AN: ad'ika means little one in Mandoa in this context

Chapter 9

Dooku was surprised when Obi-Wan returned to his cell in the morning, his whole attitude seemingly more balanced than the evening before. But what puzzled him was the fact that the young General entered his cell alone. He had seen Qui-Gon's concern yesterday, and he had expected his former Padawan to stay attached to Kenobi's side. The same applied for Anakin Skywalker, who hadn't lost any of his protectiveness over the years. Dooku knew that well enough because both men had called Obi-Wan multiple times during his stay on Serenno a year ago.

Obi-Wan chuckled and said, "They were beaten by my new Commander. He took on the task to shield me from anyone who dared to disturb my sleep."

Dooku berated himself for not putting up his shields and looked at the cuffs that were still in place. "Are you going to free me of these?" he asked, his eyebrows raised. Obi-Wan seemed to be in a much better mood than the evening before, and Dooku had to thank this Commander for guarding his sleep. A restful night seemed to have done the man a whole lot of good.

Obi-Wan flicked them open with a wave of his hand and leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "So, Darth Ianus?" he asked and gave the Sith an inquisitive glance.

Dooku rubbed his writs and looked up. "I do know nothing more than what I already told you. According to Komari, he has a significant influence on many Senators, and what's even more troubling is the level of intelligence he gives the Separatists. Komari wasn't the least bit surprised about the two battalions of Clones as opposed to me. I didn't know that you've already removed that many inhibitor chips."

Obi-Wan gave him an inscrutable look. "Well, the High Council knows almost everything about the removal of the chips, which means that the Sith know about it, too. I decided a year ago that keeping it a secret was no longer possible. The Council also knew about the upcoming deployment of troops."

Dooku narrowed his eyes and thought his remarks over for a moment. "I don't know. It seemed as if Komari was better informed than the High Council. I am pretty sure that Darth Ianus is real and that he feeds her information from the Senate."

"Which doesn't mean that he is close to Bail Organa," Obi-Wan said with a sigh. "He could be a member of the Loyalist Committee, which would make him privy to a whole lot of information."

"We could try that out sometime," Dooku proposed, and Obi-Wan gave him a nod.

"It's just that we can't do it now, Dooku," the young General said after a moment. He pushed himself away from the wall and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You should focus on making yourself indispensable for this Darth Ianus."

"Shouldn't we move quickly?" Dooku asked, incredulous. "End this threat once and for all."

"It won't end with Darth Ianus," Obi-Wan replied, his voice suddenly slightly shaky. "There is another Master." He shook himself, and Dooku felt a shiver running down his spine.

"What do you mean?" The Sith Lord's eyes widened, and he stood up from the bunk in the cell.

"The manipulation I told you about. It's not maintained by this Darth Ianus. There is some Sith Lord who worked on it even while Sidious was still alive. He feels much more powerful than Sidious ever did." Obi-Wan sighed. "I felt him the last time I purged my quarters. I was reckless and did it without being balanced. My confusion and negative emotions opened a pathway for him. . . ."

Dooku took a step toward the young man and shook his shoulders. "Did he sense you? Were you reckless enough to make contact?" he practically yelled, not able to keep his agitation in.

Obi-Wan nodded, and his gaze shifted to the floor. The General was clearly uncomfortable with the subject. Then he straightened himself and said firmly, "It won't happen again. Believe me, what I felt was warning enough for me to not try to communicate with that one. He was. . . ." Dooku saw him shiver and had to fight his own trepidation. Obi-Wan Kenobi was not easily shaken. But that encounter seemed to have left a lasting impression. Then the young man looked up and said, "He is the mastermind behind the plan. That's why we have to tread carefully. Exposing Darth Ianus doesn't help us eliminate the real threat. There would just follow another Sith Lord. We need to find the one I felt, and that won't be easy."

Dooku slumped down on his bunk again and shook his head. Obi-Wan had made up his mind on how to proceed, and he did agree. If Sidious' Master was still at play, they had to concentrate their efforts on finding him. He heaved a sigh. "Sidious never told me about him," he said after an instant of contemplating the information.

Obi-Wan snorted. "Sidious was always trying to fool us with the rule of two. After everything I know now, I am not sure if that rule was ever a reality. Maybe it was just another plot to lull the Jedi into a false sense of security. Make them believe that the threat of the Sith was manageable. I suspect that this Master only contacts one of the Sith. At the moment, Darth Ianus is his direct disciple. Apart from giving his orders to him, the Master remains in the background."

Dooku nodded in agreement. It made sense, and it just confirmed what he had always suspected – that the threat had been underestimated for centuries. "The Jedi in your former life never knew about him. How could they not know about him?"

"Maybe he wasn't alive then," Obi-Wan said with a shrug. "Sidious was at the height of his power. Maybe he had finally taken his Master's place. Otherwise, the Master should have come out of hiding to take over the Empire. Why would someone plan to eliminate the Jedi and not take power when it is finally done?"

"Who knows about this?" Dooku asked after a moment of silence.

"Qui-Gon. He saved me from him. I wouldn't have been able to come out of my trance if he hadn't been there. We will tell Mace, and I really want to inform Master Yoda if he hasn't worked it out by now. We will see who needs to know after that," Obi-Wan replied, and Dooku noticed that he seemed to come back to his usually calculating self.

The Sith Lord swallowed his concerns, knowing that Kenobi would know best whom to tell. He had learned long ago that the young General had his own way of doing things and that he had to trust him. "Well, if you want me to gain Darth Ianus' trust, I am going to need access to the Holocron," he stated.

Obi-Wan rubbed his face and gave him a nod. "I know. And I have an idea about that. But first, I need to know what will happen if Ianus destroys the Holocron without destroying the anchor."

