First Knight - Part Thirty-Three
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It was the evening of the following day. As the sun sank slowly beneath the horizon and the sky darkened and the shadows lengthened, Anakin Skywalker, apprentice to the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, stood in front of a window in the bedchamber of Onara Gavon, only child of Dynast K'lia Gavon of Destani Province on the planet Ahjane. The wind, which had been warm all day, had cooled and it gently ruffled the hair of the young Jedi.
Anakin stood guard, as he had ever since Obi-Wan had left nearly a month ago in search of the ex-Jedi Sinja Bau. He stood and he watched and he listened. He cast his senses out through the Force, attuning himself to the life that surrounded him, readying himself for whatever danger might arise to threaten the woman his master loved and the child she had borne him. But, even then, he still was not prepared for what finally came.
Later, Anakin would not be able to determine whether it was the lights going out that had followed the screams or the screams that had preceded the darkness or, perhaps, both had happened at the same time. But, soon, the screams and the darkness became one.
Anakin whirled away from the window, unclipping his lightsaber from his belt. The only lights in Onara's bedchamber now came from two small glowlamps; one on a nightstand next to her bed, the other on her dressing table. Onara, whose strength was nearly gone now, stirred in her sleep as the screams and shouts echoing through the manor grew louder.
Anakin ran to the door of the sitting room and flung it open. There were no lights, but his eyes quickly adjusted to the dark. The sitting room was empty, but he could hear running feet and shouts coming from beyond the closed door. His instinct was to run out into the hall, but he knew his place was to remain with Onara and guard her.
He ran back into the bedchamber and over to the windows. He quickly shuttered and locked them and, as he did, saw that the security droids that had been patrolling the grounds were now lying, inactive, on the grass. He turned and saw Onara was awake. Her eyes were wide as she looked over at him.
"Anakin, what's happening?" she asked weakly.
"I don't know, Onara, but don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
"Ben! What about Ben?"
"Master Eo is with him."
Anakin heard more shouts and screams coming from behind the door of the sitting room. His heart pounded in his chest, the blood rushing through his veins. He snatched his comlink from his belt and tried to raise Master Eo on it. All he heard was static.
"It's being jammed," he cried as he put it back onto his belt.
More screams came from beyond the door. Anakin's instinct was to run and help, but he had promised Obi-Wan he would look after Onara and he could only hope Master Eo was doing the same with Ben. Then Anakin heard a sound that made his blood turn to ice. It was the sound of a baby crying. No, not just crying. Wailing, as if he were in pain or terrified or both.
"Ben!" Onara screamed.
Anakin's heart pounded even harder in his chest. Ben, who had not cried once since the day of his birth, was now crying as if the devil herself was holding him. And, Anakin suddenly realized, she probably was.
"Ben, darling! Mommy's coming. Don't cry, Mommy's coming!"
He looked over, his heart constricting, as Onara pushed herself, weak and frail as she was, to a sitting position in the bed. Sweat poured down her face, her arms trembled violently and her dark eyes were wide. She succeeded in getting her feet onto the floor but, as there was no strength in her body, she collapsed in a heap and could only lay on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Anakin ran over to her.
"I can't protect him, Anakin," she cried as he picked her up. "Oh, gods, I can't protect my baby!"
Anakin shushed her as he placed her gently back onto the bed.
"Go, Anakin, please," Onara whispered up at him, her face twisted with fear and grief. "Save my baby. It's Grandmother. I know it's her. She has Ben."
"But I can't leave you. Master Obi-Wan told me to protect you."
Onara put her hands on Anakin's arms, squeezing them as much as her weakened condition would allow.
"I'm going to die anyway. But you must save Ben. Please, Anakin. Please!"
Anakin nodded. "Try to stay quiet. You should be all right. It's only Ben Tsara wants."
Onara shook her head. "Go, Anakin, go," she urged him, pushing weakly at his chest.
Anakin turned and ran out of the bedchamber. He opened the door of the sitting room, then closed it behind him. The corridor was dark and empty. He could hear no more shouts or screams, but the very air thrummed with danger. And with death. Reaching out with the Force, he sensed fear and hatred and what felt like a cold, malicious intelligence controlling everything.
He heard Ben crying again, but the sound was coming from downstairs. Anakin activated his lightsaber and ran down the corridor towards the main staircase. He wondered what had happened to Master Eo. He knew the Jedi Healer would have done everything in his power to prevent Ben from being taken. Anakin quickly shook his head to clear his mind. He needed to focus. Then he stopped when he saw a lump on the floor in front of him. He ran over and, by his lightsaber's green glow, saw what it was.
"K'lia," Anakin cried as he knelt down.
