Part XI

Ben ran as fast as he could. He used the Force to speed him forward. But it wasn't enough. He watched as his master struggled, knowing or guessing that Ben was there. He screamed Obi-Wan's name as the ship lifted off the ground and sped toward space. He deactivated his lightsaber and fell to his knees, hitting the cold, hard duracrete.

Anakin, who had been racing ahead of Ben, also deactivated his lightsaber and slowly walked back toward Ben, a stony expression on his face.

"We missed him." Ben said in a voice barely above a whisper. "We were too late."

Anakin fought to keep control of his temper. "That was Dooku." he said coldly. Ben had never actually met Dooku face to face, but even he had recognized the tall, stately, grey-haired leader of the Separatists, and Sith Lord.

"Who was the red-haired woman, though?" Ben asked. "I've never seen her before, nor heard mention of her."

Anakin's face paled slightly, but before he could answer, a Jedi shuttle landed nearby. Master Windu stormed out, followed by Ahsoka. "I hope you're happy, Skywalker." he growled.

"Oh, quite the contrary." Anakin returned angrily. "I just saw my former master, my best friend, my brother dragged off to who-knows-where by Count Dooku and JENNA ZAN ARBOR!"

Windu's face hardened and Ahsoka gasped. "Jenna Zan Arbor? The Jenna Zan Arbor?" she gasped. "I read about her in galactic history and science!"

"Are you sure?" Windu asked. "If Zan Arbor is working with the Separatists…"

"Then this war is about to get a whole lot harder." Anakin finished. "So, does that mean you're coming with us?"

Windu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No." he answered. "I'm actually needed back on Bellockra, but feel free to take your Padawan back and bring her along."

"YES!" cried Ahsoka.

"Just be sure you check in with Yoda regularly and let him know what's happening. I'm sure he'll be interested in your news about Jenna Zan Arbor."

"Is this an official mission now?" Anakin asked.

"More of a… special assignment." With that, Windu returned to his shuttle and headed off.

"Happy now, Snips?" Anakin asked.

"Very much so, yes." Ahsoka answered.

"Can we look for clues now?" Ben said, heading for the base. Anakin and Ahsoka quickly followed him.

Obi-Wan lay on the floor of the hold. Ben and Anakin were coming for him. He knew it. He knew Anakin. He knew that Anakin would tear the base apart until he found a clue as to where Obi-Wan was being taken.

"What do you mean, you can't find it?" Obi-Wan raised his head slightly at the noise.

"Exactly that. I can't find it! I must have dropped it in the rushing of your guards!" It was Dooku and Jenna Zan Arbor.

"Tell me you're not missing the data chip though."

"No, we're not missing that. And I do have a spare re-wired datapad that I built in case this happened."

"Good." Dooku sounded relieved. "And there is nothing on the datapad that will tell the Jedi where we're going and what we're doing?"

"Without the data chip? No, they'll learn nothing." As the voices faded Obi-Wan lay back down. So, the datapad was left behind. If only the chip had been as well. Then Anakin and Ben might have had a chance!

Sidious was tense. And he was never tense. As soon as the last Senator, the last representative, the last aide was gone form his office, he put in a call on a secret com channel that could not be traced.

"Yes, my lord?" asked Darth Tyrannus when the call connected.

"You're on a ship, Tyrannus." Sidious observed. "What happened?"

"The Jedi found us, my lord." Dooku answered.

"Ah, but you still have him?"

"Yes, my lord."

Well, at least that was something… "I have reason to suspect that someone has felt me."

"What? Master, that is not possible…"

"It is, unfortunately." Sidious hissed. "And I believe someone has. Someone whose presence is pure light, pure… innocence. I want you to find him and destroy him!"

"Yes, Master. Do you know who it may be?"

"No, it could be anyone. It's no one on the Council, I can tell you. They're too blind to see past the ends of their noses. But he is a Jedi, that is certain. And I want him."

"Yes, Master." The connection died, and Palpatine leaned back in his chair.

TBC