Anakin paced his tent as he replayed the static-filled holo footage that one of the 212th members had managed to capture with their visor from the battle that took place a few weeks ago.
Qui-Gon Jinn was alive and wore the glowing eyes of a Sith.
Anakin watched repeatedly as Commander Cody was lifted into the air with a Force hold around his throat by Jinn as the Sith picked an unconscious Obi-Wan up in his arms and strode off the battlefield with both of them. The trio had vanished and no traces of them could be found.
Anakin had felt restless and on edge ever since. He knew something was wrong when he had sensed Obi-Wan's side of their bond go silent with unwelcome darkness while she was on Alderaan. Anakin never got the chance to talk with his old Master about it before she was shipped off to that planet. The planet where the shockingly alive Sith Qui-Gon Jinn kidnapped her and her Commander.
Anakin tangled his fingers in his hair as he paced, he had been so shocked by Qui-Gon's appearance that he barely registered Obi-Wan's kidnapping at first. Then that sunk in and Anakin had been barely keeping it together since. He couldn't even talk to Padme about it as the Jedi Council had classified her kidnapping and Jinn's revival as top secret, not even the Chancellor was aware.
Honestly, Anakin had been angry at first but then Rex had explained it to him and he understood. If the Senate found out that a dead Jedi had risen from the Force and had joined the Sith, then panic would arise.
Doubt and accusations would be thrown on Jedi everywhere and as things tended to do when politics were involved everything would slow down and be questioned including Obi-Wan and that was the last thing Anakin wanted for her. Besides Master Vos had been sent on a mission of finding her and told Anakin that he would not stop until he found her before he and his team of Shadows disappeared in their search.
Anakin could only feel an eerie silence from her end of their bond as if walls had been slammed up around her side of the bond and Anakin hated what that could mean. Memories of scars over her body while she floated in a bacta tank after Rattatak popped into his mind and he shuddered, he hated to think that the man he had idolized for so long could be capable of hurting Obi-Wan, his former Padawan like that but he was a Sith and Anakin knew the Sith were capable of many horrors.
"Sir! There is movement from the enemy lines," Rex poked his head into Anakin's tent, his face stuck in a grimace since he had seen the video of Obi-Wan and Cody being kidnapped.
"I'm coming Rex," Anakin steeled himself for another fight, touching Obi-Wan's lightsaber that hung from his belt. It had been recovered from the site of her kidnapping and he hadn't let it leave his side since, keeping apart of her at his side always.
"Two humanoids, we think… They are Sith." Rex reported lowly as Anakin joined his Captain at the front lines and Anakin felt a chill run down his spine as two figures in dark cloaks walked across the war-torn field that separated the 501st and the separatists' droids.
"Ready yourselves men," Anakin ordered as he ignited his lightsaber as the Force swarmed around him. He waited until the figures were closer, one was extremely tall and the other one more petite.
"Shall we begin my Apprentice?" The tall one spoke showing Anakin that he was a male and indeed a Sith as only Sith's call their learners Apprentice. The smaller robed one inclined their head and a pale hand clad in black fingerless gloves came from their robe, a lightsaber hilt gripped in their palm.
Anakin felt his men tense and shift as a crackling blade of red energy erupted from the hilt. Anakin lit his saber in reply, gritting his teeth as he focused on the approaching fight. The taller one lit his red sabre before pushing down his hood and rage surged through Anakin as he stared into the face of Qui-Gon Jinn with golden eyes burning.
"Hello Ani," Jinn called across the field and all of Anakin's focus shifted to Jinn as memories of Obi-Wan flashed through his mind.
"You took her away from me!" Anakin raged as he leapt into action against Jinn. Their blades clashed in a shower of sparks and Jinn had to the gall to laugh in delight.
"Obi-Wan trained you well Ani, you've grown strong!" Jinn praised and it made Anakin sick to his stomach, as he knew only a few weeks ago he would have loved to hear those praising words. Anakin's rage grew hotter under his skin as he focused completely on Jinn.
The smaller robed Sith darted past its Master and Anakin as they fought, the two lost in their private battle. The Sith deflected and dodged around each blast the 501st sent its way before it did a painfully familiar flip over their ranks, bolstered by the Force no doubt. Rex raced after the Sith, absently noting that while his men were down on the ground in the wake of the Sith once it landed none of them were even injured, just stunned and not one had a lightsaber burn on their armour.
Rex's heart leapt in his throat as the Sith entered the medical tent, Rex was only a few feet behind the Sith and burst into the tent with his pistols high and ready to discharge.
"Captain wait!" Kix jumped in between the Sith and Rex, eyes wild and hopeful. That much was enough for Rex to pause and Kix moved to the side as the Sith lowered its hood.