"Sidious will be free to possess another soul. In that case, he would choose Darth Ianus above anyone else. Because I do not assume that you will be present when that happens," Dooku said, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm. "If Ianus wants to kill Sidious, he needs the anchor. If he wants to use Sidious however. . . ."

"Well, I will make sure that Sidious won't be used that easily," Obi-Wan said with a decisiveness in his voice that made Dooku wince. "We have to take the risk. I just have to persuade Mace and Qui-Gon to give me the Holocron, and you need to stall Darth Ianus for now."

Dooku inclined his head, feeling that he couldn't convince the General that giving up the Holocron was a terrible idea. But what bothered him more was Obi-Wan's statement about Sidious not being used. To ensure that, the young man had to actually talk to the Sith Lord, and that was something Dooku had always dissuaded him from. In the last few years, the discussion of whether Obi-Wan should contact Sidious had come up regularly, and the Sith had prevented it every time.

"We informed the Council about your capture," Obi-Wan said after a while. "Which means that someone should be on their way to rescue you. Provided you are still important enough for Darth Ianus. But he wouldn't have ordered Komari to work with you if that weren't the case. So, I am pretty sure that your former apprentice will try to get you out of here. My Commander told me that we are scheduled to stop on Corellia. That's when I would try to sneak in and rescue you." He walked to the door and turned around again to add, "I am sorry that I can't make sure you get your lightsaber back by then. I will take it with me, and you can get it later. Just think about some story to explain to Komari how you got it back."

Dooku chuckled and shook his head. "Obi-Wan, just keep the lightsaber. I have enough spare ones on Serenno, as you know well enough. As opposed to you, I am not attached to this one. Maybe that's because red isn't really my color."

"No, it's really not," Obi-Wan replied with a mischievous smile and left the cell.

Mace Windu stood on the bridge of the Resolute and programmed the navigation computer for their trip through hyperspace. He had wanted to make the jump to Coruscant without any delay, but unfortunately, they had to plan a stop on Corellia to refuel. The Republic was not yet prepared for regular troop movements, and there were no outposts that would make such an endeavor more straightforward. He made a note on his datapad that he had to discuss this with Obi-Wan as soon as the General was available. He shook his head, trying to swallow the slight annoyance about Obi-Wan having been elusive ever since they had left Geonosis. He wanted to visit him this morning, but Commander CC-2224 had denied the Korun-Master access, insisting that their General needed his rest. Anakin shouldn't have worried. The Clones seemed to take on the role of protecting their General without any hesitation.

He turned when Qui-Gon entered the bridge with concern written on his face. "Good morning, Mace," the Jedi said and walked over to the computer. "We are stopping on Corellia?" he asked, surprised.

"There are no Republic outposts yet to make refueling easier," Mace replied. "I thought Corellia will be the best planet to arrive with a star destroyer this size. They are used to massive ships using them as a layover on their way into the Core."

Qui-Gon nodded. "Obi-Wan will have his hands full when the second generation of Clones is ready. The logistics behind this war will be a nightmare."

"Well, he has prior knowledge on how to make it work. I am not really worried about that. . . ." The other Master sighed, trying to hide the real reason for his concern.

Qui-Gon looked at him with knowing eyes and said, "What he did. . . . We shouldn't judge him before having talked to him."

Mace gave him a glare. "Honestly, I hardly processed the fact that he can throw Force-Lightning without further thought. Yes, I expected that to resurface after everything that happened over the last week. His flashback in the arena and on the gunship was intense, and the excessive Force-energy that comes with such emotions needs to come out sooner or later. But I wasn't aware that he had trained to use it. You always told me that he refused to do so."

Qui-Gon swallowed at the Korun-Master's inquiring look, and after a moment, he replied, "I think he preferred to do that with Dooku's help. When they talked yesterday, I had the feeling that they spent more time with each other than I assumed."

Mace's eyes widened, and he rubbed his face. "I don't like this, Qui-Gon."

They were startled when they heard Obi-Wan's voice coming from the entrance. "And here I thought we were over this," the young General said and moved toward them. "How often do I need to tell you that I appreciate you asking me before making any assumptions."

Qui-Gon cringed but gave Obi-Wan a reproachful stare. "Well, you could share your secrets without us asking so we wouldn't have to guess."

Obi-Wan looked back at his former Master with an unreadable look in his eyes. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and said, "I do not have any secrets, Qui. But you're right. I didn't tell you about my prolonged stay with Dooku a year ago. And I had my reasons. Maybe it is time to speak about them openly, or we will have increasing difficulties to get through this together."

Mace narrowed his eyes in suspicion, and Obi-Wan heaved a deep sigh. "One of the reasons I didn't tell you is because you permanently look at me like that, Mace. You are so sure in your beliefs that you leave no breathing room for someone like me who needs to cross lines from time to time. Aside from the fact that I no longer have the duty to justify my actions before you or the Council, I would very much like to confide in you without you constantly suspecting me of doing something wrong. "

The Korun-Master gave him an annoyed look. "What do you expect, Obi-Wan? I do not feel comfortable with you using Force-Lightning, and I am even more concerned that you turned to Dooku to ask for help. What was it that you did? Was that another Sith Magic trick?"

"How about trusting me for once?" Obi-Wan's voice became high-pitched. "Honestly, ever since I left the Order, you two are tiptoeing around me, watching if there are any signs of me turning or not. It doesn't help!"

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon stepped in. "I am just concerned. . . ."

The General's head shot around, and he gave his former Master a glare. "Your concern is driven by your fear, Master!"

