POV: Aayla Secura

My troopers were beginning to lose any hope of finding the Padawan or Anakin. I could sense Ahsoka's presence, but not Anakin's. That was a curious fact in itself. "General Secura, are you sure we are going the right way?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Of all my troops, this one had to be one of the survivors. He always doubts my choices, luckily, the other one doesn't talk much. He was saving my sanity. The two scouts we had picked up earlier were killed in the fall. The two and the rest of my troops were a massive loss to our forces. I was extremely worried about Anakin. He had been an adorable youngling and had matured into a handsome young man. It's a pity that we can't form attachments, because I would be all over him...

Sometimes I even become jealous of his young sixteen year old Padawan. If she were a male, I would have no competition. I need to focus. Anakin's safety and, possibly, life depended on me. Oh, and Ahsoka's, too... We passed abandoned hallways left and right, another curious event. In a Separatist base, where were the Separatists and droids?

I could feel the small presence of Ahsoka. We rounded a corner and there she was. She was taking care of her clones. She hadn't sensed me yet. Pathetic Padawan... "General!" one shouted.

"Anakin -" she exclaimed, obviously hoping to see her master. "Master Secura! It's so good to see you!"

I could feel her disappointment. She didn't want me here. That was unfortunate for her... "Padawan, where is your master?" She glanced at me, nervously. She began to rub her arm, physically displaying the emotion.

"We were separated when the ground gave in. I can't feel him through the Force."

Huh, so she couldn't sense him, too. "I can't feel him either. Shall we just explore, then?"

"Yes. Let's get started, Master Secura," she said, eagerly.

POV: Ahsoka Tano

Aayla was a little overconfident, and too prideful. I could feel a slight affectionate feeling emanating from her, which wasn't toward me or the clones. Who does she love?

I really hope that she can't feel it from me. It would probably be obvious that I fell for my master. He fell for me, too, but we couldn't risk being found out by the Council. I truly love him, and he truly loves me. Why should we hide it? Why is the Council against falling in love? New traditions should be created! Anakin disagrees with me, but I strongly believe in my idea.

Anakin...

I was worried about his life. Was he dead? Maybe that's why we can't sense him. If anything happened to him, I would always blame myself...

I need to focus. My heart is getting the best of me. Anakin would be disappointed in me. He always expected me to think of myself before others, like him. Yet, he thinks of other, like me, before himself, which contradicts his teachings. "Padawan, you are the closest to your master. Can you reach out to him?" Aayla asked me.

"I can try." She nodded and I opened my mind, traveling through the vacant base, searching for any force signature left by Anakin. I could hear a faint voice whispering my name. It had to be him! I reached out further and whispered into the Force, "Anakin?"

"Ahsoka... help..."

It was definitely his voice. "Where are you, Ani?"

"I...don't know... so much... pain..."

"Anakin, what are they doing to you?"

"Electric...electric shocks. Movement... makes it... worse..."

"Ani, don't move. Can you see anything directly in front of you?"

"Seven-A...don't know what...that means..."

"Ani, sweetheart, we'll try to find you. Relax, but don't move. If you need me, reach out to me, okay?"

"Okay...Ahsoka. I...love...you."

"I love you, Anakin. Just hang in there, honey." I broke out of my trace, breaking the bond a bit, but leaving it open. Aayla and the clones were staring at me expectantly. "Find Seven-A!" I commanded.

POV: Anakin Skywalker

When I had woken up earlier, I realized that I was being suspended in the air by force bonds filled with electrical shocks. Every time I moved – even the slightest bit – an electric shock ran through me. It hurt so much.

Ahsoka's force contact gave me some reassurance that she was out there, looking for me. I kind of wish she wasn't because I'd rather see her somewhere safe. I wish I had lied and told Ahsoka that I had no clue where I was. If she or anyone else got hurt, I would be at fault.

I still believe that there is a small chance that the Separatists could kill me. Although, I haven't seen a single droid in here. Agh, why am I so weak? I shouldn't be asking my Padawan for help... I should be able to get myself out of this mess. The door opened, and a hooded figure walked in. "Ah, Skywalker. You're finally awake. How was your nap?" Dooku. I should have known... Of course, I wasn't sure if talking would shock me, so I stayed silent. I figured that that was the safest thing to do, in this case. "You can talk, Skywalker."

