* Please note that this is an AU and Palpatine is not Chancellor yet and the story line does not follow canon.
ooo
The Coruscant industrial zone, also known as Feral City was said to be the most dangerous place on the planet.
Feral city stood deserted and ignored by most sentient beings for many hundreds of years, but previously, it was a thriving industrial area, with spires reaching high into the sky. Now it was the home to a multitude of spider-roaches, sewer-rats, duracrete worms and a sith lord named Darth Sidious.
A Sith fortress was alive and flourishing deep in the bowels of one of the buildings, and not only did Darth Sidious use the facilities to formulate his plans for his sith Empire it was also the home of his apprentice Darth Maul. Maul was a young Zabrak child when Sidious first took him as his apprentice.
He was an angry child, and instead of helping him to release his anger as the Jedi do, Sidious reinforced it and encouraged it to grow. By the time Maul was a teenager his anger had turned into a solid core of hatred, and there was no room for any light to permeate his being.
Maul was the epitome of darkness, but the relationship between Maul and Sidious was more of a hate, love, and hate relationship and although Maul was grateful that Sidious had rescued him, and taught him to harness the dark side, his ultimate goal was to kill his master and take over as the ultimate sith lord.
Now Maul had his very own Jedi slave and he headed back to their hideout on Coruscant with the intention of contacting Sidious with the good news. His ship glided to a stop inside the well camouflaged hanger bay and there to greet him were his underlings, an elite group of militia who he was training to become personal servants to Sidious.
The building was cloaked by a device called a sensor shadow that encased the entire building in a shroud and once the ship entered the hanger all sense of the ship and the occupants within were cloaked from detection.
Striding down the ramp he called his minion's to take his unconscious prisoner to the holding cells in the lowest level of the facility.
"Put him on the rack and secure him - guard him well!"
Maul entered the communication room and placed a call to Sidious. When the holo image of a hooded Sidious appeared, Maul bowed. "My Master, I have good news to share with you."
"Good news, Darth Maul – It better be! What could be that important that you couldn't wait until I contacted you at the appointed time?" Sidious snarled not liking to be disturbed while he was in his alias as Senator Palpatine from the planet Naboo.
Maul didn't care how angry his master sounded, nothing could upset him today, not when he had Kenobi as his slave. "I have captured a Jedi, my master."
The image of Sidious seemed to grow taller. "A Jedi – You have a Jedi prisoner?"
"I do my lord, one that will surprise you."
Sidious didn't like surprises, "Who is this Jedi?"
"I do not believe it to be wise to speak over this connection my master, his identity can wait until you see him for yourself."
Sidious didn't have time to play Mauls games and he knew that Maul wasn't going to tell him, but he had to admit he was intrigued. "Very well my apprentice, but I will not be amused if it is a Jedi of no consequence. I will be there as soon as I can!"
Ooo
Flying his personal shuttle across the landscape of old Coruscant, Sidious wondered what his apprentice had been up to; he'd left Coruscant in a hurry several days earlier and now he was keeping secrets from him.
His shuttle glided in and settled next to Mauls in the hanger bay. He could sense a great amount of pride and arrogance permeating from Maul as they descended down in the turbo lift a hundred metres below the surface. He could feel the Force dampening effects surrounding the cell as they reached the bottom.
When Darth Sidious saw the Jedi stretched out and secured with binders on the rack, his euphoria almost bubbled over. He was speechless for a moment, and he couldn't resist walking closer and touching the Jedi's face.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi." Sidious said quietly, but with gratification in his voice. "You have done well Darth Maul."
"Thank you my Master, I have plans for this padawan, he will make a useful sparing slave to hone my sabre skills. He'll suit my needs and when I've finished with him I shall kill him."
"Ah! - My apprentice, do not be in such a rush to kill this one. He may suit your needs as a sparring partner for the time being, however when you've finished with him, I will take him!" Sidious remarked. "You will not kill this one, do you understand!" He said glaring at his apprentice.
"Yes Master, if that is your wish?"
"It is my wish and my command Darth Maul! I have had plans for this one since the day he was born."
Maul fumed as he went to retrieve a needle to inject into the unconscious Jedi's neck.
