Chapter 1

Obi-Wan stood in the middle of the Ord Mantell hanger where Nute Gunray's recovered mechano-chair was being loaded onto a Republic transport to be taken back to Coruscant and examined further by techs. Something felt wrong to him. He couldn't quite place it, but he felt as if something where going on that he should know of and be a part of also.

"General Kenobi." Climber, the clone trooper in command, addressed him, coming up from behind to stand beside him and watch the chair being loaded. Obi-Wan didn't say anything, so Climber continued on.

"General Grievous has attacked Coruscant, sir. Almost everything was kept out of the inner atmosphere except for one ship. Grievous swept into 500 Republica and kidnaped The Supreme Chancellor, and Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo, and must be taking them to the Invisible Hand, we suppose."

Obi-Wan nodded. He couldn't speak. Padme was missing.

"The Temple requested that you come home to help with the battle."

"We'll take the rescue mission. The CIS won't expect the Temple to call for help from outside the Core."

"I'll call the Temple back now, sir." He said leaving Obi-Wan's side, only to have Anakin take his place.

"What's wrong, Master?" Anakin asked, folding his arms in front of him, without noticing that he was an exact copy of Kenobi's posture.

"When are you going to learn to stop calling me master, Anakin? I'm not your master." Obi-Wan said evading the question. He needed the few seconds his reply had given him to compose himself.

"Does it matter? What's wrong?" Anakin asked again. Obi-Wan sighed and started to walk down the hallway towards the adjacent hanger that held their fighters, which were being prepped for flight. Anakin followed, still determined to get an answer.

"Tell me, or I'll tell Master Windu that you were the one who hacked into the mainframe and reprogrammed the bells in the west learners wing so you could get out of your Foreign Languages class when you were young."Obi-Wan looked at Anakin annoyed. "...ER."

"Coruscant's under attack from General Grievous. He's kidnaped Padme and Palpatine. We're going to go rescue them." Obi-Wan said shortly. Not because he wished to upset Anakin, he didn't think he could say anything more. He was scared. He wasn't scared of many things, but losing Padme was one of them. She was one of his best friends, and if something happened to her, he'd never forgive himself.

They reached the hanger to see R2 and R4 already in their positions waiting for them, engines warmed.

"Well? Ready to save the Republic once again, Master?"

"I was never ready to begin with, Padawan." Obi-Wan smiled to himself when Anakin let out a noise of annoyance.

"I'm not your Padawan!"

"Does it matter?"Obi-Wan sat down in his cockpit and smiled happily back at Anakin, knowing his tactic had worked. Anakin just shook his head and jumped into his cockpit, understanding why Obi-Wan didn't like being called by his old title. They both lowered their canopies and took off, flying in silence. Climber came on their comm, notifying them that they had clearance to leave Ord Mantell airspace. They made the jump to hyperspace, leaving Ord Mantell behind.

~**~

Two Republic starfighers, one red, one yellow, shot out of hyperspace and straight into a huge space battle taking place over Coruscant. As they flew over a Republic cruiser and turned on their afterburners, R2 located the Invisible Hand.

"General Grievous' ship is dead ahead, Obi-Wan."

"I see 10 ships dead ahead of us."

"The one crawling with Vulture droids."

"Ohh, I see it. Ohh, this is going to be easy!" Obi-Wan replied sarcastically.

"You aren't going to need me to save you constantly again, right?"

"I don't need you to save me you always show off. For your fan club." Obi-Wan teased.

"You think I do everything for that fan club don't you?"

"Yes, you do." They both smiled.

"Oddball, form your squad up behind me and keep the Vultures occupied." Obi-Wan commed over to Oddball, who responded immediately and followed him, his squad opening their wings, ready for a fight.

"Let them pass between us." Obi-Wan said to Anakin. They both went off to the edges of the huge swarm of Vultures, hoping to avoid any of the droids' targeting systems. Only two fighters followed them. Anakin took out his pursuer easily.

"Need help?" He asked smiling cockily.

"No, just get the shields down, I'll be right behind you."

"Alright, if you're sure. I really wanted something to tell the fan club..." Anakin flew straight toward the shield generator and fired, creating an explosion and the blue tint of the shields disappearing. Anakin flew toward the hanger bay, flying slowly, wanting to come as close to the rapidly shutting metal door as he could. He saw Obi-Wan's fighter shoot past him, barely making it in. A loud thunk sounded as the fighter that had been pursuing him slammed into the shut blast door.

Battle droids were everywhere. Their fighters crashed into a few, as others got ready to fire. Obi-Wan was already out of his fighter, flying through the air, landing in the midst of the droids, cutting down many in one sweep, moving onto the next without a second glance.

Anakin hit the eject button.

Do you want to eject Yes/No?

Anakin punched Yes.

We're sorry, the vehicle has slowed enough that ejection is not needed, if you still wish to eject, enter security code.

Anakin sighed and started taking off his seatbelt, ejecting R2 from his position so he could see if he could locate General Grievous, Palpatine, or Padme. He jumped out, fighting his way to Obi-Wan, who had already cut down about a forth of the droids.

Once all the droids were laying in heaps, Anakin went over to R2.

"Got anything?" R2 beeped a response, and Anakin translated for Obi-Wan. "He can't get into any systems. We'll have to find them on our own."

"I can't sense the Chancellor as well as you can. I'll go after Padme."

"Alright. Meet back here?" Anakin asked. He was a little saddened that he wasn't going to be the one saving Padme. He loved her, and he wanted to be the one to come and rescue her. But Obi-Wan did have a point, and there was no way she'd fall for his old master, so he let it go.

Obi-Wan nodded, and pulled out an extra commlink from his belt and threw it to R2.

"Just in case we need you, we'll call."

They both walked in opposite directions, Obi-Wan heading toward the back, Anakin toward the nose.

~**~

Well, end of Chapter 1! I love feedback!