-Throne Room-

"What are we going to do?" the king was on the verge of tears. "my only daughter has been taken from me! and they want the stone!" Obi-wan sighed. "Have you tried telling them the plan?" he asked. The king looked up. "Yes! They gave no response!!" he cried in frustration. "Jedi,i must ask you to do me a favor. " he cotinued. Anakin looked up,his eyes hopeful. "Though i have all security forces searching my daughter...I would still feel more assured if you were to look also," the king said slowly. After furrowing his brows,Obi-wan nodded his head. Anakin gave a slight grin. That was exactly what he was itching to do.

-City-

"Be careful,padawan," Obi-wan warned as Anakin edged around a dark alley. he reached out to the Force. "Noone here," he said. But Obiwan was inspecting the ground. "Look here. Anakin. What was the princess wearing before you left?" he suddenly stood. "She was wearing a dark purple velvet dress," Anakin thought. Obi-wan handed something to Anakin. It was a torn peice of dark purple velvet. "They must have been here!" he cried excitingly. Obi-wan nodded, "Exactly." After several more minutes of searching, Anakin made a discovery. "master, look!" he pointed to the ground. a few pebbles on the rocky road were the color of charcoal. "Speeder prints," Obi-wan muttered. "When you are riding a certain speeder at top speed, and come to a stop abruptly, this is what happens. They are here,somewhere," he finished. He hadn't noticed his padawan touching the stone walls. "Of course they are near, master," Anakin said, his palm on the cold,grimy wall,eyes closed in meditation. He opened his eyes. "And i know where they are," he said. Obi-wan raised an eyebrow. "They are hiding within the walls," Obi-wan suddenly said. Anakin smiled and nodded. Obi-wan stepped up beside Anakin. He didn't touch it,as Anakin did,but eyed it suspiciously. He walked down the other side and came back, still staring at the wall. He started walking the other way,when he stopped at the middle. He reached out a hand and smoothed the wall. "here," he whispered. Anakin ran towards him, his excitement getting the best of him. "Shhhh..." Obi-wan whispered,and looked up the building. Anakin looked up too. A camera was looking straight at them. "Walk towards that fruit stand, padawan," he said quietly. they walked casually towards a store,and Anakin felt the camera's lenses watch them. He felt impatient. Aida was in there somewhere, and they were torturing her for information. In his dreams, a long scar was on her face..."master, can't we just go in there and get rid of the guards?" he bursted out. "No padawan. We do not take sides. We will only do as the king requested,and the jedi council has advised," he said. Anakin sighed. Sonce the fruit stand was also selling a bit of jewelry, Anakin looked at one of the mirrors. He saw the camera behind him,which had looked another way. "The camera isnt looking at us anymore,Master," he noted. Obi-wan sighed. "Stay here,and wait for my signal," he said. anakin nodded. He pretended to take interest in a fruit as Obi-wan slipped away.

Obi-wan hid behind the trunk of a large,old tree. He waited until the camera focused on the back of the building before silently and fluidly running through the crowd towards the wall. he pressed his body against it and called. *Padawan* Anakin,who had bought two japa fruits already, perked his head up suddenly. *yes master?* *Come.* Obi-wan responded. Anakin thanked the fruit tender and put his hood on. He walked quietly but quickly towards Obi-wan. "Ready?" Obi-wan whispered. Anakin nodded. Obi-wan reached a hand out and sent a powerful burst of the force towards the hidden door. It quickly slid open. The two guards controlling the cameras opened their mouths to shout,but Anakin was too quick for them. As Obi-wan closed the door behind him, Anakin force threw the two japa fruits he had bought into their mouths. Obi-wan and Anakin drew their lightsabers simultaneously,and pointed them at their necks. "No sound," Obi-wan said. The guardsnodded. "Where is the princess?" Obi-wan asked. The guards looked at each other. "WHERE IS SHE?"Anakin screamed. Obi-wan was suprised by his padawan's sudden burst of anger. One of the guards sighed,and pointed at the computer screen. It was a map of the hideout. He was pointing at a small room labeled,Restricted Access.

-main hallway-

"You seemed a bit disturbed back there,young padawan," Obi-wan mentioned as they made their way cautiously towards the room. Anakin blinked. "Aida is very important to me," he said. "Oh?" Obi-wan raised an eyebrow. "In what way?" he inquired. "She's like my sister. A sister i never had," Anakin replied. Obi-wan nodded in relief. *Thank the force the only love he feels towards her is brotherly love* he thought. "Ten guards. To the left," Obi-wan said. Anakin nodded. They creeped up behind a wall and Obi-wan took a peek. He stopped Anakin,who had wanted a good look also. "Close your eyes,padawan. Feel. Use the Force," he commanded. Anakin sighed. How could his master be asking him to meditate at a time like THIS? Anakin closed his eyes,reached out to the force,and said(as if a recitation),"Ten guards,total. One standing near the princess's door,blaster ready and loaded. two others in front of him in deep conversation,blasters held casually. Four more guards down the hall,comparing their blasters(here Anakin rolled his eyes),the last three looking down the hallway speaking to each other," he said. "Very good padawan. Very good," Obi-wan said. Anakin opened his eyes. "Oh,i forgot that rat crawling next to that guards foot," he said disappointedly. "Oh,did i turn you into such a perfectionist?" Obi-wan asked, amusement in his eyes. Anakin grinned. "Maybe. You're a perfectionist yourself. Or,maybe i came that way," Anakin said. Obi-wan smiled. "ready?" "Oh yeeeah."

