Title: To Suffer in Silence
Summary: This follows Anakin's thought on the events that happened during the Lawless episode and the effect of what happened after.
Authors note: Sorry it's so late my muse has been exceedingly fickle as of late but hopefully summer vacation can amend that! Thank you to regenwolke, Book girl fan, Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay, and Akiko88 for reviewing and to everyone else for following and reading it. Here is the next chapter! (I see this fic being no more than 5 chapters)
Chapter 2
It had been a little over 3 weeks since Obi-Wan had left to Mandalore when Anakin had felt a disturbance in the force centering around his connection with his former Master.
It had been a regular, rather uneventful day when he felt it. He was upgrading Artoo when he suddenly felt a flash of pain strong enough to disturb his activities.
When he had taken a few minutes to regain control and focus, he began probing his bonds with those closest to him knowing that the disturbance had not originated from him this time.
Automatically he checked his connection with Padme first. However to his immense relief he could only sense minor agitation and weariness coming from his connection with her.
His Padawan was right next to him so he easily ruled her out, which only left one worrisome possibility.
Immediately he threw himself into a hurried meditation and focused his attention upon his connection with Obi-Wan. What he found only made his unease grow. As he pushed deeper into their bond he suddenly ran into a solid wall, so to speak. No matter how hard he pushed he could not get through.
Obi-Wan had erected a particularly strong mental shield which meant one of two things: he was either shielding Anakin against something that was happening to him on his end or he was blocking him because he didn't want him to sense something. Either option was not good.
In frustration Anakin came out of his meditation and rose to his feet.
"Kriff…" he muttered as he pulled out his com-badge.
Ahsoka looked up at him in confusion from where she worked. Ignoring her unspoken question he pressed the button which would allow him to automatically contact Obi-Wan.
He waited a few minutes but as he expected he received no answer. Severing the link he ran his hand through his hair. "Kriff Obi-Wan, the one stipulation I ask of you is of course the one thing you don't do."
There was one more thing that he could try here at the temple to get information on Obi-Wan before he went storming across the galaxy to find his trouble finding Master himself.
"Finish up with Artoo Ahsoka, I'll be back." He called as he walked out of the hanger without looking back.
Anakin walked purposefully up to the Knight who was in charge of the communications hub at this hour. He vaguely recognized him from a class they had taken together when they were younger. The Knight inclined his head as Anakin approached him. Anakin reciprocated the action before addressing his fellow Jedi.
"I need to use a long range scanner for a tracking device on a particular vehicle." He informed him.
"There are none currently available, however you may wait here until one becomes vacant." replied the Knight.
Anakin felt his jaw tighten, "Thank you, please let me know when the next one opens up" he managed to reply amicably.
He tried to com Obi-Wan a few more times before completely giving up, with nothing left to do Anakin settled into one of the chairs and waited.
It took a total of 4 hours for one of the long range scanners to finally open. Before the Knight could finish his sentence Anakin was already turning away and making his way quickly up to the second level. When he reached the room in which the long range scanner was located he entered and locked the door behind him.
Once he was at the console he quickly input the identification code for the tracking device he had placed (without anyone's knowledge of course) on his transport. After all the Council did like to use it a lot for particularly "sensitive" missions, many which did not involve him and since it was his vehicle he felt an obligation to know its whereabouts at all times. It just happened to be a coincidence that many of these said times happened to be on some of those "sensitive" missions. Anyways, now it turned out it had been a good idea.
He waited momentarily for the scanner to lock on to the device. When it finally did it made Anakin's stomach lurch. As he reviewed the information taken from the device he felt like letting out every uncivilized word he had ever learned.
The tracking device had logged all the Twilights movements up to the point when it had landed on Mandalore. Then at the very bottom of the report the bold words in red stood out almost taunting him, Device Destroyed. That had been almost two days ago.
With more force than was necessary Anakin shut off the console. Trying to regain his fraying patience Anakin took a deep breath.
Just because the device had been destroyed did not necessarily mean that his ship was now scrap metal or that Obi-Wan was in trouble… he couldn't even bring himself to finish the optimistic thought. It was Obi-Wan that was exactly what it meant.
Ok so now he knew for sure Obi-Wan needed his help. However, he didn't want to rush into a trap himself and make matters worse, he'd already done that once and nothing good came from it.
Leaning up against the console Anakin pinched the bridge of his nose. He needed more information before he decided his next move. He needed to know what was happening on Mandalore, and who better to ask than Palpatine.
Nearly running out of the room Anakin quickly made his way to the docking bay alpha where they kept all the intercity transportation.
He was only 2 levels away from his destination when he heard the familiar clipped voice of Master Windu.
"Skywalker, Master Yoda and I would like a word with you." He called, his tone leaving little room for doubt that it was a demand rather than a request.
Sighing inwardly and attempting to push down his irritation Anakin turned and bowed to the two approaching Council members.
Before he could think of offering an excuse Yoda was already jabbing his shoulder with his gimer stick making him fall into step with them.
"Come walk with us you will young Skywalker…"
