AUTHOR'S NOTE: For those that were inquiring, Ahsoka is not yet a part of the team for this adventure. As was noted in my author notes in Chapter One this story takes place before the battle of Christophsis (Clone Wars Movie) where she was introduced. (Sob doesn't anyone read my story preambles anymore?).

Basically I am a story continuity fanatic so she may appear in future stories, so cheer or consider yourself warned depending on how you feel about that character. But mainly this story as well as others will explore the bond between the two Generals and how that bond made them a fighting force to be reckoned with during the Clone Wars (or a dangerous liability).

ADVERTISEMENT: Also, I've made a new Star Wars Clone Wars music video, which I posted on my blog (see my author bio for link), and it is also posted up on youtube (use the following search parameters: star wars clone wars savin me) at least until they block the music like they always do. So go visit and let me know what you think.

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

Episode 1A

Death's Shade

Chapter Three

Insidious Doings

Barriss Offee entered the medroom quietly, curious for the opportunity to observe General Kenobi for a moment without his mask of fortitude. He was laying back and attempting to enter the healing state but to no avail. The lack of awareness regarding his environment was unnatural. This was not the first time Kenobi had been in her care, and even when he was at his most broken and bleeding, the Force always resonated strongly, such a part of him that he would literally glow in her eyes.

Being a Jedi Healer enabled her to see auras. All Jedi had them when she gazed upon them through the Force. They were all different colors based on personality and the way they used the Force. Master Yoda was so bright an orange she sometimes had to avert her eyes from the glare. Kenobi on the other hand was bright also, but warmer, soothing and calm, a soft yellow. It was like basking at a beach on a summer day.

Only this sun had gone out. There was an empty aura about him now, frozen and darkening. It gave her chills. With that came an undercurrent of frustration in him as mediation eluded him, and with it its healing. He yanked back the covering and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

In an instant she was at his side preventing him from rising. "What do you think you are doing?"

"I'm leaving the medical center," he told her matter-of-factly.

"That would not be wise, Master Kenobi."

"For whom?" he asked, his gaze unwavering. "I'm in no danger of infecting anyone else with this malady. And the answers I need are being discussed elsewhere."

"For good reason perhaps. You need to rest."

"By resting you mean waiting for the inevitable." His eyes were the color of steel. Maybe it was the lack of the Force and the absence of its calming balm that bristled him.

"By resting, I mean conserving your strength to buy your friends the time to find an antidote."

"I do not need to use the Force to sit and listen to a discussion. I've done that here already twice today and I am no worse for wear."

"I am the judge of that."

A sigh of exasperation but he didn't get off the bed. She couldn't tell if he was conceding the argument or too weary physically to move. The muscles in his arms shook faintly with the strain of holding himself upright.

She checked him over, slipping in past his barriers with far too much ease, again becoming awash in a sea of pain, regret and fear. Inside, he was a mess. Biological systems were laboring to work, the poison spreading far and wide, leaving nothing untouched. Her hand hovered above his chest and she sent a small portion of her healing energy into him once more. The pain receded, though the fear and regret did not. But it would have to do. It was a terrible burden for a Jedi to have to face; those emotions were once so easily banished.

Drawing a deep breath she resurfaced to external awareness. There was nothing more that she could do for him for the moment. The dose she had given him would sustain him for a while, making him sound enough. His eyes were closed in relief as the pain and torment of his body eased once more.

"I'm about to give my report on your medical condition. Care to come along?"

Opening his eyes, he grinned. "It would be an honor, Master Offee."

She handed him a robe, and then indicated a hoverchair nearby. He shook his head. "I'd prefer to walk if you don't mind. A simple pleasure left to me at least for a bit longer." He donned the robe over his gray sickbay pants.

Nodding, she escorted him out, never more than a few inches from his side, and constantly monitoring his state, just in case.

***

The glow of the communication hologram cast an eerie hue over the Jedi standing around it. On screen, Master Yoda's form flickered, his face severe. Anakin always wondered why. They were at war of course, but it was more than that. Obi-wan once told him that Yoda spent much of his time deep within the Force, monitoring the past, the present and the future. What he saw there must wear on him immensely, Anakin thought.

To his right stood Mace Windu, arms folded across his chest, his mouth a thin line of intensity.

"Our intel on the station's nefarious doings no indication gave," Yoda admitted.

"It was empty except for Ventress," Anakin reported. "There weren't even droids on board."

"Unlikely that such a place they would leave unguarded."

Anakin shook his head. "Obi-wan said it was a trap."

"Rarely wrong is Master Kenobi, Young Skywalker."

"Thank you, Master Yoda," said a voice just entering the room.

Anakin spun around. "Obi-wan!"

His Master stood in the doorway. Master Offee at his side though she was not offering him any support. His skin was still ashen gray against the light ginger red of his beard. The hollow of his eyes were sunken and filled with shadows, but still he was standing, straight and alert.

"Good to see you it is, Obi-wan," Yoda said

Obi-wan gave a subtle bow, as if unsure of his range of motion.

"Master Offee, news you have of Obi-wan's condition?" Yoda directed his attention to the Healer, noting her position with some interest.

She took one small step forward and bowed low. "I do, Master Yoda. My suspicions are correct. The poison is attacking the cells that enable Master Kenobi's use of the Force. It is preventing those cells from absorbing and retaining the energy he needs to combat the poison attacking his nervous system."

