Title: Hidden Shadows Seeking Light

Rating: I wish I knew. I am putting it at PG-13 just because I don't know any better and would rather err on the safe side.

Genre: Drama/Mild Angst

Feedback: I would love to get feedback on this story. I would appreciate it if everyone would put down their flame throwers though because this is only my second time out and I know I made mistakes on the first story and have no doubt I will make many on this one. I need constructive criticism so that I will get better not mean comments that will only serve to make me cry. I thank each and every one of the readers who take the time to review this story. I love fan fiction and hope to write stories that can entertain others as much as their stories have entertained me.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They are, were and will always belong to Mr. George Lucas creator of an amazing universe. Not only does this story contain elements of the universe that Mr. Lucas created but also the Alternate Universe (AU) found in a wonderful story called An Untimely Frost by CYNICAL21.

Just to a little guide as to what things mean:

/-/ Bond thought //-// Private thought "-" Speaking aloud

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Anakin opened his eyes slowly shutting them quickly once more as the light from his cabin slammed into his already pounding head. His stomach twisted as a result of the pain and threatened to show itself.

"Easy Padawan." It was his Master's voice. He felt strong fingers carding through his hair.

"Could you lower the lights Master. My head is really hurting." Qui-Gon waved his hand and the lights in the cabin dimmed significantly.

"Is that better?" The Master asked softly hoping that his voice wasn't also adding to Anakin's pain.

Anakin slowly opened one eye and then the other. His blurred vision slowly cleared to reveal a worried Master staring down at him.

"Much. Thank you Master." His voice sounded hoarse from disuse. "How long have I been asleep?" He tried clearing his throat.

"Almost twelve hours. I was beginning to grow concerned. How are you feeling?" His Master rose and crossed the room into the fresher.

"Better. My head still hurts but nothing like it did when-" He froze staring up at his Master as the memory of the darkness overwhelmed him again.

"It's ok Anakin. Calm yourself. We will sort this out and all will be well." Qui-Gon soothed the boy.

"What was it?" He asked rubbing his head slightly as if he could reach the spot that was aching deep inside. He checked to insure that his new shields were holding

"We aren't sure. What did it feel like?" Qui-Gon asked his eyes filled with concern.

"Just pain." Anakin dismissed. He didn't want to admit to his Master that it had been darkness or that it had felt familiar. He remembered the feeling that he had had in the practice room when the cold fingers had sifted through his mind. He shuddered.

"Just pain nothing more?" Qui-Gon asked again a different concern filling his eyes. He didn't want to doubt the boy but couldn't help but feel that Anakin was hiding something.

Anakin gently shook his head. "Just pain."

Qui-Gon attached an analgesic patch to the boy's neck.

"What time is it?" Anakin asked.

"It is late into the sleep cycle." Qui-Gon sat next to the boy on his bunk. Anakin could tell that the Master had no intention of allowing him to slip back into sleep.

"What is it Master?" Anakin sat up further in his bed relieved that the patch was starting to work. As the pain in his head lessened his apprehension was rising. He knew that the moment had come where he would have to talk about what he had felt. He had his shields in place so it would be easier to keep much of it from his Master, but he wasn't sure whether it was wise to do so.

Anakin found the fact that someone had come into his mind so easily frightened him. The thought that this same being knew of his secret box and had used his comforting darkness to torture him terrified him. The young boy in him longed to spill his guts. He wanted to bury his face into his Master's cloak and bleed out all of the pain, terror and hatred, but feared that if he did so he would find himself cast away. He had to be trained. He had to free his mother.

Qui-Gon placed his hands on either side of the boy's head and sent a healing wave of the Force into him relieving what remained of the boy's headache. Anakin sighed in relief as the final traces of pain left him.

"Are you hungry?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Maybe a little." Anakin replied as his stomach chose that moment to make itself heard. He and his Master chuckled together.

"Let's head to the galley and get you some food. It will help you wake up. Then we need to talk." Qui-Gon helped the boy up and waited while he dressed. He felt a growing apprehension about what Anakin might tell him knowing that whatever he revealed Qui-Gon would need to in turn relay to the Council.

Upon entering the galley they came across Obi-Wan who was cleaning up the tea things.

"Knight Kenobi I thought you would be asleep." Anakin commented wearily. He silently chided himself for not reaching out before hand to make sure of that fact. No doubt the knight had taken it upon himself to enlighten his Master as to his discovery.