The elderly man was covered in blood. In his hand was an ornately decorated dagger, more of a ceremonial piece than anything truly dangerous. He had obviously tried to defend himself with it, but the blade was unstained. Anakin reached over and put his fingers on K'lia's neck. He felt nothing, except skin that was even now beginning to cool.
Anakin lowered his head, both grief and anger swirling in his heart. The urge to run back and protect Onara from K'lia's killer or killers was like a bell ringing loudly inside him. Then he heard Ben crying again, but this time the sound was coming from outside the manor. Anakin rose up, the rage he felt at K'lia's death and at Ben's terror a fire in his blood and one name burned like an inferno in his mind. _Tsara_.
Anakin raced to the staircase but, just as he was about to run down it, something slammed into him, knocking him down the stairs. He tumbled down, his lightsaber flying from his hand. Once he landed at the bottom, he quickly rolled up and reached for his lightsaber, but it was nowhere to be seen. He glanced up to see what had hit him and watched, stunned, as a dark figure leapt from the top of the staircase towards him.
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Obi-Wan glared at the manager of the starport. Just prior to landing on Ahjane he had tried to contact Anakin and Master Eo to let them know he was back and to check on Onara's condition, but had been distressed to discover communications at the manor was being jammed. After securing the ship and taking Sinja-Bau with him, he had gone to the starport's central building.
He had once again tried to contact Anakin and Eo using the starport's communications equipment, but with no success. The Force was screaming in Obi-Wan's mind. and he was desperate to get to the manor, but the starport manager was now telling him there was no one available to take him or any vehicles around for him to use.
"Haven't you heard what's happened?" the manager went on, his fleshy face greasy with sweat, his eyes darting between Obi-Wan and Sinja-Bau. "Dynast Jerule is about to declare war!"
"Dynast Jerule? What happened to Edress?"
"Edress is dead. When Jerule became Dynast he demanded the return of Lady Onara and her son to Kindah Province, claiming Onara was now his wife. Dynast K'lia refused. Now Jerule has massed his troops on the border. That's why there are no vehicles here for you to use. All available vehicles are being used to transport our troops to the border."
Obi-Wan grabbed the man's arm. "What about the Assembly guards? The ones who were stationed at K'lia's manor?"
The man squealed as Obi-Wan squeezed his arm.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he bleated. "But if they were Assembly guards at the Dynast's manor, more than likely they were pulled to join the rest of the troops."
"I need some type of transport. Now! I've got to get to the manor," Obi-Wan cried as he shook the man's arm.
"And I just told you, we don't have anything," the manager retorted angrily.
Then Obi-Wan felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned. Sinja-Bau, who had been strangely silent since their landing on Ahjane, was pulling on his sleeve and pointing to a window behind the manger's desk. Obi-Wan went over to the window and, looking out, saw glimmering in the brilliant night-lights of the starport a blue repulsor-car parked just outside the building. He turned back to the manager.
"I thought you said you didn't have any vehicles," Obi-Wan said in a low, dangerous voice.
"I d-d-don't," the man stammered. "Not to spare, anyway. That one belongs to me. I'm going to need it. In case Kindah Province invades."
Obi-Wan quickly turned and, taking Sinja-Bau by the arm, left the manager's office. The manager ran after him, shouting and waving his arms, but Obi- Wan ignored him, along with the people who had stopped what they were doing to watch. Once they were at the vehicle, he helped Sinja-Bau into the passenger seat. Then, as he turned to get into the driver's seat, the manager grabbed his arm.
"You can't take it," he shouted. "I won't let you!"
"Your vehicle will be returned to you once I'm done with it," Obi-Wan said quietly as he stared hard at the man. "However, right now I am taking it. Therefore I would recommend, and quite strongly I might add, that you release me immediately and let me be on my way."
The man glared at Obi-Wan for a moment but, apparently seeing something in the Jedi's eyes that suggested it would best if he backed down, and quickly, released Obi-Wan's arm.
"Thank you," Obi-Wan said. "I promise to return it."
He climbed into the seat, made sure Sinja-Bau was buckled in safely and, with a low roar of the repulsor-car's engine, sped away from the starport.
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Anakin lurched to the side as the figure leapt down the stairs towards him. He desperately tried to see where his lightsaber had fallen, but in the shadows and darkness of the large vestibule of the manor, he saw nothing that resembled his weapon. The figure landed lightly next to him and laughed.
"Looking for your little lightstick, Jedi? Can't fight without it, hmmm?"
Anakin saw a young Ahjane male who was about his height, weight and age. Like most Ahjane he had black hair but even in the darkness Anakin could see his eyes were the color of storm clouds, a dark, thunderous gray.
"Who are you?" Anakin cried. "What are you doing here? And why have you attacked these people?"
"Who am I?" the youth grinned, his teeth large and white in his face. "My name is Rhad. Why I have attacked these people?" He shrugged. "It's my job. What am I doing here? To show you the way of pain, Jedi. Now, I hope you will prove better sport than the old man was."
