Chapter Twenty-Six
32 BBY
~ Qui-Gon Jinn ~
I watched nervously as my Padawan knelt by Kya. Some of my nervousness had abated when no mental or physical retaliation had emanated from the unconsciousness apprentice as he had approached. But I was still on tenterhooks that something else would happen.
I knew that a lot of Kya's power was instinctual, which basically meant that when challenged, she could accidentally react and lash out at someone that she did not mean to. Kya's talents, which she kept strictly controlled, were dangerous, and her most potent one dragged especially close to the dark side. Other Sith Lords before had mastered the talent of draining life-forces to sustain themselves, and the ability was extremely tempting. If Kya was pushed too far, I feared that she would fall, with no Master to restrain her.
And her abilities would render her almost invincible, and it would create a never-ending cycle that required her to drain more and more and in effect sink deeper and deeper into the dark side.
My apprentice's eyes suddenly flicked to me, his eyes asking for permission. I knew what he wanted to do – he wished to try and touch Kya through their bond. I frowned, considering both sides. On one hand, it might be the only way to reach Kya. On the other . . . On the other, it would alert Mace and the others to the fact that the bond existed.
I sighed, and nodded for Obi-Wan to continue. Mace shot me an inquiring look, but I pressed my lips together, warning him not to question me now. Mace's eyes darkened, letting me know that we were going to have a serious conversation about this sometime – and sometime soon.
Wonderful, I thought unhappily. I did not want to have to discuss the rising affection between Obi-Wan and Kya with Mace anytime soon, yet avoiding it would only make it more obvious to the Masters that we were hiding something.
I was distracted from further thoughts when my apprentice's eyes flashed open. I could sense his surprise in the Force, and took a step forward. Kya might be powerful, but even so, I was not going to back away and let anything happen to Obi-Wan.
But Kya's eyes opened then. Confusion and pain echoed in the Force as the apprentice pushed herself up. Obi-Wan at once reached out, steadying her.
"What happened, apprentice?" Mace asked immediately.
Obi-Wan sent him an almost annoyed glance, which Mace ignored, but probably registered. I almost groaned at my Padawan's total lack of discretion, but Kya covered it for me, replying, "Someone tried to get past my shields."
I blinked in surprise. Kya seemed perfectly capable of defending her mind from intruders; after defending her body from the three of us, protecting her mind should have been a piece of cake. Obi-Wan seemed to share the same sentiments.
"Your own shields?" Mace sounded slightly impressed. "It takes a lot of discipline to attack someone from far away. I sensed no one near us."
Kya sighed. "No, not my own shields. I placed mental shields around Anakin's mind on the way back to Naboo, and apparently someone just tried to get past them."
"Around Skywalker's mind?" Mace's impressed attitude faded. "Why would you do that?"
Kya seemed slightly irritated, but before she could answer, all of us gasped as the dark side rippled, sending chilly waves washing over us. Kya leaped to her feet and began running.
~ Kya Ranor ~
I raced down the hall, not caring that this was not at all the proper way to act for a Jedi. I could hear the footsteps behind me that told me that Obi-Wan and Masters Jinn and Windu were behind me, and could sense their confusion in the Force.
I didn't care. I had sensed that something was wrong with Anakin, and this dark ripple confirmed it. No Jedi would have tried to get past Anakin's shields in such a brutal way, and the lack of resistance on Anakin's part told me that he was unconsciousness.
I knew at once that Sidious had lashed out at Anakin. My powers may not be enough to defeat Sidious, but I can hold him up. And I won't abandon Anakin.
I stopped outside of Anakin's room and used the Force to open the door. I stepped inside and nearly fell over when a wave of dark side energy rushed at me. Sidious. I nearly growled the name, furious that he had dared to harm an innocent child merely to get to me.
I rested a hand on the bed, concentrating. Before we had left for Utapau, my Master had begun teaching me to use the Force to listen the ripples of past actions in a certain room or area. Using them, I could try to understand what had recently happened by listening to the last emotions – fear and anger and a whole range. I wasn't very good at it, though. But my Master had said that experience would help me. I understood the rudiments, he had said, I just needed practice.