"Just a bunch of night owls on board I suppose." Obi-Wan kept his voice neutral. He remembered the boy's reaction to his presence in his mind. He also remembered the murderous look Anakin had given him following the attack. He hoped it had just been a result of the shock.

"Anakin is hungry." Qui-Gon commented making his way into the cooking area.

"I will warm up his supper." Obi-Wan began moving to intercept the older man. "I know you have things to discuss." Qui-Gon nodded grateful for the knight's assistance. He actually had wanted Obi-Wan to hear what Anakin had to say. He wanted someone who could help him figure out not only what the boy had experienced but also whether he was revealing all that he knew or if he was still trying to conceal the truth.

Qui-Gon made his way back over to the table and sat down next to his young Padawan. He gently placed his arm around the boy. Anakin raised his eyes to his Master and smiled weakly.

"Anakin I must know what it was that you experienced during the attack. It is the only way that I can possibly help you and protect you." His voice was soft but firm. Anakin nodded. He took a deep breath and wrinkled his brow as if trying to remember what had occurred. He was in fact trying to figure out how much he had to reveal in order to placate his Master.

"I was meditating on my anger." He paused clearing his throat. "It was then that I felt this presence." He stared up.

"A presence?" Qui-Gon prompted him.

"Yes like someone else was in my mind. He had something with him too. It was like a travel pack." He paused for dramatic effect. "No it wasn't like a travel pack it was sturdier than that. It was like a case or box or something." Qui-Gon felt his breath catch. Obi-Wan had been telling the truth. He had found a box, but Obi-Wan had believed it to have been Anakin's and not the others. He nodded encouraging the boy to continue.

"Well just as I was about to ask why he was there he opened the box and all there was was darkness and pain." His hands rose involuntarily to his head as if remembering how intense the feelings had been.

"Anakin." Qui-Gon forced himself to stay as objective as possible even though everything in him was crying out that he take the boy into his arms and comfort and reassure him. "Are you positive that the box was his and not yours." He noted the immediate look of betrayal and hurt that covered the boy's countenance.

"Master, it was his. How could you believe that I would-I would never." The boy's voice trailed off weakly as he obviously fought back tears. He leveled his gaze to the table top remaining silent allowing his injured tone and his Master's natural tendency to feel guilt do the work for him.

Obi-Wan had come out from the galley and was leaning against the bulkhead. He had been amazed at Anakin's performance. He had been equally amazed at how readily Qui-Gon had believed it. Looking over his gaze locked onto Qui-Gon's. He saw the pain and regret in the older man's eyes. He was feeling guilty for having questioned the boy. Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head returning to the cooking area to retrieve Anakin's plate.

"It's ok Anakin. I know that it was hard. I just had to ask. I had to be certain. Obi-Wan found the box while we were working to free you of the presence. I just had to be certain that it had not always been there." Qui-Gon reassured the boy. He felt grateful that Obi-Wan had been mistaken about its origin. He couldn't imagine Anakin holding on to anything remotely dark. He had felt certain that he would have sensed it if the boy had been hiding something.

Obi-Wan came over and sat the plate in front of the boy.

"Knight Kenobi, I want to thank you for helping my Master today to defeat whatever it was that attacked us." Anakin's voice sounded younger filled with perfect innocence and gratitude.

"You are welcome Anakin. I want to help you in any way I can, but I can only help if you allow me to." Obi-Wan sat down across from the boy. He watched as Anakin seemed to grimace in response to the knight's words.

"Well thanks. This looks really good. I am really hungry." Anakin began eating. Qui-Gon watched him for a moment relieved at how quickly the boy was recovering from the terrible trauma he had suffered. Yawning he rose and glanced at Obi-Wan.

"I am going to see if I can get a little sleep before we transmit that message. Can you wake me when we are out of hyperspace and able to catch the Council while they are in session?" He asked already making his way to the corridor.

"Certainly Master Jinn, sleep well." Obi-Wan's voice was soft and amiable. He shook his head watching the other man disappear from his view.

Once the Master was out of sight Anakin was ready to be rid of the knight.

"You don't have to sit here with me. I know you must be tired or busy. I can eat by myself." Anakin glanced up at the knight smiling broadly thinking //mission accomplished//.

He was surprised when he saw the seriousness in Obi-Wan's eyes. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes seemed to know things which made Anakin fight an overwhelming need to squirm.