Anakin's heart kicked in his chest at Rhad's casual mention of K'lia's death. Rage surged through his veins and he lunged at Rhad. The Ahjane youth turned and swung his right leg hard into Anakin's side. Pain exploded along Anakin's ribs. Rhad followed the kick with a hard right hook, but Anakin managed to block it with his arm. Rhad sidekicked him again in the ribs, seeking to break them. Anakin bent over as pain flared through his body, then his head snapped back as Rhad's left fist uppercut into his chin. He wheeled back across the floor.
"Come on, Jedi, you can do better than that," Rhad shouted, as he danced back, hands raised before him. "You'll be crippled before I even break a sweat!"
Anakin struggled to catch his breath. Rhad was not only strong, he was as quick as any Jedi Anakin had faced in the contests at the Temple. The Ahjane boy advanced, lashing out with another right cross. Anakin blocked it with his hand, then slammed his fist into Rhad's left side. The Ahjane grunted, but quickly recovered and struck Anakin hard across the jaw with a wicked right hook.
Anakin staggered back, his teeth rattling in his head as fell to the floor. As he rose to his feet, Rhad jumped and, flipping over Anakin, landed behind him. Anakin quickly turned to face him. Rhad elbowed him hard across the jaw. Anakin's head flew back and he nearly fell to the floor again.
Quickly drawing in breath through his sore ribs, Anakin tried to focus his awareness so that he could call upon the Force, but Rhad was too fast. His blows and kicks were like lightning and just as deadly. A particularly powerful roundhouse kick to Anakin's already bruised side was followed, in blurring speed, with a right cross, a left, then another right cross. Anakin's head rang. Then before he could draw breath, Rhad whipped around and, leg high, whacked Anakin hard across the face with his foot. Anakin flew back and landed, his head cracking hard against the floor. His vision dimmed and time seemed to slow and, strangely enough, he suddenly heard a voice he hadn't heard in years.
As part of his training as a Jedi, Anakin had been taught unarmed combat by a tiny, elderly, sweet-faced woman by the name of Master Karna. A field Jedi for many years, she had retired to become an instructor at the Temple.
"Remember, Padawans," she had said in her soft, gentle voice as she had stood in the center of one of the Temple's many physical training centers. "The lightsaber is your life as your Masters have wisely told you but, like anything, it can be lost or destroyed. Therefore, in unarmed combat, you will have only your body and the five elements of which it is comprised."
She had then held up her tiny right hand, counting off the elements with her fingers.
"Earth. With it you are as immovable as the mountain or the tree. Water. Withdraw from your attacker, then respond like the wave crashing upon the shore. Fire. Perceive the right moment to attack, then become as a fireball. Air. Be the cloud of smoke that slips away when your opponent tries to grab it. And, finally, the Force. It is the source of everything. And that, my young ones, is where your power and your strength lies."
Time resumed again and, in the darkened vestibule, as Anakin leapt to his feet to face off against Rhad, the taste of his blood like iron and fire in his mouth, all that he had learned over the past few years coalesced within him like the pieces of a puzzle falling into place to form the embodiment of the Force that was Anakin Skywalker.
"Back for more," Rhad sneered as Anakin moved towards him. "You should stay down, Jedi. I'm only supposed to make you suffer, not kill you." Then Rhad shrugged and smiled. "However, if it's death you seek..."
"I don't want to hurt you," Anakin said, blood tricking from the side of his mouth. "I just want the baby."
Rhad shook his head. "Sorry. You're too late. Lady Tsara already has him."
Then Anakin heard the sound of a speeder racing away from the manor.
Rhad grinned. "Speaking of, there she goes now."
Though Anakin could no longer hear Ben's terrified cries, the echo of them reverberated through his mind. Then, suddenly, an image flashed through his mind. It was of Obi-Wan, but he was old. Far older than he was now. He was kneeling on a floor in a black room and a young man was standing over him. The young man had dark hair and blue-gray eyes. A woman was standing near him. A woman as old as time and as merciless as death.
"Mother, what shall I do with him?" Anakin heard the man he some how knew was Ben ask Lady Tsara.
"What else should one do with a Jedi, my son. Kill him."
"As you wish, Mother."
Ben unclipped his lightsaber and ignited it. A blood-red blade leapt forth. He raised the lightsaber above his head.
"Goodbye, Father. May you rot in hell."
The red blade fell towards Obi-Wan.
"NO!" Anakin shouted.
The vision just as suddenly cleared and with it came a sudden influx of the Force into Anakin's body. Rhad, whose face betrayed his confusion at Anakin's sudden, harsh cry, quickly moved into a defensive stance as Anakin raced towards him. Anakin didn't know what the vision meant, but he sensed that whatever happened now between him and Rhad, it would either bring about that terrible vision or it would not.