Qui-Gon took a step back at the emotion in Obi-Wan's voice and inhaled with shock. "Why would you say that?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

"Because that is what this is. Both of you constantly fear that I could turn, that my emotions make me do something you disapprove of. As much as you criticize the Council for not trusting me, you're doing the same thing. Instead of asking me why I decided to go to Dooku to learn how to deal with my abundance of Force-energy, you're looking at me as if I were a time bomb, waiting to go off. I can't tell you how much that hurts. . . ."

Both men gave him a guilty look. Then Mace cleared his throat and said, "You're right. I am permanently asking myself whether you will be all right or not – if maybe you're crossing the line. . . . But your abilities, Force, Obi-Wan. . . . the Lightning. . . ." He took a deep breath, trying to find words.

"It's not that out of the ordinary for a Jedi to throw Force-Lightning," a voice from the door said calmly, and they turned around to see Plo Koon walking over to them. "I know that the Council hasn't encouraged Jedi to learn it for many years. But that shouldn't drive us as far as to deny that it is possible. I know how to do it, and someone like Master Kenobi should have sufficient knowledge of the Force to deal with it accordingly."

Obi-Wan gave the Kel Dor a look full of surprise at the vote of confidence and inclined his head gratefully. Mace opened his mouth to object, but Master Koon shook his head and said, "You know he is right. Us doubting his devotion to the Light doesn't help. I understand that you are more concerned for his well-being than I am. Qui-Gon is his former Master, and Master Kenobi is a dear friend to you, Mace. But we shouldn't let ourselves be guided by our narrow-minded view of the Force. When Master Kenobi came back from a former life, he already showed us things we hadn't thought possible. Why don't we trust him to use this ability without constantly thinking about the danger?"

The Korun-Master looked at Obi-Wan, whose gaze was almost pleading to accept this, and he said with a soft voice, "I do trust you, Obi-Wan. And if I've given you the impression that I don't, I apologize. Maybe it's not as easy as I thought to put aside the teachings of the Jedi Order. Master Koon is right. We have to open our minds to other methods of using the Force. . ." He sighed. "Or maybe we just have to reconsider our old ways. There was a time when a Jedi throwing Force-Lightning was seen as someone with an exceptional Mastery of the Force, not a threat."

Qui-Gon remained silent, and Mace felt that he was still thinking over the realization that his permanent concern resulted from his fear. It would take the Master some time to process that.

Master Koon looked at the young General and said, "I do not want to add to your frustration, Master Kenobi. But I am curious how you've used the Force-Lighting in a way that bound Dooku effectively without hurting him."

Mace thought to himself that he should have seen that without the Kel Dor pointing it out. Instead of fighting Dooku with a potential bloody outcome, Obi-Wan had ended the battle without harming his adversary.

Obi-Wan gave them a nod and explained, "In the beginning, I was unsure on how to deal with my new ability. Then I remembered vividly how I was able to focus the Lightning when we sealed the Holocron. I turned to Dooku to explore the possibility of finding a way to do that again without using Sith Magic. In my studies, I then realized that there is no such thing as Sith Magic. The spells I use just help me direct the seemingly untameable energy. It's the nature of your intent that determines whether the technique is Dark or not. The Jedi just lost their knowledge about this. And calling it magic is simply an attempt to give it a name. I learned to focus the energy, and in this case, I used it to bind Dooku. The spells are just a means to direct the Lightning. Without that, the energy just keeps coming out and hits whatever is in its way."

"And that's what the Sith do," Qui-Gon said with awe in his voice. "They just let it out without giving it any purpose."

Master Koon rubbed his chin and said, "Well, I never had to deal with Force-Lightning that overwhelming that it just slipped out. Your method sounds like a suitable way to focus it, though." He turned toward Mace, who gave them a silent nod.

"It does," he replied to Master Koon's unspoken request to voice his opinion. "And the fact that the intent of an action determines whether it is Dark or Light is something I have thought about many times over the last few years. When you used Sith Magic to close the Holocron, I didn't feel any Darkness, which should be impossible, considering the nature of the spell."

They all turned around when CC-2224 walked in and cleared his throat. "General Kenobi?" he asked hesitantly. "The Supreme Chancellor requests you to call him as soon as possible."

Obi-Wan gave him a nod and said, "Thank you, Cody. I am going to make the call from the communication center. Please make sure that I won't be disturbed."

The Commander said, "Yes, Sir. I will ensure that an encrypted line is at your disposal in a moment." He left, and Obi-Wan looked at the three Jedi who gave him slightly amused glances.

"So, it's Cody then," Mace said with a smile. "I am sure Anakin will be pleased to hear it."

"The Commander was looking after me yesterday," Obi-Wan replied with a slight blush. "He seemed a bit puzzled about us giving the Clones civil rights, and the conversation resulted in him telling me his nickname."

"He certainly hid it well over the last few days. That he shared it with you is a sign that he trusts you, Obi-Wan," Mace stated. "Anakin was already getting desperate because he had to use their numbers. Maybe they will loosen up a bit now that things begin to settle."

"I do not want to keep Bail waiting," Obi-Wan ended the discussion, showing signs of being uncomfortable with the subject. "I will talk to you later."

He left the bridge and followed his Commander while the three Jedi looked after him. Plo Koon shook his head. "He is here for less than a day, and the Commander already trusts him with his name? The loyalty he inspires in other people doesn't cease to amaze me."

Qui-Gon gave him a thoughtful glance and sighed deeply. "Yes, he always seems to make the most unlikely friends along the way."