I had glared at his retreating back in response. When in the name of the Force would I have time to practice? But my Master had only laughed and hugged me.
And now it's time to see if I had 'experienced' enough, I thought, brushing away the memory of my Master hugging me. Affection between us had grown very slowly – or rather, my affection for my Master had grown slowly. Master Kenobi had been won over much earlier, resulting in his offer of taking me as his Padawan, and his affection had grown steadily. Eventually, I had found that I trusted him and looked up to him and loved him as a father figure just as much – or perhaps even more – than I had with Master Katarn.
I shoved the thoughts of Master Kenobi out of my head. My shields – jarred as they were by Sidious's pushing – probably weren't in the best condition, and I didn't want the identity of my Master leaking to any of the three Jedi who were entering the room now.
Opening my mind, I allowed the Force to fill me. I sensed comfort and satisfaction – Anakin – but soon fear entered. Frowning, I concentrated harder. I sensed the fear fading as recognization kicked in . . . recognization of –
"Obi-Wan?" I muttered. I turned around just as Obi-Wan and Master Jinn entered the room. I was loathe to speak to Obi-Wan, but I asked, "Obi-Wan, did you talk to Anakin recently?"
He looked taken aback. "Uh, no," he answered. "Not since we brought him to bed."
I sighed. "Then he is in even greater danger than I thought," I murmured, straightening. My mind began to spin with all the possibilities. Since Obi-Wan had not been the one to enter Anakin's room and take him away, that meant that someone highly skilled had instead managed to trick Anakin into believing that he – or she – was Obi-Wan.
"Padawan Ranor, what is going on?" Master Windu sounded extremely irritated now. "And what are we doing in Skywalker's room?"
"Mace!"
Master Billaba appeared in the doorway. Her expression was controlled, but I could sense that something had disturbed her. Master Windu turned around at once, recognizing the voice of his former Padawan.
"What is it?" he asked.
"We found the source of the ripple in the dark side," she answered seriously. "It looks like there's been a fight . . . and I don't think the Jedi won."
"But what could provoke them to act?" Master Jinn questioned, joining the conversation. "We haven't even begun searching yet."
All eyes flickered to me. I decided to give them the simplest answer I could.
"The Sith have decided not to wait for me to act against them," I said simply, already moving past them.
~ Anakin Skywalker ~
I screamed, thrashing blindly. But the restraints were stronger than I was, and as they cut into my hands and feet, I woke up. Panting, I looked around. I was in a . . . a ship of some kind. This place feels . . . feels evil. It didn't help that I had awoken to find myself thoroughly tied down.
I jumped as a cold hand landed on a rip in my tunic.
"I find that pain eventually overcomes even the largest amounts of drugs, don't you?" The cold voice made me shiver just as much as the cold hand. Then the owner of both moved into my line of sight.
She seemed neither old nor young. She was clad in a close-fitting bodysuit of the likes I'd never seen before that seemed to be shimmer in the dim lights. Other than that, all she wore was a tight belt from which hung a lightsaber.
She saw where my eyes went. "Yes, this is a lightsaber, boy," she said, fingering it lovingly. "And it works . . . which you will find out the hard way if you make a single attempt to escape."
"Who are you?" I blurted out. "And what have you done to the Force?" For although I could sense that she was using it, I could not sense it myself. The loss of the thing that had been my constant companion and protector made me nervous.
She smiled condescendingly. "An inquisitive brat, aren't you? Well, boy, there are some rules, and you need to learn to follow them. For one thing, I ask the questions, not you."
"You have no authority over me," I retorted, defiance flaring up in me. I never had liked rules much anyway, and this lady certainly wasn't gaining any of my respect.
"I have authority over your life," she shot back. "And don't think I'll be a coward like your friends the Jedi and not use that authority to get what I want."
She raised her hands, and I felt the Force swirl around her. Moments later, I was screaming again.