Anakin struck Rhad hard across the face with his elbow. The two exchanged a series of rapid kicks and blows, then Anakin swung his leg, sweeping Rhad's feet from under him. His heart thumped when he saw Rhad, as he lay on the floor, draw a dagger from a sheath on his hip.
"You're going to die now, Jedi, orders be damned!"
He jumped up and ran towards Anakin, but with the Force now flowing through him, Anakin easily dodged him. Rhad flew past him, crashing into the wall. He was on his feet in an instant, racing back towards Anakin, his dagger aimed at Anakin's chest.
Anakin grabbed the arm holding the blade, twisted it and, as Rhad plowed into him, falling on top of him, plunged the knife into Rhad's chest. Rhad's eyes widened as the blade he was holding sank into his own heart. Blood bubbled along the edges of his mouth and his breath rasped in his chest.
"Noooo," Rhad gasped.
Anakin gazed, horrified, into Rhad's gray eyes as he watched the young Ahjane die. Then, as Rhad's body sank heavily and lifelessly onto his, Anakin quickly pushed him away. Rhad rolled onto his back, his dagger impaled inside his chest.
Anakin stood up. He was trembling for he had never killed anyone this way before. Sweat poured down his face and chest and the smell of Rhad's blood was thick and cloying in his nostrils. He quickly turned and, leaning over, was sick for a moment. As he rose, wiping his mouth, he suddenly sensed the dark, cold absence in the Force which, until a few moments ago, had been Rhad's life presence. And yet, as Anakin stared down at Rhad's body, he also felt a engorged sense of satisfaction for he had defeated a worthy opponent in single combat.
"No, Anakin. Do not glory in your triumph. Obi-Wan's son. He needs you. Go!"
Anakin jumped and turned, his heart thundering.
"Master Qui-Gon," he cried for it had sounded like the voice of the long dead Jedi Master.
But there was no one in the vestibule. Only Rhad's lifeless body lying on the floor. Anakin shook his head to clear it. He must have been hearing things. Anakin shook his head to clear it. He must have been hearing things. He reached down and jerked Rhad's dagger out of his chest. He didn't have time to look for his lightsaber, but he certainly wasn't going to confront the kryat dragon weaponless. Anyone who could have cold- bloodedly planned the murder of their own son was capable of anything. Plus she might not be alone.
Anakin went to the door of the manor, opened it and ran outside. The moon and stars were hidden by low, thick clouds, but he was now completely acclimated to the darkness. To his left loomed the large building that was the garage for the estate. He ran towards it. Suddenly, the Force screamed in his mind. Anakin instinctively ducked and rolled as two dark figures leapt towards him from the side of the manor. He rose up and saw that the two men now facing him were dressed as Rhad had been, in dark, loose pants and tunic, a red sash around their waists.
"Let me pass," Anakin said firmly. "I don't want to hurt either of you. But I won't allow you to hinder me."
The men looked at each other and laughed. They both pulled daggers from the sheaths at their hips and threw themselves at Anakin. Recalling Master Karna's lessons regarding blade combat, for she had taught that also, Anakin met them fearlessly for he was now in complete control of both himself and the Force.
Using the dagger he had taken from Rhad's body, Anakin slashed and stabbed at the two men, moving so swiftly he easily avoided their blades, but his own dagger was a blood-tinged blur of silver in the night. Unlike his battle with Rhad, however, Anakin was calm and composed. There was no anger or glory in what he did and it was soon over.
The moon shyly peeked from behind the clouds, like a witness peering through a curtain at a street brawl, and saw upon the ground two lifeless, black-clad bodies and a young man with bright hair and hot blue eyes standing over them, breathing hard, a bloody blade in his hand. The moon paled at the sight and quickly drew the clouds back over her face.
Anakin stepped over the bodies of the two men and ran to the garage. He pressed open the door and went inside. He was going to need something fast if he hoped to catch up with Tsara. Then he saw what he was looking for. A few days ago he had seen one of the Assembly guards, before they were all pulled from the manor, racing around the estate on a speeder-bike that apparently had belonged to the groundskeeper's son before he left for university in the capital.
Anakin guided the speeder-bike out of the garage. He slipped Rhad's dagger into the straps about his boot. Mounting the speeder, he switched it on. It hummed beneath him and, from the sound, Anakin could tell it had been well-taken care of. He sped towards the entrance to the estate then stopped.
There were two roads leading away from the estate. The larger one went towards the capital and the starport. The smaller one on the left Anakin had no idea where it led, but it was the one Tsara had taken for through the Force he sensed Ben's tiny, but very strong Force signature along that road. Gunning the speeder, his face determined and grim, Anakin shifted it into highspeed and raced down the moon-shrouded road after the she-demon who had stolen his master's son.