Sidious stood over Kenobi and smirked as he drank in the sight of the young Jedi. We meet again young one, but alas you won't remember. You were such a tiny thing and so full of light the last time I touched you. Your Force presence made me quite ill at the time. Nevertheless I succeeded incontaining your essence, and now once again I have you in the palm of my hand.
"Do not take this one lightly, Maul. He may be a padawan, but he's ready for knight hood, and he is a very competent Jedi, he will not submit to you easily. I've watched this one for many years, and he is anchored to the light like no other. You may have Kenobi in your clutches; however, he will be hard to break to your will."
Maul's anger flared momentarily, as it appeared his Master thought very little of his adeptness. He would show his Master that he was a far superior being than this Jedi.
"I will break him, my Master; he'll kneel before me and call me Master!"
Sidious smiled. This will be interesting and I will be delighted to watch the ensuing battle of wits.
000
A prickling sensation raced through his body, and slowly his mind cleared and the prickling turned to a burning sensation. His neck was sore, and every nerve in his body seemed ready to explode; he ached, but he was so tired.
Obi-Wan concentrated on getting his eyes to focus as he opened them. The room was dimly lit with a red glow, but he could make out the outline of two figures standing over him. That meant he was lying down, and he shivered. He tried to move his arms and legs, but they were heavy and wouldn't move. He didn't like the feeling that he was helpless and vulnerable.
He tried to speak, but for some reason his voice wouldn't work, no sounds came forth. Obi-Wan tensed up when a raspy grating voice whispered in his ear, and an ice cold hand rested on his heart.
"Ah, your fear is intoxicating, I feel your heart beating rapidly; goo-o-o-d!" Sidious cackled.
Obi-Wan tried to wriggle away from the painful touch, however the hand, which was extremely cold, seemed to slither up his body and slowly the snake like fingers wrapped around his neck. He froze, remembering the last time hands wrapped around his throat. He began to shake, and his breathing became erratic.
"Oh yes-s, I'm going to enjoy your stay here with us young Kenobi."
Obi-Wan gulped for air as the hand disappeared and both cloaked figures and the red light faded away leaving oppressive darkness in their place. The sound of a door closing and a locking mechanism clicking into place left him struggling to push his fear and confusion away.
He tried to clear his foggy mind and bring his breathing under control; it was extremely difficult as he couldn't feel the force, and he was so cold. He tried to centre him self, but found it impossible to do, and yet he was relieved that those two men had gone.
Abruptly the whole episode on Tatooine came rushing back to him. He'd been captured by a bounty hunter, and he'd said something about a client. One who wanted to purchase a Jedi slave. The reality of what that meant rushed through his mind and his body. He'd been sold into slavery, he struggled once more to escape, however it was of no use and he couldn't even move his head; it was as though his head was clamped between two blocks of ice. The feeling of absolute vulnerability permeated his soul, and the feeling he got when that thing, touched him was like he'd been swallowed by all the evil in the galaxy.
He opened his mouth and screamed, reaching out to the allusive Force, but sensing the futility of trying as no sound came forth.
Ooo
Xanatos was waiting for Qui-Gon to emerge from the council chambers. Several months had passed since Obi-Wan disappeared and Xanatos was angry because the council would not agree to let him join the search. Each time he'd received information he'd given it to Qui-Gon, expecting them to let him assist them in their search. Nevertheless, for some reason his help was not wanted or apparently needed.
Xanatos was not a man to obey rules and that was why he was no longer a Jedi, but when it came to his friends his loyalty was solid and no matter what the Jedi council said 'he' was not going to let them handle this!
He was pacing back and forth when Qui-Gon emerged and the look on the Jedi masters face told the story.
"They aren't going to listen to me are they?"
"I'm sorry Xanatos, but they want to keep the search centred in the Jedi Order. The Senate has ordered that if he isn't found through the Jedi channels then he is to be declared missing in action as finances are tight and the senate cannot justify spending credits to find one padawan."
"Surely, you don't agree with them Qui-Gon!"
"No! I don't, but I have to abide by the councils decision, even if I disagree with it."
"Well I don't!" Xanatos snapped. "I have the means and the contacts and no Senate or Jedi council can tell me what I can or cannot do!"
Qui-Gon smiled tightly and put his hand on Xanatos shoulder. "I was hoping you would say that. I can't fight the council and the senate, but I will do whatever I can to help you, if you will let me."