Obi-Wan was rubbing his chin thoughtfully after Bail had informed him of the impending vote about giving the Supreme Chancellor emergency powers. His opinion about that was divided. On the one hand, he disliked that the Senate was willing to curtail its own rights in reaction to what had happened on Geonosis. But on the other hand, he could understand the wish to deal with the threat swiftly. "Is there anyone who will be able to oppose the vote? I mean, someone credible enough? I can't see that with Padmé and Mon Mothma being on Mandalore," he asked after having contemplated the implications of what Bail had told him.

His friend shook his head. "There isn't. Padmé suggested that Kael moves against it, but he is convinced that this is how we have to deal with the Separatists. He wants to end this threat quickly. You have to believe me, Obi-Wan, I loathe the thought of giving that much power to one man. . . . Even if I am that person. It just leads to the same development you told me about."

"I'm not sure, Bail," Obi-Wan countered. "If we fight this and have to go to the Senate for every single decision in this war, we will be caught in committee after committee, and it will just prove that the Republic is ineffective in managing a crisis. Maybe this vote allows us to prove that we are effective as a Democracy. If we treat these powers with the care that is expected and do not take advantage. . . . if we get the Senate's feedback on our major decisions. . . I mean, we could show the people that not everyone who has political power will abuse it."

Bail gave him a smile. "We could design a system of feedback and reassurance that makes our actions transparent and debatable. I am sure Kael will get on board with this. I must admit, I couldn't see us going into a war with having to ask the Senate for approval to every single detail of our military operations. But if we make sure that the Senators still have a voice, this could work. We could prove that Democracy works."

"We need to make sure that we are still accountable for our actions. Then I have no qualms about assuming control of the war efforts with these emergency powers," Obi-Wan concluded their discussion.

"I am going to talk with Kael about it," Bail said with a nod. "Oh, and Padmé wants you to call her as soon as you can. They arrived safely, and Adi already left for Concordia with Tahl and Luan."

Obi-Wan stretched out with his senses over his bond with Padmé and felt her anxiety. He frowned for a moment and then said, "I am going to comm her when we're finished here. Just let me walk you through what I have planned."

Bail leaned back and waited for his General to outline the next steps of his operation. Obi-Wan took a short breath and began to explain, "I will assume command of the two battalions immediately. We can't let Masters Windu and Koon take on the role any longer now that I am here. We have to stop on Corellia to refuel, but it shouldn't take us long until we reach Coruscant after that. I need you to prepare the communication center and the quarters for the soldiers. We have to start supplying outposts with men as soon as possible because this will make logistics much easier. And someone needs to go to Kamino to continue overseeing the deployment of soldiers who are ready now that Mace and Anakin have left."

"Master Shaak Ti is already on her way," Bail informed him. "Master Fisto went with her to bring the next battalions to their designated destinations. You just have to fill him in on which outposts have to be installed. Your Commander must have studied your army outline. I am sure he can inform his fellow Clone Commanders as soon as they are ready. I am coordinating with the remaining officers here to get this army working as fast as we can."

"Thank you, Bail. I see that everything is well on its way then," Obi-Wan said with a satisfied nod. "Please call me after the vote so that I know if our plan worked out."

"I will, my friend," the Chancellor replied and ended the transmission with a smile.

Obi-Wan reached out with the Force and felt Cody still standing outside the door, making sure that he had the privacy he needed. He typed in Padmé's code, and her hologram came to life on the table a moment later.

"Obi-Wan!" she said, relief written all over her face. "I am so glad to see you!"

He instantly felt more grounded in the present at seeing her and gave her a bright smile. "Padmé," he said softly. "I hear you are worried about me."

"I was," she replied and gave him an inquisitive glance. "I felt your confusion. . . ."

He swallowed down his guilt at the fact that his emotional state was that apparent to her. "I'm sorry, Padmé. I had a really nasty flashback when we were on Geonosis. Things were just too similar. . . . I am all right now, though."

She narrowed her eyes. "A flashback? That's new, isn't it?"

He looked to the floor uncomfortably, and with a sigh, he decided to be honest about this. It had never helped when he had tried to hide things from Padmé. "It's not entirely new. I already experienced a few before. They just weren't so. . . . This one was a bit more than what I am used to."

She shook her head in exasperation. "Tahl always said you should have seen a soul healer, Obi-Wan. Why are you so against doing that?"

"I have my reasons," he replied with an unusual testiness in his voice. Then he rubbed his face and said much softer, "I'm sorry. I am going to explain it to you when we see each other again. I just can't see a soul healer, not with my emotions being so unpredictable. I really wish that all of you would stop bringing it up. However, I will talk to Tahl about what other solutions she has in mind for me to deal with this."

She seemed satisfied with that promise and gave him a nod. "Are you on your way to Coruscant now?"

"I am," he said with relief that she let the subject drop for the moment. "There is so much to do now that we are heading into war. I thought about joining you on Mandalore as soon as I can, but. . . ."

"I am all right, love," she tried to reassure him. "I am a bit worried about Tahl and Luan, though. Luan seemed very tense during our journey here. I wish Qui-Gon could join them, and I think Tahl also wanted him to be with them."

"He could do that, Padmé," Obi-Wan said after a moment of contemplation. "I do not need him here, and you're right. He should be with his Padawan right now. I am going to talk to him about that."

She gave him a grateful smile. "Oh, I think that would really help. But you have to be sure that you do not need him. Tahl would never forgive me for keeping him from doing his duty."

"At the moment, I have Jedi Masters to spare here," Obi-Wan said with a roll of his eyes. "The entire Jedi War Committee is standing by to help wherever they are needed. I would prefer Qui-Gon to go to Mandalore. Who knows what they will find? I don't want Luan having to deal with it without her Master by her side."