To be continued....
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It was the evening of the following day. As the sun sank slowly beneath the horizon and the sky darkened and the shadows lengthened, Anakin Skywalker, apprentice to the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, stood in front of a window in the bedchamber of Onara Gavon, only child of Dynast K'lia Gavon of Destani Province on the planet Ahjane. The wind, which had been warm all day, had cooled and it gently ruffled the hair of the young Jedi.
Anakin stood guard, as he had ever since Obi-Wan had left nearly a month ago in search of the ex-Jedi Sinja Bau. He stood and he watched and he listened. He cast his senses out through the Force, attuning himself to the life that surrounded him, readying himself for whatever danger might arise to threaten the woman his master loved and the child she had borne him. But, even then, he still was not prepared for what finally came.
Later, Anakin would not be able to determine whether it was the lights going out that had followed the screams or the screams that had preceded the darkness or, perhaps, both had happened at the same time. But, soon, the screams and the darkness became one.
Anakin whirled away from the window, unclipping his lightsaber from his belt. The only lights in Onara's bedchamber now came from two small glowlamps; one on a nightstand next to her bed, the other on her dressing table. Onara, whose strength was nearly gone now, stirred in her sleep as the screams and shouts echoing through the manor grew louder.
Anakin ran to the door of the sitting room and flung it open. There were no lights, but his eyes quickly adjusted to the dark. The sitting room was empty, but he could hear running feet and shouts coming from beyond the closed door. His instinct was to run out into the hall, but he knew his place was to remain with Onara and guard her.
He ran back into the bedchamber and over to the windows. He quickly shuttered and locked them and, as he did, saw that the security droids that had been patrolling the grounds were now lying, inactive, on the grass. He turned and saw Onara was awake. Her eyes were wide as she looked over at him.
"Anakin, what's happening?" she asked weakly.
"I don't know, Onara, but don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
"Ben! What about Ben?"
"Master Eo is with him."
Anakin heard more shouts and screams coming from behind the door of the sitting room. His heart pounded in his chest, the blood rushing through his veins. He snatched his comlink from his belt and tried to raise Master Eo on it. All he heard was static.
"It's being jammed," he cried as he put it back onto his belt.
More screams came from beyond the door. Anakin's instinct was to run and help, but he had promised Obi-Wan he would look after Onara and he could only hope Master Eo was doing the same with Ben. Then Anakin heard a sound that made his blood turn to ice. It was the sound of a baby crying. No, not just crying. Wailing, as if he were in pain or terrified or both.
"Ben!" Onara screamed.
Anakin's heart pounded even harder in his chest. Ben, who had not cried once since the day of his birth, was now crying as if the devil herself was holding him. And, Anakin suddenly realized, she probably was.
"Ben, darling! Mommy's coming. Don't cry, Mommy's coming!"
He looked over, his heart constricting, as Onara pushed herself, weak and frail as she was, to a sitting position in the bed. Sweat poured down her face, her arms trembled violently and her dark eyes were wide. She succeeded in getting her feet onto the floor but, as there was no strength in her body, she collapsed in a heap and could only lay on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Anakin ran over to her.
"I can't protect him, Anakin," she cried as he picked her up. "Oh, gods, I can't protect my baby!"
Anakin shushed her as he placed her gently back onto the bed.
"Go, Anakin, please," Onara whispered up at him, her face twisted with fear and grief. "Save my baby. It's Grandmother. I know it's her. She has Ben."
"But I can't leave you. Master Obi-Wan told me to protect you."
Onara put her hands on Anakin's arms, squeezing them as much as her weakened condition would allow.
"I'm going to die anyway. But you must save Ben. Please, Anakin. Please!"
Anakin nodded. "Try to stay quiet. You should be all right. It's only Ben Tsara wants."
Onara shook her head. "Go, Anakin, go," she urged him, pushing weakly at his chest.
Anakin turned and ran out of the bedchamber. He opened the door of the sitting room, then closed it behind him. The corridor was dark and empty. He could hear no more shouts or screams, but the very air thrummed with danger. And with death. Reaching out with the Force, he sensed fear and hatred and what felt like a cold, malicious intelligence controlling everything.
He heard Ben crying again, but the sound was coming from downstairs. Anakin activated his lightsaber and ran down the corridor towards the main staircase. He wondered what had happened to Master Eo. He knew the Jedi Healer would have done everything in his power to prevent Ben from being taken. Anakin quickly shook his head to clear his mind. He needed to focus. Then he stopped when he saw a lump on the floor in front of him. He ran over and, by his lightsaber's green glow, saw what it was.
"K'lia," Anakin cried as he knelt down.
The elderly man was covered in blood. In his hand was an ornately decorated dagger, more of a ceremonial piece than anything truly dangerous. He had obviously tried to defend himself with it, but the blade was unstained. Anakin reached over and put his fingers on K'lia's neck. He felt nothing, except skin that was even now beginning to cool.
