you need not worry," Obi-Wan smiled. "You are still young, and there is much to learn.

"But…" the boy meekly asked, "will you teach me?"

"Of course," the older Jedi frowned. "What made you think otherwise?"

"There are rumors. If the peace treaty does not hold, then you'll be send to the front lines of war, and I will be left behind in the temple, under another master." The boy looked away, his face slightly flushed. "There is also much talk amongst the padawans… that you're only taking me as your apprentice because of Master Qui-Gon Jinn."

The older Jedi was quiet for a long while, his brow in an uneasy furrow. "I- You're right. War is stirring, and despite our best efforts, I fear that the Jedi Order must soon choose its side. If, and when, that happens, I will be leaving Coruscant, and you'll stay." He struggled, and the uneasiness eventually cracked, bringing the return of softest smiles. "But do not fear, young Skywalker. To be master and apprentice, it is as much Master Qui-Gon's decision, as it is the will of the Force itself."

"The will of the Force?" the boy asked skeptically.

"The masters do not choose their apprentice. Everything happens because of the Force, no matter how small," Obi-Wan said, "and I am honored, to have you as my apprentice."

The boy crossed his arms, slightly convinced but still unhappy. "The teachers at the Academy are not as strong as you, Master."

"Strength is not everything." The Jedi chuckled. "You will learn in time that knowledge, and a little bit of strategy, easily trumps the former."

Anakin did not reply, but Obi-Wan could sense the quiet discomfort in the boy's solemn eyes.

"I…" the boy started to say, "I am going to miss you."

"I will miss you too, Anakin." He ruffled the boy's hair into a sandy mess. "But do not worry. You'll meet and make tons of friends at the Academy. You'll forget me in no time."

"Ar- are we friends?" the boy suddenly asked.

"Of course we are! What made you think otherwise?!" He started to smile, before realizing the boy was completely serious. "Wait, you mean back on Tatooine you don't have- am I your first friend?"

The boy nodded.

Obi-Wan was lost for words. "I-… I had no idea."

"Back on Tatooine, there was only me and my mother. I was born a slave, so I didn't exactly get to go out and make friends." He paused. "I… I'm not exactly sure how."

They were quiet as the Corvette-class civilian transport shuttle swung into view around Coruscant's orbit, granting its occupations a wonderous view of the astonishing galactic ecumenpoleis. An expanse of ceaseless lights that stretched across the planet's horizon, a metaphor for its eternal life; regardless of rule by the Galactic Empire or the New Republic.

Eyes were drawn to the spacious viewports; the two of them remained in their seats, while a few impatient passengers released their tethered harnesses and floated across the length of the ship for a better look.

"You are going to be alright, Anakin," the older Jedi said, "you are going to survive whatever comes your way. You'll form bonds with those you'll come to meet, some stronger than others, even the most unexpected ones." He smiled, "Perhaps a bond even stronger than what we have."

"Unlikely," the boy shook his head.

"Your problem Anakin, is that you are afraid. Not of the scary unknown, but of opening yourself up. You are afraid of getting hurt, and because of that fear, you've become afraid of trusting." Obi-Wan said. "I do not blame you, it takes a certain way of… viewing things, to have survived Tatooine as you have."

"But believe me, Anakin," the Jedi said, "one day, you'll learn that even the most unexpected of bonds, will come from where you least expected. And when they do, even a complete stranger, might be your most trusted friend."

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She kept up with him, but barely. Her injuries were not severe, but she was faltering. Exhaustion was setting, and in its inevitability, the creatures crept ever closer. He could sense them, an occasional dart at the corner of his eyes, the resonating echoes of a faraway growl. They grew closer and more frequent as the two continued forward.

She stumbled, and he caught her, the two of them falling to a knee. Her breathing was heavy and the wrapped bandages were soaked red once more. She couldn't continue, not at this hurried pace. She looked at him and as their eyes caught, the both of them understood – she was nothing but dead weight at this point. She was slowing him down, and she wouldn't be able to defend herself against the approaching creatures.

She asked him to leave her behind and go, that he was not obliged in any manner to stay. Every instinct screamed at him to forget her and march on ahead, but yet, something held him back. He wondered, if it was the bond that Obi-Wan talked about all those years passed.

He helped her up onto her feet and handed her their last remaining spear; its tip was blunted from repeated use, but a weapon nonetheless still. He reached for her shoulder and squeezed, the same reassuring way that Obi-Wan did.

"Go," he said. "I will hold them back."

She disagreed entirely with his idea. She tried to reason with him, but was adamant in his decision. She argued, but he was uncompromising. He had already made up his mind.

"You better catch up to me afterwards," she hissed. "If you don't, I will come back and kill you myself."

Then, reluctantly, she was gone, and he was alone.

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He sat down onto the forest floor, eyes closed, palms resting on his leg. He had not been in a meditative state since their departure from the stolen ship, and as his breathing started to slow, he felt a flush of warmth and clarity spread across his entire frame. The Force, like a persistent wildfire, struggled against the forest's tempering suppression.