Garen looked up when Quinlan entered the cockpit. It had been a bit of a fight, but after realizing how tired he still was, the Kiffar had allowed the other Knight to take over navigations. They had decided to leave the Jedi shuttle behind on Ossus to fetch it later because Quinlan's ship was less conspicuous and much faster.

"Master Tholme informed me that Obi-Wan is still on his way from Geonosis to Coruscant. According to him, they are planning to make a stop on Corellia. I changed our route to meet them there. We shouldn't lose any more time. Siri and I needed three years to come up with any results. I really hope this mysterious box is what you expect, Quin."

The Kiffar gave him a nod and sat down on the co-pilot's seat. "The ghost didn't tell me what's in it, Garen," he said. "I hope that Obi-Wan is the one who can open it. But we don't know that for sure."

"The ghost of Duron Qel-Droma. . . I still can't believe it," Garen said with a shake of his head. "Did Aayla receive any orders from the Council?" he asked after a moment. "Siri said that all Knights who are capable in combat will be assigned to the Jedi War Committee to help out in the new army."

Quinlan sighed. "Yes, Master Koth already told her that she has to report to Master Koon in case we find Obi-Wan before returning to Coruscant. And Master Tholme wants me at his side as soon as possible. Things will change. . . ."

"Yes, they will," Garen said softly. "From what I've seen of Obi-Wan's memories, things will get much worse, and in his former life, they didn't get better. So, let's hope we can change that. Siri and I have to report to Master Windu, by the way. One more reason to meet them on Corellia."

"Well, how long till we arrive?" Quinlan asked.

"We should be there in about three standard hours. This ship is fast, I must say," Garen replied with an envious expression on his face.

Qui-Gon entered the bridge after Obi-Wan had taken over command of the Resolute. Mace had gone to look for Anakin, who had been elusive for the entirety of the morning. Qui-Gon was sure that the Padawan was profiting from the downtime by sparring with Ahsoka Tano, who was more proficient with a lightsaber than could be expected from a Padawan that age.

Master Koon was standing at Obi-Wan's side, and they were deep in conversation when Qui-Gon cleared his throat to announce his arrival. The young General looked up and gave his former Master a smile. "Qui-Gon," he acknowledged his presence. "It's good that you join us. I have to talk to you about Luan."

The Master narrowed his eyes, having planned to talk to Obi-Wan about his words in the morning. However, he was curious why the other man would bring up his Padawan now. "What is it? Do you have any news from Padmé?"

"Everything went fine," Obi-Wan hurried to reassure him. "Adi is already on her way to Concordia. I think that they must have landed by now. But Padmé told me that Luan seemed restless on the journey, and she has the feeling that the girl will need her Master by her side."

"Well," Qui-Gon replied with a sad expression on his face. "I would prefer to accompany her on this mission, too. But at the moment, we have other things to worry about, don't we?"

Plo Koon shook his head. "Actually, we don't, Master Jinn. We are still preparing the logistics of this war, and I assume that the Separatists are doing the same. While Geonosis was kind of a shock to us all, it also made the extent of the Separatists' operation obvious. At the moment, they are not more prepared to enter a full-scale war than we are." When he saw Qui-Gon's doubtful gaze, he continued, "We received a transmission from Siri Tachi, and they are on their way from Ossus to join us on Corellia. We will have Quinlan Vos, Aayla Secura, Siri Tachi, and Garen Muln here with us. There is really no reason for you to stay."

Qui-Gon gave Obi-Wan a concerned glance, and the young General let out an exasperated breath. "What did I tell you about worrying, Qui?" he asked. "The Force urges me to let you go to Concordia. Luan is going to need you, do not let your fear for my well-being distract you."

Qui-Gon nodded thoughtfully. Maybe Obi-Wan was right. His constant concern for Obi-Wan shouldn't outweigh his worry for his current Padawan. What Luan had to face was life-altering, and she shouldn't experience it without her Master by his side.

"I want you to take Anakin with you," Obi-Wan added firmly. "Mace already approved of it. You're going to need help. It's dangerous to land on Concordia as a Jedi without having an escort from Mandalore. Anakin is the best pilot in the Galaxy. He is the only one who can sneak on the moon without being detected."

Qui-Gon swallowed thickly. It was difficult enough to leave Obi-Wan at the moment but take Anakin away from him, too? He saw how the young man was able to help Obi-Wan dealing with his emotions.

Obi-Wan stepped forward and placed his hand on the older Master's shoulder. "Everything is different from before. It is unlikely that another flashback will occur. And. . . . I have Master Koon, Ahsoka, and Mace here with me. Not to mention the four Jedi that are on their way right now."

"Does Anakin know?" Qui-Gon asked, accepting the young General's assurance.

"Mace is currently speaking with him. Don't worry, he will be thrilled. He gets to fly a ship," Obi-Wan said with a fond smile.

Adi looked around suspiciously. They had landed in the early morning hours, but they hadn't found the Death Watch settlement where they had expected it. The situation was beginning to make her nervous, and the constant sense of danger in the Force didn't help. Stass Allie was giving her a look that just confirmed her bad feeling.

Concordia was a moon full of forests, and the dense vegetation made moving difficult. They had to rely solely on the Force to advance because they couldn't see what was going on in the distance. The only thing they had found up to this point had been an agricultural settlement, but the people there didn't seem associated with Death Watch. The Mandalorian guards didn't have more luck than Adi to get any information, and they had decided to just move on.

They were approaching a clearing now, and Adi didn't like how it was surrounded by high mountains, which would provide an excellent basis for an ambush. She turned around and nodded, satisfied when she saw the guards being on alert as much as she was. Tahl and Luan were walking beside them, and if Death Watch made a move, they had to deal with Adi and Stass before being able to hurt the healer and the Padawan. Adi took her lightsaber from her belt when the Force practically screamed danger and hid behind the last of the trees before the clearing opened. Stass jumped behind another tree, and they stretched out their senses.