"That's why he couldn't call on the Force? But it hit so quickly."

"Perceptive, Anakin. And that's only the tip of the iceberg. This poison's purpose is to remove the Jedi's ability to heal himself and therefore unable keep the deadly poison at bay. And without the antidote, the poison can run rampant.

"We've only been able to suppress the poison's attack somewhat by flooding him with the Force and various drugs at our disposal. But the Force slips away from him like quicksilver. He can't hold it. It's as if he's lost the ability to draw on any of it on his own accord. And without a true antidote he will succumb no matter how much Force or drugs we infuse in him. The poison has been modified to spread quickly giving little time to find a cure or contain it with the Force. He has maybe three days at the most."

"Wait, you're implying this poison was designed for us? Anakin tone was low and saturated with menace.

"Against Jedi specifically? Yes," was her answer.

"Most grave this news is," Yoda intoned, his ears falling just a bit.

Anakin glanced at Obi-wan, scrutinizing his reaction to this information. But the man just stood there stone faced, calm and not a flicker of anger in him. Anakin wanted to scream and shout his rage.

"If our enemies have come up with a means of wiping out the Jedi without firing a weapon, then the war is already lost." Mace Windu stated succinctly. It wasn't despair; it was fact.

"All we have to do is find the antidote," Anakin responded fiercely.

"That's if there is an antidote," warned Mace. "The Separatists are not known for preceding much farther beyond what can maim and kill."

Anakin knew that to be fact. Especially when it involved Count Dooku and his trained murderess, Ventress. "Couldn't we figure out our own cure?" he asked the Healer, even though he knew it was grasping at straws.

"Not without a sample of the original, not in time."

Obi-wan stepped close to the holotransmitter, leaning forward to rest a heavy hand on the console. The blue light made his flesh almost translucent and even paler. "If this is something that affects Jedi than it stands to reason that it will also affect Sith and their Dark followers. They would not dare allow such a thing made if they weren't safeguarding themselves somehow."

"Wisdom Obi-wan speaks." Yoda's large golden eyes watched his ailing knight with concern.

"That means there is a cure!" Anakin slammed a palm against the console.

"But where to look," Yoda reasoned in his wise way that indicated he knew the answer but wanted to know if everyone else did also which tried Anakin's patience. If the wizened Jedi knew the answer he should just come out and say it.

"The databanks of the station held nothing of any use," Mace reasoned.

"Of course not. That was merely the trap. To the lure you must look."

Mace pressed some buttons on the console and another holo appeared, the face of a middle aged woman. "The intel came from a trusted Jedi source. Zoltara Thalar. She would not betray us."

"Perhaps." Yoda stood there patiently.

"Or maybe she was betrayed also," Anakin thought, his hand rubbing his chin in a move characteristic of his old Master.

"See how far goes the betrayal," Yoda said. "Our true source there we will find." Then he turned. "Master Obi-wan, done enough here today you have. Return to the place of healing."

Obi-wan bowed his head. A sheen of perspiration lined his brow, and his breath was short as if he had run a marathon instead of just standing idly. "Yes, Master Yoda." His voice was thin and almost a whisper. With that, the communication ended and the blue light in the room faded.

Anakin was at his side suddenly though Obi-wan didn't remember seeing the young man move. He had been standing too long and was now starting to feel the effects as the effort drained him, leaving him light-headed, but he was determined not to show weakness.

"What do you think you're doing, attending a briefing," the younger Jedi scolded. "You should be resting."

"Thank you, Healer Skywalker." Obi-wan smiled wearily, allowing Anakin to slip a shoulder under his arm and bear his weight without protest. The muscles in his legs burned abominably.

Master Offee laid a cool hand on Obi-wan's forehead. "You foolish Knight. Let's get you back where I can attend you. You will need another dose of cardinex to ease the symptoms."

"Already?" Anakin asked.

Barriss nodded, knowing it was a bad sign that the poison was already rejecting the suppressors at these high doses.

Anakin tried to distract his Master. "What would Master Yoda have said if you keeled over in front of him?"

Obi-wan chuckled, which was Anakin's objective to begin with. "I would tell him it was your idea."

"Funny."

Obi-wan swallowed, feeling dizzy and sick, and then coughed at the dryness of his throat. His trembling grew worse, his vision going gray all around him. "Blast," he muttered, beginning a slow slide to the floor, which never happened as Anakin swept his other arm under his knees and began carrying him. "Anakin, put me …down."

"Shut up, Obi-wan. You're not that heavy. Next time, don't say no to the hoverchair."

"I didn't… say no…"

Anakin regarded him with a scowl.

"Okay, I did, but --."

"I know. It seemed like a good idea at the time."

The Jedi Knight's tremors increased so much that his fingers clenched convulsively against Anakin's arms in an attempt to regain control, but to little avail.

"We're almost there." Anakin hurried his pace. Obi-wan's head kept flopping backwards so he adjusted him higher against his left shoulder so his head could rest there. He sent soothing thoughts through their bond, but the next words of his Master shattered it.

Obi-wan whispered in his ear. "Anakin, I….can't see."

His grip on his Master tightened at those words, waves of sorrow and despair washing over him, both his own and Obi-wan's, as they rushed into the Medical Bay.