There was a tickling breeze, the soft rustling of snow. He felt it, from beyond the darkened treeline, and then, for the first time, he saw - hundreds, perhaps even thousands of them, submerged in the winter snow. Sleeping, waiting.

The first materialized from the snow in front of him. An emerging monstrosity, a haunting contrast to the quiet calmness. It leapt towards him – and Anakin sprung upwards, pivoting and dodging the creature's claws as it dove past him and skidded across the snow covered floor. It recovered almost instantly, a jarring screech as it turned back towards the lone male.

Anakin raised an arm towards the darting figure, but as soon as he felt the gathering of Force from his fingertips, came the rising presence of a dampening suppression. The snow below glowed, and like wind slicing through dust, the gathered Force was quickly dissipated. He snarled in annoyance, and took a step back just as the creature slammed into him with full intensity. The momentum sent them tumbling backwards, rolling across snow before he spun to balance – just as a clawed arm shot towards his skull.

He ducked, then sprung forward, shooting underneath the creature's returning swing, his arm hooking onto its exposed neck and dragging him down to the ground. The creature might be physically stronger than he was, but in such close quarters, pure strength was not the defining factor. The creature attacked with mindless savagery, but Anakin responded with strategy and technique.

He caught a loose swing and drove forward, pinning the creature's arm for a brief second as he reached into the back of his suit and pulled out a piece of sharpened bark, torn from a nearby tree. He gathered his strength and slammed the piece of wood into the creature's exposed neck area, easily penetrating flesh and skin. He twisted the makeshift weapon and pushed it in further, the creature shrieked even louder, its body convulsing a final time before falling completely still.

He rose from the ground, in the middle of a clearing, as dozens of them howled from the surrounding treeline – he looked up, and they started to charge.

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Forward, one step after another, Rey told herself, there was nothing she wanted more than to stop and to rest, but she knew she couldn't, not out here in the open. She could no longer sense their presence - the creatures - whatever they were; and in the soft glow of her quiet surroundings, it was almost beautiful. Her blunted weapon hung loosely at her side and her injured arm was painfully throbbing, but still she pushed onward.

One step after another.

She pushed past the treeline and her eyes widened in surprise. She was on the top of a hill and at the other end of the clearing, was a dome-shaped structure. White and covered in pale snow; there was no visible activity, and it seemed nothing more than a frozen monument of a fallen prey, lost once more to the forest's cold. But she recognized the symbol by the side of the structure. She had seen it many times before, on relics of the fallen starships buried in Jakku's dunes.

The Old Galactic Empire.

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He met the first creature head on, as years of Jedi training took over instinct. He used the creature's own momentum to stagger it forward, before spinning and lunging his makeshift weapon towards its skull, the piece of tree bark slicing into the creature's face. His foot shifted, using his forward movement to drive his attack towards the second creature.

The piece of wood tore into the creature's chest, slicing cleanly through but barely hindering its current onslaught. Its arm slammed into Anakin, who released his weapon in order to bring his elbows up. His arms took the blunt of the attack, sending him reeling backwards, his entire body shaking from the impact. He felt an immediate nearing presence, and turned as another tackled him from the side. He felt something crack and his lungs were immediately on fire. He was not granted rest, as a warning screech registered seconds before a line of fire ran up his spine.

Blood splattered across the whitened canvas below and he ducked just before the attacking creature could lop his head off with another swing. He turned and caught the creature's arm, the flat of his fist striking against the back of its elbow, violently snapping its arm forward. He pivoted, then kicked its legs out from under it, forcing it to the ground before stomping his knee into its skull.

Something shrieked dangerously close by and he turned just as another creature backhanded him across the side of his skull. He shot to the side, crashing into the snow as his vision blurred. Something wet trickled down the side of his face, and as he tried pulling himself up, he felt his knees crumpling weakly beneath, sending him back to the ground.

He saw the creature nearing, circling him like a helpless prey. It howled, and it jumped.

Anakin's breathing stilled, and in that instance, darkness shot forth like an erupting torrent, consuming everything between them in its fiery wrath. The snow below glowed and the air in front of him shimmered - an unseen wall that started to absorb traces of his Force energy. He growled and the darkness intensified, colliding fiercely against the invisible barrier and burning fervently through the forest's smothering presence.

The wall shattered, and the creature was caught in mid leap – it hung still for a moment, defying gravity and in the next, it was sent violently downwards, smashing into the ground as another bout of pressure ploughed into its convulsing frame. Bones shattered as the body caved inwards, and suddenly, the wave expanded outwards, forcing all the nearby creatures down onto their knees.

Anakin stood, his eyes a ring of yellow glow. He roared, and the pressure intensified. The trees around them rumbled, and cracks tore up their trunks towards the unseen sky above. The screams grew collectively, and in that moment, the Force erupted outwards, an ear-splitting boom that flung him from where he stood.

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It took Rey a long while to traverse the deep slope. It was a long way down and for her own safety, she had to proceed downwards in a crisscrossing pattern. Eventually reaching the bottom, she started on another long trek in the direction of the faraway dome structure.