"Look, I know how you feel, but it might be better if I go it alone. If the senate are objecting, it will be hard to follow leads with them interfering." Xanatos said as Yoda and Mace Windu entered the room.
Xanatos folded his arms over his chest when Yoda walked toward him. "I can't believe they can just abandon Obi-Wan and allow him to remain in the clutches of a sith, and what about the sith? Are you Jedi just going to forget that the Sith exists? You heard that evil being; he's been hiding right under your noses! What does that mean! Have the sith infiltrated the Temple, or maybe the senate. Is that why they don't want to search for him?"
"Our hands are tied." explained Master Windu.
"Backing of the senate we do not have." Yoda confirmed.
"You have my backing!" Xanatos exclaimed. "I will use my resources to continue the search. Don't bother with the senate, leave it to me!"
"You must do what you think is right, but we cannot appear to be siding with you. If we hear anything we will inform you, but keep it from the senate and the rest of the council we must."
"Now your talking, don't worry I'm not interested in asking the senate or the council for anything. I'm heading back to Telos I'll contact Qui-Gon if I find out anything!"
Ooo
Coming to the temple was very hard on Anakin; and even though he was accepted by the Council to begin training he was lonely and to make matters worse it was difficult for him to be accepted by the other younglings. He would dream about Obi-Wan and cry himself to sleep worrying about him, but the crèche masters would tell him to stop moping and concentrate on his training.
He spent his waking hours learning to be a Jedi and didn't see much of Qui-Gon or Xanatos and when he did see Qui-Gon, the master didn't want to talk about Obi-Wan to him. All he would tell him was that he shouldn't worry about Obi-Wan.
Anakin resented the fact that they seemed to be keeping secrets from him. He had no one to talk too and even his mother was out of his life now that she was free.
He wanted someone to give him the attention he thought he deserved because Qui-Gon had said that he was the Chosen one, so he should be important. It wasn't until he accompanied his age mates to the senate building and accidentally met a kindly senator that his loneliness disappeared.
Anakin was dawdling through the corridors and took a wrong turn down one lonh hallway and was totally lost, when senator Palpatine saw the confused boy and offered to help him.
The senator was very kind to him and Anakin had so much emotion bottled up inside of him that he blurted out all his troubles to the kindly man. The Senator in return seemed captivated with young Anakin, and lent his shoulder to the boy to cry on. Anakin liked Palpatine very much and when he took him to lunch and arranged to look after him for the rest of the day, Anakin felt that he'd found a friend and confidant.
Two months into his training Anakin had caught up to his age mates and the Council informed Qui-Gon that as he was the one to bring the boy to the Temple in the first place, it was up to him to train him.
Qui-Gon had no choice and although he didn't feel ready he knew Anakin was his responsibility. It was true that he was the one to declare that Anakin was the Chosen one, so he knew he must put every effort into Anakin's training.
ooo
Senator Palpatine was awaiting for his next appointment and he was standing near the window gazing out into the distance, he knew the Jedi order were secretly searching for their missing apprentice, and he wondered if that fact could be used to his advantage. The young boy Anakin had told him that Jinn believed the child to be the fabled 'chosen one' a thought that made Palpatine smile and think of the fabled one.
He also thought about Darth Maul and his conceited statement three months prior that he would break Kenobi's spirit and have him bowing to him. Heknew that his apprentice wasn't having any luck in breaking the Jedi.
There was a determination in Kenobi that had been there since birth. The young man would never submit to save his own life, and probably wouldn't even for another Jedi. It was too ingrained in his training. However, Kenobi was a compassionate young man, who would go to the ends of the galaxy to save an innocent and that would be his downfall.)
A knock on Palpatine's door brought him from his reverie. "Enter" he commanded.
Palpatine turned to see the tall Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his new apprentice Anakin Skywalker, enter his office.
"Master Jinn, it is good to see you, I must admit I was surprised when I received word that you had granted me permission to see young Anakin.
"Good morning to you Senator Palpatine, yes, Anakin has told me how kind you were to him the last time he was here and he said that you had invited him to join you for lunch if I would allow it. As it turns out I have some business here in the building and I'm sure it will be boring for my apprentice this early in his training, so if you're sure you don't mind, I shall return for him later today."
"Please do go, I am very fond of young Anakin and I'm delighted to have him join me for lunch. I have added a few sweet things to the menu I hope it's alright if Anakin may indulge in some pancakes and ice-cream?"