Anakin lowered his head, both grief and anger swirling in his heart. The urge to run back and protect Onara from K'lia's killer or killers was like a bell ringing loudly inside him. Then he heard Ben crying again, but this time the sound was coming from outside the manor. Anakin rose up, the rage he felt at K'lia's death and at Ben's terror a fire in his blood and one name burned like an inferno in his mind. _Tsara_.
Anakin raced to the staircase but, just as he was about to run down it, something slammed into him, knocking him down the stairs. He tumbled down, his lightsaber flying from his hand. Once he landed at the bottom, he quickly rolled up and reached for his lightsaber, but it was nowhere to be seen. He glanced up to see what had hit him and watched, stunned, as a dark figure leapt from the top of the staircase towards him.
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Obi-Wan glared at the manager of the starport. Just prior to landing on Ahjane he had tried to contact Anakin and Master Eo to let them know he was back and to check on Onara's condition, but had been distressed to discover communications at the manor was being jammed. After securing the ship and taking Sinja-Bau with him, he had gone to the starport's central building.
He had once again tried to contact Anakin and Eo using the starport's communications equipment, but with no success. The Force was screaming in Obi-Wan's mind. and he was desperate to get to the manor, but the starport manager was now telling him there was no one available to take him or any vehicles around for him to use.
"Haven't you heard what's happened?" the manager went on, his fleshy face greasy with sweat, his eyes darting between Obi-Wan and Sinja-Bau. "Dynast Jerule is about to declare war!"
"Dynast Jerule? What happened to Edress?"
"Edress is dead. When Jerule became Dynast he demanded the return of Lady Onara and her son to Kindah Province, claiming Onara was now his wife. Dynast K'lia refused. Now Jerule has massed his troops on the border. That's why there are no vehicles here for you to use. All available vehicles are being used to transport our troops to the border."
Obi-Wan grabbed the man's arm. "What about the Assembly guards? The ones who were stationed at K'lia's manor?"
The man squealed as Obi-Wan squeezed his arm.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he bleated. "But if they were Assembly guards at the Dynast's manor, more than likely they were pulled to join the rest of the troops."
"I need some type of transport. Now! I've got to get to the manor," Obi-Wan cried as he shook the man's arm.
"And I just told you, we don't have anything," the manager retorted angrily.
Then Obi-Wan felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned. Sinja-Bau, who had been strangely silent since their landing on Ahjane, was pulling on his sleeve and pointing to a window behind the manger's desk. Obi-Wan went over to the window and, looking out, saw glimmering in the brilliant night-lights of the starport a blue repulsor-car parked just outside the building. He turned back to the manager.
"I thought you said you didn't have any vehicles," Obi-Wan said in a low, dangerous voice.
"I d-d-don't," the man stammered. "Not to spare, anyway. That one belongs to me. I'm going to need it. In case Kindah Province invades."
Obi-Wan quickly turned and, taking Sinja-Bau by the arm, left the manager's office. The manager ran after him, shouting and waving his arms, but Obi- Wan ignored him, along with the people who had stopped what they were doing to watch. Once they were at the vehicle, he helped Sinja-Bau into the passenger seat. Then, as he turned to get into the driver's seat, the manager grabbed his arm.
"You can't take it," he shouted. "I won't let you!"
"Your vehicle will be returned to you once I'm done with it," Obi-Wan said quietly as he stared hard at the man. "However, right now I am taking it. Therefore I would recommend, and quite strongly I might add, that you release me immediately and let me be on my way."
The man glared at Obi-Wan for a moment but, apparently seeing something in the Jedi's eyes that suggested it would best if he backed down, and quickly, released Obi-Wan's arm.
"Thank you," Obi-Wan said. "I promise to return it."
He climbed into the seat, made sure Sinja-Bau was buckled in safely and, with a low roar of the repulsor-car's engine, sped away from the starport.
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Anakin lurched to the side as the figure leapt down the stairs towards him. He desperately tried to see where his lightsaber had fallen, but in the shadows and darkness of the large vestibule of the manor, he saw nothing that resembled his weapon. The figure landed lightly next to him and laughed.
"Looking for your little lightstick, Jedi? Can't fight without it, hmmm?"
Anakin saw a young Ahjane male who was about his height, weight and age. Like most Ahjane he had black hair but even in the darkness Anakin could see his eyes were the color of storm clouds, a dark, thunderous gray.
"Who are you?" Anakin cried. "What are you doing here? And why have you attacked these people?"
"Who am I?" the youth grinned, his teeth large and white in his face. "My name is Rhad. Why I have attacked these people?" He shrugged. "It's my job. What am I doing here? To show you the way of pain, Jedi. Now, I hope you will prove better sport than the old man was."