It took slightly lesser than half a day, not that it was possible to tell in the winter forest. The canopy covered the night sky, miles above from where she stood. Eventually, she found herself outside the dome's entrance. It was quiet and as far as she could tell, the place was completely deserted.

A relic of the past, but a shelter within the forest's center. She proceeded carefully, painfully aware of how quiet it was in the presence of such a vast structure. There were no signs of remaining civilization. It was a lot bigger than she initially thought, at least ten levels high and as wide as her eyes could grasp.

She circled the building until she found an entranceway.

The first warning sign, was that the entranceway was forcefully jarred apart. There was a lock pad, but the doors were left ajar. Huge durasteel frames that were caught in the center, allowing her to slip inside and finding herself in an empty corridor. A few flickering lights illuminated the forward path and another door stood at its end. Exposed wires were seen dangling from overhead, and she could make out dozens of blaster markings on the walls around her.

She grabbed a handful of snow and took a deep breath, using its provided illumination as she made her way towards the faraway door that would lead into the building's inside. She was halfway there when she kicked onto something solid, causing her to jump as adrenaline quickly flooded her system. She dropped the snow, flooding the surrounding areas with illumination, and her breath caught at the sight.

Dozens of fallen Stormtrooper armor littered the ground in front of her, most in a decimated state, violently torn into, ripped and sliced into shreds. It was like stepping into a stilled grave, except for the complete lack of visible bodies. The armor were completely empty. Completely, not even skeletons remained.

Some were slumped against walls, other took cover behind various structures. She kneeled downwards and studied the nearest torn armor plate. It was an older issue, nothing she had seen before. There was also a thick layer of dust across the plastoid plate. No one have been here for a long time. She gulped nervously and picked up the fallen Stormtrooper's blaster. She had no choice but to push forward.

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The creatures fell and it was quiet once more.

He dropped to his knees, his eyes rolling as he fell completely limp. When he opened them once more, only tired blue remained. Something moved at his peripherals, but the shadows kept at the treeline. He felt their presence, but it was like they dared not approach.

He stood, then cried out as pain tore through the gash across his back. He fell back down, eyes widening as his jaw gaped. He couldn't breathe. He remembered what happened to Rey the last time they were attacked, and it was the last thought that crossed his mind before unconsciousness took hold.

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He was unaware. But he saved her.

1415-B.

She was down to her last blaster clip. Even all of the ammo she looted from her fallen Stormtroopers could not keep the creatures at bay.

Like ghouls – she thought. They did not consume human flesh – as far as she could tell – but they were almost like evil spirits, not of flesh, but seemingly materializing from the snow below.

They were however, killable – and the one thing Phasma knew best, was to kill.

She had took down her fair share of the ghouls, until they overwhelmed her in numbers. They had surrounded her, and all seemed lost until she heard his voice from afar.

A terrifying scream. Not of fear, but anger, rage.

The ghouls froze, and the following shockwave shattered the ones around her, crumbling them into the below snow. Those that were unaffected, they became quiet, almost afraid. They backed off into the forest's darkness and she was suddenly alone once more.

She walked towards the chaos, past several uprooted trees and came upon an open clearing.

He laid in its center, motionless and quiet.

She approached him, wondering if he was dead. But he was still breathing, shallowly.

She tapped onto the Datacom on her wrist. Before they entered the forest, it was updated with the newer batch of topographical files sent from Imperial Command.

The old galactic research outpost on map was only a few hours' trek away.

Left alone, the man would die. But Phasma had her set of morals and beliefs. 1415-B wasn't her target, and in saving her life, she would return the favor. At least until different circumstances. She strapped her blaster to her back and effortlessly hoisted the unconscious man onto her shoulders.

Then, she turned in the direction of the research outpost and started walking.

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To be continued...

A/n: Again, as I'm without a beta, do point out any visible mistakes (:

So, plot development! Rey found the old research outpost, where remnants of a previous massacre could be found. Phasma "saved" Anakin and they are also heading in that direction. I've always thought of Phasma as a Knight of some sort. Not a Jedi Knight, but a literally one. A loyal soldier to the Empire, but noble at heart. He saved her, and in exchange, she would return him the favor. At least until they meet once more under different circumstances.

Also, it's the first time Anakin managed to use his "powers". It's not him exactly, per se. The forest suppresses the Force, but in his rage, the dark side was strong enough to overpower the natural dampening of the Force. Obviously, he's a lot stronger when tapping into the dark side. But then, well, there certainly are going to be repercussions.

Nikkette: I completely agree with all you're saying! And I totally saw what you did there (:

nzOptimist: You're right about that uneasy truce (:

supercode: I could definitely imagine Phasma as such a person, loyal to her men and extremely bad ass. She won't be turning to the light side, but there are chances for her to be more grey than not. And no, I don't like using midichlorians in my story.

As for the rest, thank you too for the reviews. Some I've replied to in PMs as they contain spoilers.