3

Anakin took a seat next to Obi-Wan in the meditation chambers of the Jedi Temple. He noticed a sullen look on his Master's face as he let his eyes fall shut. It worried Anakin. After a few moments of silence, he fell into deep relaxation with Obi-Wan

The two traveled between space and time, guided in their meditation by the will of the force. At intervals, they came to past and future civilizations, connecting to the millions of life lines that was fabricated by the force.

Both Anakin and Obi-Wan came across a desolate planet, with dark oceans and crimson skies. It was dead. They witnessed ominous castles spiraling into the black beyond, and Anakin realized why Obi-Wan was frowning. He could feel a strong evil coming emanating from this planet. Though it seemed to be a desolate landscape void of all life, it was still screaming forth the essence of immorality. Something was most definitely wrong.

Anakin was the first to pull away from his meditation, opening his eyes. He felt tired and alone. For what seemed like forever he stared at the shining marble floor.

"The Dark Side is upon us once again." Obi-Wan said calmly with closed eyes.

Anakin said nothing.

"What planet was that, Master?" He finally spoke

"I'm not sure. It's not a part of the core worlds. Must be in the outer rim."

They could both only sit there in the fading light of Coruscant's dusk, pondering what the revelation meant.

Mace Windu dropped his aging face into the palms of his hands. Around him sat the full Council. They were all silent.

Yoda seemed the most sullen. His age was catching up with him quickly. The Dark Side took a heavy toll on them all.

"We're going to have to dispatch an investigative force to find out what's going on," Mace broke the silence. "According to reports, the Jedi posted in the Wyl Sector seem the most affected. I imagine that is where we shall find what we're looking for."

Everyone seemed to be wandering on another plane of existence.

"Is this another Sith?" Plo Koon asked through his respirator.

"I don't believe the Sith are still among us."

Anakin looked up with a scowl. "Then who?"

"We can't be sure until we dispatch our investigators."

The room was once again quiet, falling into a deafening silence that left Anakin's brain spinning. His eyes wandered across the room, inspecting each of their faces. They were growing so old, he thought. Though he said this, he made no attempts to include himself as an aging member of the Jedi Council. He was still young at heart, and that was all that mattered.

"Who are we nominating to go?"

Mace Windu and Yoda exchanged glances, and then slowly looked at them.

"Anakin and Obi-Wan."

Inside his mind, Obi-Wan sighed. This was most certainly not the time for him to go traipsing across the galaxy. Why couldn't Master Koon and Ki-Adi Mundi go?

Mace Windu answered his question. "You two are the youngest of us, and are the best we have. Everyone else is tied down to another, equally important task at the moment, and we can only think of you two when it comes to unadulterated trust."

"Settled it is, then," Yoda stated weakly from his chair. "Go Anakin and Obi-Wan will."

Obi-Wan stood on the balcony of Padme's apartment looking out over the brightly lit Coruscanti night. His mind was running faster than he could, and he was falling. For once in his life he was experiencing doubt and frustration, and it terrified him.

Behind him Afe nursed her child, gazing at her troubled husband. Through the force she could easily sense his sadness. Though she felt this, she said nothing, but returned her attention to her newborn baby.

Padme and Anakin were sitting silently on the couch enjoying each other's company. Anakin didn't seem to be as frustrated with having to travel across the galaxy. With a smile on his face, he ran his fingers through her curled brown hair. At length he stood and made his way to Obi-Wan.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Anakin asked, running his hands across his brow.

Obi-Wan nodded, but refrained from looking at his former protégé.

"Master, you're growing distant. It's worrying me."

Obi-Wan let his face fall into his hands. "I can't help it. I'm growing old, Anakin."

"And what does that have to do with the way you're acting?" Anakin retorted.

"I'm losing my touch, and all I want to do is be with my family now. It's the first time I've wanted to do something other than be a Jedi."

A thin smile crept across Anakin's face. "Tell me that you didn't just say that." He placed his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I've never seen you like this. Think back to all the moments in my life where I doubted where I was going." He squeezed his fingers together. "You were my guiding light, Master. Don't lose that."

Obi-Wan smiled and looked at his former Padawan. "You were always wise beyond your years, Anakin."

With a chuckle, the two turned and walked back into the apartment.