Chapter 8:

Obi-Wan was not surprised when he was informed that his former Padawan had run head on in big trouble. It was clear from his grimaced smile and the way he tried to joke. "Good to see that you are still in one piece, I guess you haven't found the Sith again," Anakin had said and from the tone of his voice and from the way his eyes darted everywhere the older Jedi immediately knew that something had gone awry wrong. He hadn't expected that Anakin had run straight into enemies' line.

"One of these days," Obi-Wan mumbled and ran with his hand through his hair.

"A little help might be appreciated," the brown haired Jedi had answered and with a yelp his holo-image dodged a blaster bolt.

"And where do you expect me to get that help you need?" the red haired male had snapped. His former Padawan was not only risking his own and Obi-Wan's Grandpadawan's life, but also the lives of all their men and the Council member was rather fond of his Ghost Company.

"I don't know... you'll find a way, you always do." The man sounded so hopeful and Obi-Wan silently dreaded the day when he did not come up with a plan. He also hoped that this day had not arrived just yet.

"I'll think of something," he promised.

"Thank you Master, I knew-" the red haired Jedi did not know what his companion knew, for the connection was broken. Of course he tried to reconnect, but he simply did not get through again. Blue-green eyes looked almost pleading at the dark and unmoving figure that was currently leaning against the wall.

"What?" Ben asked without looking in his direction.

"You have got an army, haven't you?" the Council member required.

"Yes..." his tone was hesitant, as if he was not sure where this conversation was going.

"You have to allow me to borrow your army."

Now did the dark figure look up, "I do not HAVE to do anything," he answered. Obi-Wan knew he had hit a nerve by 'commending' it.

"Please, they will die without reinforcement."

"And?" the Sith huffed, "It's not my fault that they deemed it necessary to attack without thinking it through, nor is it my problem."

"I will open the bond," the Jedi spit out as a last idea. This was completely insane and he knew it, but if it would save Anakin, Ahsoka and the clones, then Obi-Wan would do it.

The Sith remained silent for a few seconds and Obi-Wan almost believed that his words were not heard, when Ben spoke again, "What?"

He took a deep breath, "I will open the bond a little bit, if I can use your troop to save my companions."

A mixture of huffing and chuckling came from the masked man. "Isn't that sweet?" he chuckled, "Fine, but make sure you return them to me, as unharmed as you can manage."

"I will," he straightened to his full height and the Sith regarded him with a last look, before playing with the com on his arm.

"Blade, do you copy?"

They did not have to wait long until a slightly static voice answered and Obi-Wan was a little bit surprised at the familiarity of t he voice. "Yes General."

Ben hummed in satisfaction, "Good. Get your troop back here, you have work to do."

"Yes General," and with that the brief communication was cut out.

Silence hung in the air between the brothers. Ben did not seem bothered by it, but Obi-Wan was thinking on how to break it. Eventually he settled for holding his promise, this way, he had something to do at least.

Very careful the Jedi searched in his mind for the closed and literally barricaded bond with the Sith Lord. Tentatively he lowered some of the barricades and opened the bond a little bit. Almost instantly imaged, feelings, thoughts and experiences were exchanged, on both their sides. Obi-Wan had closed his eyes in anticipation, but to his shock it was not as bad as he had feared, nor did it hurt.

This brief exchange continued for a few minutes and Obi-Wan saw pieces of his brother's early childhood. Most of the pictures were with him and their parents, but at some point a man, whose face was darkened and blacked out, appeared and he took the older twin. That was the point the bond was closed, but not from Obi-Wan's side.

"That's enough," the Sith spoke up, "Let your mind process those pictures first. They have to be connected to your memories now," he explained patiently.

"As if we shared this life," Obi-Wan concluded.

"We SHOULD have shared our lives from the very beginning, but thanks to Sidious, that is not the case. This is why we have to treat that bond carefully at first, otherwise our minds won't be able to sort through the memories. Lines will vanish and you mind will be damaged then."

Obi-Wan nodded, He had done as he was asked and apparently his brother was satisfied with the result. Silently he wondered what else he would get to see from his brother and he wondered what Ben would think about his own miserable start as a Padawan.

"They are here," the Sith disrupted the silence. He did not need to clarify to whom he was referring.

"Ben," the Council member spoke up, when the older male had pushed himself away from the wall, "the man in your memory..." he trailed off.

"Sidious," Ben confirmed the Jedi's assumption, "You will see that every single memory of him will be like this... altered and darkened. It one of his many... gifts." Golden eyes looked disgusted and angry.

Obi-Wan did not know what to say to that, but thankfully he did not have to answer, for the door to their current location was opening. Only years of Jedi training kept him from gaping openly at the clones that entered, a read haired and scarred one leading the way.