"At least seven individuals," Stass Allie said after a moment. "And they are on the mountains, which gives them the high ground."

"That's not good," Adi said grimly. "I really hoped that our arrival would be a surprise."

"I think they have been warned, Adi," Stass said with a shake of her head. "It's a bit too coincidental for my taste. The camp being moved and now this place, ideal for an ambush?"

Adi nodded. She had thought about that sooner, and she was reasonably sure that Death Watch had known they were coming long before they had arrived. She sighed. This didn't bode well for their endeavor.

Before they could decide on how to deal with the situation, three men in Mandalorian armor landed amid the clearing. One of them took off his helmet, and Adi hissed in a breath when she recognized Pre Vizsla, the leader of the Death Watch, standing there, looking directly at their hiding place.

Adi made sure that Tahl and Luan were still behind and nodded toward Stass Allie. Understanding Adi's command, the Knight walked out from behind the tree, and the Master followed her.

"Ah, there you are," Vizsla said with a sneer. "Did you really think you could infiltrate my base, Master Gallia? You should have known better."

Adi gave the man a slight bow, hoping that she could negotiate her way out of this. "Pre Vizsla, I didn't expect you to welcome us in person."

"Why wouldn't I?" he laughed out loud. "You brought such precious cargo. I would never miss the opportunity to examine it myself."

Adi gave him a puzzled look and said, "I really don't know what you're talking about."

The Mandalorian approached her and unclipped the Darksaber from his belt. "You don't, do you?" he said with a broad smile. "After all these years of searching, you just bring the most interesting girl on my doorstep. I always thought that she survived and that I will find her again one day. I just never thought the Jedi would be such idiots and deliver her to me."

Adi swallowed against the sudden lump forming in her throat. They had walked right into his trap. Vizsla was after Luan, and she had just given him what he wanted. She should have insisted on more Jedi coming with them, on not coming here without backup. . . .

Vizsla looked toward the forest and yelled, "Come out, little Luan Paban. I am curious to see you. We've been looking for you for years. You shouldn't be in the hands of the Jedi. You are Mandalorian, and we will give you the home you deserve!"

Adi ignited her saber and jumped toward the man, and in the same instant, the other Mandalorians attacked Stass preventing her from helping. Vizsla parried Adi's blow with the Darksaber and took it in both his hands to attack her. She defended herself quickly and dodged to the side, trying to hit him from another angle.

The Mandalorian guards that had accompanied them walked out with Luan and Tahl, and Adi saw with horror that they must have been the ones who betrayed them. Tahl and Luan were bound with stun cuffs, and the Padawan glared at the Death Watch leader with so much fury that Adi briefly swallowed down her fear.

The moment of distraction was enough for Vizsla to capture her hands with stun cuffs, too, and when she looked to Stass, she saw her cousin lying on the ground, trying to fight off one of the men who did the same to her.

Vizsla walked over to Luan and placed his hand on her arm. "I am sorry, my dear Luan. For the moment, we have to treat you like a Jedi. But I promise you, you will understand soon. Welcome home, ad'ika."

Before Luan could voice her protests, one of the men gave her a blow on the head, and she slumped to the ground. The same was done to Tahl and Stass, and when he approached Adi, she closed her eyes, reaching out for Mace Windu and screaming for help before she also was unconscious.

Mace Windu entered the hangar and had to smile when he saw Anakin and Ahsoka sparring vigorously. The girl dodged Anakin's blows quite efficiently, and Mace asked himself where she had picked up such skills at her young age. He felt Anakin's exasperation over their bond and had to suppress a chuckle. His Padawan wasn't used to losing to anyone besides his Master or Obi-Wan. Anakin was one of the most capable swordsmen in the Order, and his time with Mace had just increased his skills. Mace was actually considering teaching him Vaapad, which he had never done with any of his Padawans before. But the young man was so stable in his devotion to the Light that Mace was sure he would profit from the fighting style. It was better to learn how to deal with his inner Darkness now than being surprised one day on the battlefield. He was the Chosen One, after all, and he would experience temptation sooner rather than later.

Ahsoka didn't really stand a chance, but the fight she was putting up was commendable. She ducked and jumped, using all of her skills. Her blows were accurate and precise, executed to weaken Anakin's resolve, and it was working to a certain extent. His usually slightly bored Padawan had to come out of his comfort zone and use advanced techniques to defend himself.

Ahsoka realized that she couldn't keep up the pace much longer, and in a desperate attempt, she jumped forward, using her momentum to change direction in the air, trying to hit Anakin from the side. Mace's Padawan had foreseen her action, though, and quickly disarmed her before she landed on the floor panting. "I yield," she said between heavy breaths, and Anakin gave her a smile.

Then something seemed to happen that Mace couldn't grasp because Ahsoka's face grew pale, and she shook her head. "Don't do that!" she yelled and took her lightsaber from the floor.

"We have to talk about this, Ahsoka," Anakin insisted, but she just stomped onto the floor in response.

"I don't want you to invade my mind again, Skywalker!" she cried out. "I don't know what you think gives you the right to do so. Just stop it!"

Anakin opened his mouth to reply when Mace walked over to them with an inquiring expression on his face. "What's going on, Padawan?" he asked, giving Anakin a stern glare that didn't allow him to evade the question.

The young man looked to the floor uncomfortably. Then he took a breath and said, "Ever since we've been captured on Geonosis, I felt that Ahsoka and I are sharing a bond. I tried to talk with her about it. . . ."