Anakin's heart kicked in his chest at Rhad's casual mention of K'lia's death. Rage surged through his veins and he lunged at Rhad. The Ahjane youth turned and swung his right leg hard into Anakin's side. Pain exploded along Anakin's ribs. Rhad followed the kick with a hard right hook, but Anakin managed to block it with his arm. Rhad sidekicked him again in the ribs, seeking to break them. Anakin bent over as pain flared through his body, then his head snapped back as Rhad's left fist uppercut into his chin. He wheeled back across the floor.
"Come on, Jedi, you can do better than that," Rhad shouted, as he danced back, hands raised before him. "You'll be crippled before I even break a sweat!"
Anakin struggled to catch his breath. Rhad was not only strong, he was as quick as any Jedi Anakin had faced in the contests at the Temple. The Ahjane boy advanced, lashing out with another right cross. Anakin blocked it with his hand, then slammed his fist into Rhad's left side. The Ahjane grunted, but quickly recovered and struck Anakin hard across the jaw with a wicked right hook.
Anakin staggered back, his teeth rattling in his head as fell to the floor. As he rose to his feet, Rhad jumped and, flipping over Anakin, landed behind him. Anakin quickly turned to face him. Rhad elbowed him hard across the jaw. Anakin's head flew back and he nearly fell to the floor again.
Quickly drawing in breath through his sore ribs, Anakin tried to focus his awareness so that he could call upon the Force, but Rhad was too fast. His blows and kicks were like lightning and just as deadly. A particularly powerful roundhouse kick to Anakin's already bruised side was followed, in blurring speed, with a right cross, a left, then another right cross. Anakin's head rang. Then before he could draw breath, Rhad whipped around and, leg high, whacked Anakin hard across the face with his foot. Anakin flew back and landed, his head cracking hard against the floor. His vision dimmed and time seemed to slow and, strangely enough, he suddenly heard a voice he hadn't heard in years.
As part of his training as a Jedi, Anakin had been taught unarmed combat by a tiny, elderly, sweet-faced woman by the name of Master Karna. A field Jedi for many years, she had retired to become an instructor at the Temple.
"Remember, Padawans," she had said in her soft, gentle voice as she had stood in the center of one of the Temple's many physical training centers. "The lightsaber is your life as your Masters have wisely told you but, like anything, it can be lost or destroyed. Therefore, in unarmed combat, you will have only your body and the five elements of which it is comprised."
She had then held up her tiny right hand, counting off the elements with her fingers.
"Earth. With it you are as immovable as the mountain or the tree. Water. Withdraw from your attacker, then respond like the wave crashing upon the shore. Fire. Perceive the right moment to attack, then become as a fireball. Air. Be the cloud of smoke that slips away when your opponent tries to grab it. And, finally, the Force. It is the source of everything. And that, my young ones, is where your power and your strength lies."
Time resumed again and, in the darkened vestibule, as Anakin leapt to his feet to face off against Rhad, the taste of his blood like iron and fire in his mouth, all that he had learned over the past few years coalesced within him like the pieces of a puzzle falling into place to form the embodiment of the Force that was Anakin Skywalker.
"Back for more," Rhad sneered as Anakin moved towards him. "You should stay down, Jedi. I'm only supposed to make you suffer, not kill you." Then Rhad shrugged and smiled. "However, if it's death you seek..."
"I don't want to hurt you," Anakin said, blood tricking from the side of his mouth. "I just want the baby."
Rhad shook his head. "Sorry. You're too late. Lady Tsara already has him."
Then Anakin heard the sound of a speeder racing away from the manor.
Rhad grinned. "Speaking of, there she goes now."
Though Anakin could no longer hear Ben's terrified cries, the echo of them reverberated through his mind. Then, suddenly, an image flashed through his mind. It was of Obi-Wan, but he was old. Far older than he was now. He was kneeling on a floor in a black room and a young man was standing over him. The young man had dark hair and blue-gray eyes. A woman was standing near him. A woman as old as time and as merciless as death.
"Mother, what shall I do with him?" Anakin heard the man he some how knew was Ben ask Lady Tsara.
"What else should one do with a Jedi, my son. Kill him."
"As you wish, Mother."
Ben unclipped his lightsaber and ignited it. A blood-red blade leapt forth. He raised the lightsaber above his head.
"Goodbye, Father. May you rot in hell."
The red blade fell towards Obi-Wan.
"NO!" Anakin shouted.
The vision just as suddenly cleared and with it came a sudden influx of the Force into Anakin's body. Rhad, whose face betrayed his confusion at Anakin's sudden, harsh cry, quickly moved into a defensive stance as Anakin raced towards him. Anakin didn't know what the vision meant, but he sensed that whatever happened now between him and Rhad, it would either bring about that terrible vision or it would not.