"General," Rex felt his knees go weak as he stared into the blessedly blue eyes of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"Sorry to drop in on you like this Captain Rex, Kix. Time is of the essence I'm afraid." Obi-Wan pulled a small padd out of her robes and shoved it into Kix's hands.
"You're okay! What about Cody?" Rex came closer, holstering his pistols so he could draw her in for a hug, foreheads pressed together.
"He's safe I promise. I know nothing makes sense right now, but I am asking you to trust me. Everything in that padd is the truth and the code will work. It worked on my cyare." Obi-Wan returned the touch, her shoulders relaxing as some tension left her body for a moment.
"How are my men? Are they safe?" Obi-Wan asked desperately.
"Grounded on Coruscant, worried out of their minds but they are safe," Rex assured Obi-Wan who relaxed, closing her eyes for a moment as she accepted the news of their safety.
"General this…" Kix looked both stunned and sick as Obi-Wan smiled sadly at them as she drew her hood up over her head.
"No one but the Vode can know about this, not even the Jedi. Anakin cannot be told I was here. Please, I am doing this to help the Vode and to stop his war. Talk with Commander Wolffe, he was the first one I contacted and since no one knows about this then he must be keeping his promise." Obi-Wan told them, voice desperate as she winced as she ignited the red lightsaber again.
"You can count on us General," Rex said after a quick look at the padd Kix was clutching and his blood went cold.
"Sorry about this in advance gentleman." Obi-Wan winced as she held her hand up, sending both Rex and Kix flying out of the tent. She followed and blocked blasts from the other troopers and took off at a Force enhanced speed back to where Qui-Gon and Anakin were still duelling.
"Finished are we Apprentice?" Qui-Gon sent Anakin flying back with a Force bolstered kick. Obi-Wan kept her mouth shut as she nodded at the taller man.
"It looks like we will have to finish our fight another day Ani," Qui-Gon put his hand on the small of Obi-Wan's back, ushering her back as Anakin snarled as he pulled himself back onto his feet.
"You will tell me what you have done with Obi-Wan!" Anakin snarled as he levelled his sabre at Qui-Gon, eyes flashing dangerously. Obi-Wan took a steadying breath before she flung her hands out and let loose a powerful wave of the Force. It threw Anakin and the troopers backing him up off their feet.
"Very well done my Apprentice," Qui-Gon praised as he put his hand on Obi-Wan's shaking shoulder.
"You will be reunited with your old Master soon enough Ani, no harm will come to her under my care," Qui-Gon swore and Anakin pushed himself up with a scowl on his face.
"Like your words means anything! If any harm has befallen her, I will have your head." Anakin snarled and Obi-Wan ached to calm her former Padawan, but she had to play the long game and only hope he, Ahsoka and the rest of the Jedi could forgive her when everything was said and done.
"Charming," Qui-Gon chuckled as he wrapped an arm around Obi-Wan's waist, tucking her to his side before he used the Force to propel both of them up into a swoop ship that had just descended above the battlefield. Obi-Wan grabbed one of the loops hanging from the ceiling, her hood falling to her shoulders as wind whipped around them as the ship took off in the direction their shuttle craft was waiting.
"Do you believe Captain Rex and this Kix, will do what you asked of them?" Qui-Gon asked as the two swayed with the movements of the ship.
"Without a doubt, yes they are loyal to the Jedi but the Vode come first. How did your reunion go with Anakin?" Obi-Wan smirked at the end when Qui-Gon rolled his shoulder.
"I'm not as young as I used to be little one," Qui-Gon joked before his face went stern as he looked out of the side of the ship at the fast passing landscape.
"He was all but surrounded in anger, he will need help to control it. You not being by his side may be worsening his condition, which I'm sure Sidious loves." Qui-Gon scowled.
"I can't wait to watch that filth's head roll," Obi-Wan hissed.
"Calm yourself Obi-Wan, you may be my Apprentice but I do not wish for you to fall." Qui-Gon put his hand on her shoulder and sent a wave of calm through their newly repaired bond. Obi-Wan took a few deep breathes before nodding her thanks at Qui-Gon who nodded back, removing his hand.
"Your love will be pleased you talked with some of his brothers." Qui-Gon teased and Obi-Wan blushed still not used to having her love for Cody so openly stated.
"He has been worried, I just pray my men don't go stir crazy and cause trouble on Coruscant. Commander Fox will never let me live that down and he will make me file all the paperwork for it." Obi-Wan smiled at the thought of her men and the leader of the Coruscant Guard she had drinks with every chance she got, it was nice to have someone else to commiserate with over the insane amount of paperwork this war caused.
"Soon Obi-Wan, your men and all their brothers will be safe," Qui-Gon promised, that had been a key part of their deal for her to agree to be his Apprentice once more and she was more than willing to make that sacrifice.