"That will be fine senator," Qui-Gon bowed and turned to his padawan. "Anakin be good and watch your manners, I will see you later."
"Yes Master, I will." Anakin smiled and watched Qui-Gon leave.
"Anakin my boy, I am delighted to see you, we shall go to lunch soon, but first tell me how you're doing now that Master Jinn has begun training you?"
"The training is harder, but at least I'm not stuck with the other children anymore."
"Do you like being Master Jinn's padawan, Anakin?"
Anakin shrugged, "I would much rather be Obi-Wan's padawan, but they haven't found him yet."
"Yes it's been a long time since he disappeared; do you know if the Jedi have any clues to where he might be?"
Anakin looked like he was going to cry, but he just shook his head. 'They don't speak in front of me, but I heard them talking!"
"Oh, really Anakin, would you tell me what they said perhaps I can help you?"
"I overheard my Master arguing with some of the Council members, about Obi-Wan's mind. Master Plo Koon and a couple of the other Councillors said that if they do find Obi-Wan, and after being a prisoner of the Sith for this long, they would probably recommend that he be sent away. They think he might be too damaged, or he may turn to the dark side."
"That is outrageous for them to say that I've always thought the Jedi order had no compassion for their fellow Jedi. They make me laugh; they always sprout about good and evil, but sometimes Anakin, I think the Jedi are wrong and the evil they talk about is in them as much as it is in the sith."
"What do you mean Senator?" Anakin asked a bit confused.
"Those masters that you overheard talking about Obi-Wan, they have lost hope for him already. They are afraid of him now…Yes, he may be damaged, but that doesn't mean he can't be helped, Obi-Wan is a strong young man and he deserves our loyalty."
"He has my loyalty, and I would do anything to find him." Anakin said dejectedly.
"What is your friend Xanatos doing about finding Obi-Wan?" Palpatine asked sincerely, he sensed that Xanatos may be a thorn in his side and he needed to know how to stop him.
"Xanatos is looking for the Zabrak that took Obi-Wan He has been searching and he hired an investigator that is combing the slave markets."
"I see, are they sure it was a Zabrak that took him, Anakin?"
"Yes, I heard them say he was and he had red tattoos painted all over his face."
"Then we must do something to help. If I tell you a secret, will you promise not to tell anyone?" Palpatine said smiling at Anakin.
'I suppose so." Anakin said hopefully.
"Well the Jedi had been allocated credits to search for your friend, and they have used all of them, and now the senate have refused to give them anymore. I objected to their decision, but I am only one senator and there are hundreds that obey the chancellor. However, because I think of you as my friend too, I have secretly hired a private investigator to search for Obi-Wan too."
Anakin's smiling face was all that the Senator needed to see, to know that the boy was in the palm of his hands. "You have? Oh thank you senator, but why do I have to keep your good deed a secret?"
"I was so disappointed when the Jedi told me that they were calling off the search, I offered my personal services and credits to continue looking, but they refused. The Jedi told me that Chancellor Valorum had forbidden anyone to spend more money on a futile search."
"It's not futile!" Anakin snapped. "If that's what the Chancellor thinks, well I don't like him and if Master Jinn agrees with him, well I don't like him either!"
"Now Anakin don't be too harsh with master Jinn, he has to obey the council, all Jedi do."
"But he said he loves Obi-Wan, if he does then why doesn't he seem to care?"
"I don't know son, but you can be certain that I do, and I will continue to search for him, but I will get into trouble if anyone finds out that I am going against senate orders."
"I won't tell anyone, Senator you are my best friend next to Obi-Wan, and I'm so happy that you haven't given up like the Jedi have."
"Maybe Xanatos and your master haven't given up either, but I have a better chance of finding him because I have more contacts and credits than they do, so if you overhear anything else that might help me… will you tell me 'son'?"
"Of course I'll tell you… but I'm not sure my master will let me come here now that he is training me."
"Ah, yes, your training is important my boy and I wouldn't want you to get into trouble either. Therefore, I will give you a com-link with my personal number, and you can reach me anytime, but be sure to keep it hidden from your master."
"I can do that."
"Good my boy, now let's go and have lunch and don't worry anymore about Obi-Wan, he will be in my good hands before you know it." Palpatine smiled knowingly.
tbc...