They lept from behind the wall and simultaneously lit their lightsabers. The guards,alarmed, started blasting furiously. One of them pressed a button on his belt,alerting all security to the new intruders. Anakin inwardly groaned. "Don't kill them padawan. Just deflect. We don't want to cause a war," Obi-wan warned. While still deflecting,Anakin edged towards the door of the room which held Aida. "Aida are you there?" he shouted,as Obi-wan covered for him. "MMMMPH!" was the reply he got. "Ok. Just,stay calm,we've got everything under control," he said. "Owffweewy?" was the sarcastic reply. Anakin sent calming waves of the force towards Aida,as he resumed deflecting the blaster fire. Obi-wan brought the tip of his lightsaber to one of the blasters. As the blaster melt,the guard screamed and let go. "There are too many!" Anakin shouted,indicating the fast approach of reinforcements. "I've alerted the town security. they are on their way," Obi-wan assured. As if in response to his reassuredness towards Anakin,different blaster fire was heard down the dark hallway. "Town security! Make sure the jedi don't get the princess!" One of the guards screamed. "Get her out,and run! I'll take care of this!" Obi-wan shouted over the noise. Anakin jumped backwards and sunk his lightsaber blade into the wall,careful not to slice too deep. He kicked the the door open and got inside. It was very dark. "Ani! Ani,im here!" Aida's voice echoed through the huge,dark room. She had managed to take of the cloth that had been over her mouth. "Where are you?" he said. "Im here,Ani! Im here!" *My dream* Anakin thought. *In my dream,i-i never found her. But i will now!* Anakin lit his lightsaber again and let its glow guide him. "keep talking!" he shouted. "Oh thank the heavens you have come. they have tried to get information about the stone,Anakin! Oh I kept my mouth shut. If you and your master hadn't come...they were supposed to torture me this afternoon," she said. Anakin finally saw a trail of her robe. And saw her fully. She was wearing a tight red velvet robe(which was now torn),a thin white nightgown(stained a bit at the bottom with blood) underneath. Her hair was in a loose bun. Though she was in distress,she looked as elegant as ever. Anakin quickly cut her bonds,and examined her wounds. She had a scar on her forehead,her leg had a deep cut,and her wrists had scratches from the rough rope that had held her."Morons weren't careful in abducting me.." she explained. He helped her up from the chair she had been bound to. "Oh.." Aida almost fell down. "You are weak," Anakin noted,worry in his voice. He let her lean herself towards him. He held her by the waist,and tried to support her. "Im just fine. Just let me see those horrendus guards and i'll have my strength back in NO time," she seethed. Anakin grinned. Obi-wan came rushing in,his lightsaber glowing blue. "She's wounded. Minor injuries,but they must be attended to,"Anakin explained. Obi-wan shut down his lightsaber,took in the situation,and took her in his arms. "The town security is distracting the ever coming guards. But we only have short time,padawan. they know we have the princess."

They raced out of the room. Blaster fire erupted from all sides. Anakin ignited his lightsaber and deflected every bolt,and at the same time walked backwards towards the open balcony,following Obi-wan. "Jump!!" Obi-wan said. "Be...right...there," Anakin said, still trying to defend himself. He saw Obi-wan take a leap, carrying Aida,and land softly on his feet. Anakin followed shortly. Town security had overcome the gang rebel guards,so they were safely on their way to the palace.

-Palace-

"Aida! Oh my Aida!" King Seth,his face a mask of worry, came rushing into the room Aida was in. After his daughter had assured him that she was alright, Seth turned to the Jedi. "I thank you for bringing my daughter safely here,jedi. It was clever of you not to take her to the hospital," he said. "We knew the consequences, your majesty. She would have been abducted again if she stayed in a public place such as that," Obi-wan answered. "Well! You must rest assured,for i am giving the jedi council a positive report on your mission here! is there anything i can do in return for saving little Aida (' I'm not little!')?" he asked. Obi-wan smiled. "Nothing at the moment you highness. We were just doing as you asked," he said. Suddenly,a boy came inside,and looked at the king and Obi-wan. "Your Majesty,and master jedi,the royal council said it is urgent that you come into the meeting room at once," he said. The king nodded and followed the boy out. Obi-wan motioned for Anakin to stay and left also.

"Thank you so much for saving me." Anakin turned and smiled at Aida. She was laying down on a bed, the blankets thrown aside. "Think nothing of it,your highness," Anakin said. "Oh,formal now,aren't we?" she said raising an eyebrow. "Oh! Sorry,Aida," Anakin corrected himself. "And think nothing of it? Why would i do that? If you and Master Obi-wan didn't come when you did, i would have been totured for information. Even killed if i didn't say anything about the stone," she continued. "You wouldn't have said anything," Anakin sighed. "Course i wouldn't. I'd rather die a hero than live a traitor. Wouldn't you?" she said. "Yes. i guess..no i know i would have done the same," Anakin replied. Aida sighed and gave a slight groan. anakin gave a start. "Are you in pain?" he asked. Aida had a cold look on her face. "No,no,not in pain. I was just thinking of how i'm not gong to be allowed to beat my abductors up when i visit them in prison," she said. Anakin chuckled. "You are a a spirited one,aren't you?" he said,shaking his head. "Yes. Aren't you?" she asked. Anakin chuckled again and said, " Oh yes. I am."