"There's nothing to talk about," the Togruta girl said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "You think because you are stronger in the Force than I am, you can just barge into my mind and claim it was because of a bond? That's ridiculous, Skywalker!"

Mace frowned and remembered that Anakin had had a preexistent bond before. His training bond with Obi-Wan had been there long before they met. "Maybe not," he said calmly. "Padawan Tano, I know that this must be disconcerting, but Anakin's bond with Obi-Wan did transcend from Obi-Wan's other life. Maybe this one did the same?"

Ahsoka's expression changed into curiosity. "You mean, because I was his Padawan in another life, we have that connection here, too?"

Mace shrugged. "I really don't know," he admitted. "But we should look into it with Master Yoda before you're accusing Anakin of invading your mind."

Anakin cleared his throat. "I would never do such a thing, Ahsoka," he assured her. "I was as surprised as you were. But I like that I have a connection with you. Maybe you could get used to it?"

His pleading look had an instant effect on the girl, and she gave him a slight smile. "Maybe I could. . . ."

Mace chuckled and looked at the girl with fondness. He really liked her, even if he still couldn't get over the fact that she had been Anakin's Padawan in another life. Then he said, "Master Koon was looking for you earlier. He is still on the bridge with General Kenobi. Why don't you go there and assure him of your well-being?"

Ahsoka, realizing that she had been dismissed politely, gave the Korun-Master a short bow and said, "I will, Master. See you later, Anakin."

When she was gone, Anakin gave his Master an inquisitive glance. "What's going on?" he asked.

Mace placed his arm around the young man's shoulders and said, "I'd like you to go with Qui-Gon to Concordia, my Padawan. We have a bad feeling about letting Luan deal with whatever happens there without the help of her Master. But no Jedi can visit Concordia officially. Qui-Gon is going to need your flying skills to get onto the moon undetected."

Anakin's face lit up at that, and he replied eagerly, "I can do that, Master. I already have an idea how to steer the ship to the ground without their scanners being able to find us. . . ."

Mace chuckled. "I am sure about that, Anakin. That's why we chose you for this mission. Are you prepared to go there without me?"

"Well, I will miss you, but I assume you are needed here. . . ."

Mace suddenly felt dizzy and staggered a bit, holding his head. He heard Anakin cry out, "Master!" and then he heard another cry in his mind, "Help me!" he slumped to the ground, trying to cope with the sudden headache, panting heavily against the pain. Had that been Adi?

"Master!" he heard again and looked up into the worried face of Anakin. "Call Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon," Mace said between breaths. "Something happened on Concordia!"

The blurry form of his Padawan took out his commlink and made the call, while the Korun-Master slowly regained his composure, leaning against the wall to remain stable.

Many Clone soldiers had already told Obi-Wan their nicknames today. It seemed as if his conversation with Cody the night before had encouraged them to leave protocol aside and trust their General that he wouldn't punish them for having defied their orders. Now, he had to suppress a smile when the Captain of the 501st came to the bridge to follow their example. The General looked up innocently and asked, "CT-7567, is there anything I can help you with?"

He heard Qui-Gon chuckle quietly in the background. His former Master kept him company after Master Koon had left with Ahsoka a few minutes ago. Ever since then, the men had dropped in, one after another, and Qui-Gon seemed to amuse himself immensely.

The Captain bowed briefly and swallowed before saying, "Commander Cody told me about your insistence to give us civil rights. I wanted to thank you for your efforts, Sir." He shifted uncomfortably, and Obi-Wan hid a warm smile. The man's behavior reminded him so much of the Captain whom he had come to know in his former life.

The Captain coughed slightly and continued his short speech. "It was forbidden for us to have names, Sir. That's the reason why I refused to give Padawan Skywalker mine. But Cody. . . he said that you didn't seem to have a problem with it. I mean, why would you insist on treating us like normal human beings and then deprive us of the right to have regular names. . . ." he swallowed again. "Anyway, my name is Rex, and I would very much like you to use it if you are comfortable doing so."

Obi-Wan looked at him and once more had to fight tears. He hadn't done anything to gain these men's trust yet. But they gave it so freely, and he was more than grateful that he had insisted on the amendment. He smiled and shook the Captain's hand. "I would be honored, Captain Rex," he replied.

Before the Clone could say another thing, Obi-Wan's commlink beeped, and he took it out to answer it. "Kenobi!" he said, and Anakin's panicked voice from the other end filled the bridge.

"Obi-Wan, I need Qui-Gon and you immediately at the hangar. Something must have happened on Concordia. My Master. . . ."

"Anakin, calm down," Obi-Wan replied, trying to sound as serene as he could. "We are on our way." Qui-Gon was already at his side, and the General gave the Captain an inquiring glance.

"I will stay here, Sir," the Captain said with a nod.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan ran to the hangar with Force-enhanced speed, and the young General stopped in his tracks when he saw Mace leaning against the wall, apparently trying to recover from whatever had occurred here. It was an unusual picture, seeing the Korun-Master so rattled.

"What happened?" he asked and placed his hand on Anakin's shoulder, filling the young man with calming energy through the Force. Qui-Gon already knelt beside Mace, trying to do the same for his friend.

"Adi called out over our bond," Mace said, his voice shaky. "I never. . . We can't communicate over long distances like you and Qui-Gon can. But I heard her clearly and now. . . . She's gone," his eyes turned on Obi-Wan, desperately seeking out the young General's reassurance.

Obi-Wan gave him a nod and said, "Death Watch has likely access to some kind of Force-suppressants, Mace."

Qui-Gon nodded. "I can't feel Tahl and Luan either, but they are alive."

"How can you be so sure?" Mace inquired, incredulous.