Anakin struck Rhad hard across the face with his elbow. The two exchanged a series of rapid kicks and blows, then Anakin swung his leg, sweeping Rhad's feet from under him. His heart thumped when he saw Rhad, as he lay on the floor, draw a dagger from a sheath on his hip.
"You're going to die now, Jedi, orders be damned!"
He jumped up and ran towards Anakin, but with the Force now flowing through him, Anakin easily dodged him. Rhad flew past him, crashing into the wall. He was on his feet in an instant, racing back towards Anakin, his dagger aimed at Anakin's chest.
Anakin grabbed the arm holding the blade, twisted it and, as Rhad plowed into him, falling on top of him, plunged the knife into Rhad's chest. Rhad's eyes widened as the blade he was holding sank into his own heart. Blood bubbled along the edges of his mouth and his breath rasped in his chest.
"Noooo," Rhad gasped.
Anakin gazed, horrified, into Rhad's gray eyes as he watched the young Ahjane die. Then, as Rhad's body sank heavily and lifelessly onto his, Anakin quickly pushed him away. Rhad rolled onto his back, his dagger impaled inside his chest.
Anakin stood up. He was trembling for he had never killed anyone this way before. Sweat poured down his face and chest and the smell of Rhad's blood was thick and cloying in his nostrils. He quickly turned and, leaning over, was sick for a moment. As he rose, wiping his mouth, he suddenly sensed the dark, cold absence in the Force which, until a few moments ago, had been Rhad's life presence. And yet, as Anakin stared down at Rhad's body, he also felt a engorged sense of satisfaction for he had defeated a worthy opponent in single combat.
"No, Anakin. Do not glory in your triumph. Obi-Wan's son. He needs you. Go!"
Anakin jumped and turned, his heart thundering.
"Master Qui-Gon," he cried for it had sounded like the voice of the long dead Jedi Master.
But there was no one in the vestibule. Only Rhad's lifeless body lying on the floor. Anakin shook his head to clear it. He must have been hearing things. Anakin shook his head to clear it. He must have been hearing things. He reached down and jerked Rhad's dagger out of his chest. He didn't have time to look for his lightsaber, but he certainly wasn't going to confront the kryat dragon weaponless. Anyone who could have cold- bloodedly planned the murder of their own son was capable of anything. Plus she might not be alone.
Anakin went to the door of the manor, opened it and ran outside. The moon and stars were hidden by low, thick clouds, but he was now completely acclimated to the darkness. To his left loomed the large building that was the garage for the estate. He ran towards it. Suddenly, the Force screamed in his mind. Anakin instinctively ducked and rolled as two dark figures leapt towards him from the side of the manor. He rose up and saw that the two men now facing him were dressed as Rhad had been, in dark, loose pants and tunic, a red sash around their waists.
"Let me pass," Anakin said firmly. "I don't want to hurt either of you. But I won't allow you to hinder me."
The men looked at each other and laughed. They both pulled daggers from the sheaths at their hips and threw themselves at Anakin. Recalling Master Karna's lessons regarding blade combat, for she had taught that also, Anakin met them fearlessly for he was now in complete control of both himself and the Force.
Using the dagger he had taken from Rhad's body, Anakin slashed and stabbed at the two men, moving so swiftly he easily avoided their blades, but his own dagger was a blood-tinged blur of silver in the night. Unlike his battle with Rhad, however, Anakin was calm and composed. There was no anger or glory in what he did and it was soon over.
The moon shyly peeked from behind the clouds, like a witness peering through a curtain at a street brawl, and saw upon the ground two lifeless, black-clad bodies and a young man with bright hair and hot blue eyes standing over them, breathing hard, a bloody blade in his hand. The moon paled at the sight and quickly drew the clouds back over her face.
Anakin stepped over the bodies of the two men and ran to the garage. He pressed open the door and went inside. He was going to need something fast if he hoped to catch up with Tsara. Then he saw what he was looking for. A few days ago he had seen one of the Assembly guards, before they were all pulled from the manor, racing around the estate on a speeder-bike that apparently had belonged to the groundskeeper's son before he left for university in the capital.
Anakin guided the speeder-bike out of the garage. He slipped Rhad's dagger into the straps about his boot. Mounting the speeder, he switched it on. It hummed beneath him and, from the sound, Anakin could tell it had been well-taken care of. He sped towards the entrance to the estate then stopped.
There were two roads leading away from the estate. The larger one went towards the capital and the starport. The smaller one on the left Anakin had no idea where it led, but it was the one Tsara had taken for through the Force he sensed Ben's tiny, but very strong Force signature along that road. Gunning the speeder, his face determined and grim, Anakin shifted it into highspeed and raced down the moon-shrouded road after the she-demon who had stolen his master's son.
To be continued....