"What do you want, Dooku?"

He laughed. "Well, if I told you, you might contact your Padawan again. I had a feeling you might, so I placed the seven-A sign right here to throw you off."

"So...this isn't seven-A." Great. I'm probably sending Ahsoka to her death.

"Of course not, child. Why would I make it so obvious?"

I focused slightly and got through to Ahsoka. The bond was weak, but my focus strengthened it. "Ahsoka, it's a trap! Dooku set you up!" I whispered into the bond.

"Thanks, Ani. We just found out!"

"Ahsoka, I'm sorry – agh!" Dooku shot a bit of lightning at me – nothing that could kill me.

"Anakin! What happened?"

"Focus...focus on the...fight..." More lightning.

I closed the bond and Dooku just laughed at me. "I can tell when you are trying to contact someone. Do yourself a favor, save your strength. My master has much in store for you."

"Why me? Why not Yoda? Or Windu?" Why am I so special?

"You, Skywalker, are the Chosen One. My master has taken a great interest in you."

Always with the Chosen One ordeal. If I weren't the Chosen One, I'd be on Tatooine... maybe my mother would still be alive... The thought of my mother sprang me into another form of consciousness, like at the temple. The environment around me transformed from dark metals into light grains of sand, and I wasn't being held captive any longer. I was at the Lars homestead. My mother, Cliegg, Beru, and Owen were standing before me, smiling.

I was not wearing my Jedi attire, but instead clad in sandy robes like I had worn as a slave. I wasn't carrying my lightsaber either. I walked to the four and my mother embraced me. This was a feeling that I truly missed. None of this seemed to surprise me, because it felt so real.

What tipped me off was the feeling of another presence inside of the homestead. The presence was moving toward us. Odd, I was not a Jedi, but I could sense things around me. Maybe this is what life would have been if Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan hadn't landed here almost twelve years ago.

The presence emerged from the homestead and became a human female. A pregnant one, at that. Her face was hidden, but she seemed... familiar. Her face lifted slowly, keeping me in suspense.

It was Padme Amidala. "Welcome home, Ani," she said.

I screamed in denial. This was wrong. Padme and I would not be together. There's no way... Each of the five faces twisted in sorrow at my outburst. Everything here was completely wrong. My mother is dead and Padme was not my wife, nor was she carrying my child. I cried out in rage. Padme raced over to me and my eyes snapped open to reality.

I was back in my captivity. A medical droid was in front of me, but I was truly all alone. That slight vision of my consciousness was truly intimidating and untrue. If I hadn't been found by the Jedi, Padme would never have come to Tatooine. She was busy being the Queen of Naboo and then becoming the Representative of Naboo as a Senator.

My mother, Padme, and Dooku were all gone. Ahsoka wasn't here with me... Ahsoka! I opened the bond with her again. "Ahsoka?" I called out.

I waited patiently for a few moments, hoping she was okay. "Ani? Ani! Are you okay?" she answered back, finally.

I felt my heart beat faster and my muscles relax, knowing that she was safe for the moment. "I'm fine. Are you?"

"I'm safe. We were ambushed, but made it out. We lost a few clones... not that we had many left. Aayla and I are both all right."

"Good," I breathed. "I was worried about you, love. I'm so glad that you're fine."

"Ani, what happened to you earlier? Why did you leave the bond so suddenly?"

"Dooku's got me. I'm healing... slowly. He used his lightning on me while I was contacting you..."

"I'm so sorry... Honey, I'm trying my hardest to find you."

"I know, Ahsoka. You know I love you, right?"

"Yes, Ani. You rest now, okay? We're going to find you. We can't sense you, but I'll try to trace you through the link. Can you keep it open?"

"I'll try. I love you, Ahsoka. The link will stay open until Dooku forces me to close it again. Please... please, be safe. Do you know how hurt and lost I would be if anything happened to you?"

"I love you, Anakin. I'll stay as safe as I possibly can. I know, and the same goes for you. You hang in there, understand me? The way you'd feel if something happened to me is exactly identical to how I'd feel if something happened to you. I'll try to hurry. I won't let him hurt you anymore..."

I closed my eyes and tried to relax my mind. My mind began thinking of Ahsoka and our wonderful memories together... I would keep the bond open as long as I could. I just hoped Ahsoka would find me soon...