"I felt the difference often enough," Qui-Gon replied. "With Force-suppressants, you still can find faint traces of the person you want to reach as opposed to. . . Besides, the bond would have snapped if Adi had died."

Mace gave him an accepting nod. "Well, one thing is sure. They really are in trouble," he stated after a moment.

Obi-Wan shifted nervously, beginning to worry for Padmé. But his bond with her remained unfazed. She seemed safe for now. "We have to adjust our plans," he said after having contemplated what this meant. "Mace will be going with you. And I suggest that two other Jedi come along. All of you are too close to the people in danger. We're going to need Siri or Aayla to keep this mission in check."

Qui-Gon nodded. "Let's ask them when they arrive," he proposed. "I don't want anyone taking the risk of going to Concordia if they do not consent to it."

"We will come out of hyperspace in about two standard hours," Obi-Wan said, trying to keep his tone calm. "I am going to place a call to Padmé. Maybe she knows more."

The Mandalorian throne room was impressive when one first walked into it. It was surrounded by windows from all sides, which made the light in it incredibly bright. Padmé took a deep breath at the display of power, suited for a traditionally important world like Mandalore. Duchess Satine was sitting on the throne, and apparently, she had asked her entourage to leave before the appointment with Padmé and Mon Mothma. The woman was beautiful, and Padmé wasn't surprised that Obi-Wan had fallen in love with her in another life. Her blond hair was bound behind her neck, and flowers were artfully laced into her headdress. Her makeup was natural, and Padmé envied her, remembering all too well how long it had taken to prepare herself for meetings like this when she had been the Queen of Naboo.

Satine's blue eyes turned on her visitors with more concern than Padmé was comfortable with. "Duchess," the Senator greeted politely with a slight bow, keeping herself calm enough to not forget protocol.

Satine gave her a wan smile and gestured for her to sit down at Mon Mothma's side. After a moment, she said, "We lost contact with your friends, Senator. I am worried for them because Concordia is a dangerous place and the members of Death Watch are more than capable of fighting Jedi."

"How could this happen?" Padmé asked and swallowed against the increasing anxiety she felt. "General Kenobi just informed me that it seems as if they were captured. The Jedi can't feel their presence any longer. They are already talking about a rescue mission."

Satine nodded. "Well, considering that there must be a traitor in our midst, it could be the best solution to let the Jedi deal with this. I don't know whom I can trust any longer. There is no way your friends could have been detected without someone betraying their arrival." She sighed. "Which leaves my own Prime Minister or the guards who went with them."

Padmé took in a breath at that. "Your Prime Minister?"

Satine shrugged. "I trust him, but on Mandalore, you can never be sure of someone's true allegiance. Death Watch has more followers than we think. Many of my people want us to return to the old ways. The pacifism that I am trying to establish is not without considerable opposition, and that I seem to be negotiating with the Republic doesn't help our cause. To let Jedi go to Concordia. . . ."

Mon Mothma leaned forward and narrowed her eyes. "What would help you, Duchess," she asked.

"I really don't know, Senator. I wanted to sign a treaty with the Republic to prevent us from being threatened by both sides. But I am not sure whether my people will understand the necessity," Satine replied, and her look went to the massive windows. "Any move that looks like we're giving up our independence will just give Death Watch more power."

Padmé remembered what Obi-Wan had told her and cleared her throat. "What about a treaty that secures your independence but makes sure that your people won't suffer in this war at the same time?"

"What do you mean?" Satine asked with interest.

"Black market always thrives in times of war, and Mandalore is dependent on functioning supply routes to prevent their people from starving. Your system is out of the way and could easily be cut off from the main trade routes. It will put you and your government under enormous pressure. If the Republic pledges to secure the hyperspace lanes that guarantee your supply of food and medicine, we could prevent that from happening. The Republic could also sign a trade agreement with you." Padmé saw the contemplating look in Satine's eyes and continued. "In return, you could assure us that you do not intend to join the Separatist movement and that you are open to let the Republic help you in case they try to occupy your system."

"The Republic would come to defend our independence?" Satine asked, incredulous.

Mon Mothma stepped in. "We would, Duchess. According to our principles, a system has to decide to join us. It's not our goal to occupy any systems that do not want to be part of the Republic."

Satine scoffed. "Please, we're talking about war here. Your rules may apply in times of peace, but you are going to be hard-pressed to adjust them in a full-scale war. Do you really think your Senate would send troops to defend Mandalore if we do refuse to join you?"

"We can't defend your system, Duchess," Padmé said firmly. "We are talking about defending trade routes here. There will be no Republic troops on Mandalore. But if we sign a trade agreement that makes us partners, the Republic will step in when its interests are threatened by, let's say, a Separatist blockade of the hyperspace lanes or Mandalore."

Satine seemed to think it over. "If the Republic army does not trespass, I can't see any reason to not sign such an agreement. To ensure that my people get food and medical supplies without giving up our status, that's almost too good to believe."

Padmé thought about what Obi-Wan had told her– that in his former life, the Republic had occupied systems, justifying it with their strategic importance to the war efforts. He had sworn that he wouldn't do such a thing again. Bail also was someone who held the Republic principle of self-determination in the highest regard. She couldn't even imagine how this would have played out with Sidious as Supreme Chancellor.

Mon Mothma gave Satine a satisfied smile. "Let's negotiate a draft for an agreement then, and we will get the Senate's approval after your Council agrees to it."

Satine nodded, and then she looked toward Padmé. "Now about your friends. What are the Jedi planning to do? There are a few obstacles to consider if they want to get to Concordia undetected."

"What about me setting up a call with them?" Padmé proposed. "I think it would be best if they inform you themselves about their plans."