"You're good. Did you learn that working for Watto? Is that a survival skill you picked up somewhere?" His voice was friendly enough but Anakin resented the question.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Anakin stated maintaining a wide eyed innocent stare.

"That. What you are doing now. Do you really think it will work on me the way it works on Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes just a bit.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. I am just sitting here eating. If you don't want to sit with me you don't have to. I don't know what you want from me." Anakin's voice had grown louder in light of his obvious discomfort at being the object of the knight's scrutiny.

"Watch it Anakin your mask if slipping." Obi-Wan spoke leaning in over the table and lowering his voice at the same time. "I am on to you. What I want is the truth. I don't know what game you think you are playing here but I can assure you that you will lose. It would be better for you to own up to the lies that you have spoken to your Master now than to have them revealed later."

"I haven't lied. Who do you think you are?" Anakin had dropped his fork his innocent look giving way to a much more menacing glare.

"You have lied and your lying now. I just think you should know that I am on to you. You won't get away with whatever you are trying to do here. I saw what I saw and I know what I know. You are playing with darkness. You have no idea what you are playing with but I can assure you that unless you stop it immediately you will never be a Jedi." The knight was almost pleaded with the boy.

"Oh yeah and who will stop me?" Anakin taunted as Obi-Wan rose to make his way to the cockpit.

"I will." Two simple words, but it was enough. Anakin wanted to say something back. He wanted to say something to reassure himself that Obi- Wan wasn't a threat, but he suddenly had lost his confidence. Looking down at what was left of his dinner he realized he had also lost his appetite.

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It was dark and quiet. Each day she would feel her eyes straining against the constant darkness to see something just anything, but all there was blackness all around her. It was oppressive and suffocating. She fought another wave of anxiety as she felt her breaths beginning to speed up.

"Ok Laroon get a grip. It's going to be ok. Someone will find you." Her voice pierced the silence of her prison. Somehow the sound of it though strange and more hopeless by the day did manage to buoy her spirits for the moment. She had no idea why she was being held or who her captor was. He came each night shining that blinding light into her eyes, leaving fresh food and water for her then disappearing ignoring her questions and pleas.

She sighed. Surely it was a good sign that she was getting fresh food and water each day. If they wanted her dead why would they go to the trouble of feeding or watering her. Why would they go to such lengths to protect their identity unless they were planning to release her? The questions had become a ritual. Each day she would remind herself of all that she had going in her favor. She rubbed her wrist. The skin there was raw from the constant friction of the manacle. The chains were heavy and she winced as she heard them drag along the concrete flooring as she shifted to a more comfortable position.

She had determined that she must be in an abandoned facility of some kind otherwise her cries for help would have been heard and heeded long ago. She had felt enough of her surroundings to know that she was in a large room with what appeared to be storage units and random parts and supplies. She had searched for endless hours for anything that she could use to free herself with but all searches had come up empty. She willed her tears back as she fought to keep her mind clear. She had to think. She didn't have the luxury of time. She had been here for several days. She wondered how long until her captors would grow weary. She knew the policy of their government was to never negotiate with terrorist.

It would be very difficult for her father to adhere to this policy but she hoped for the sake of the planet that he would. Well a part of her hoped that he would refuse to deal but another part of her desperately hoped that he would. She couldn't imagine what would happen to her if he didn't. Well she could but chose not to.

She had gone over the day of her capture no less than a thousand times. Whoever had taken her must have had the security codes to the State House or had had someone willing to leave an entranced unsecured long enough for them to come in and kidnap her. She wasn't sure how they had managed to remove her from the premises without anyone noticing. She only remembered the feel of the cloth on her face, waking in a panic unable to breath, suddenly feeling unable to keep her eyes open, then finally waking in this dark nightmare.

Straining her ears she listened for any sound that might indicate her location or the fact that others might be within hearing of her cries for help. Hearing nothing she decided to sleep now. Perhaps when she woke someone would have stumbled close enough to hear her. Settling herself on the cold floor she drew her knees up to her chest. Slowly she began to drift away, away from the darkness, the silence, the cold prison, in her dreams she escaped.

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"Pulmee it is good to see you. I know this week has been a terrible ordeal for you." Commander La'Kol's voice was filled with empathy. Pulmee noticed the dark circles beneath the other man's eyes and realized the profound effect the kidnapping was having on the other man. He hid his delight.

"For you as well Commander. Is there any word yet on your daughter's whereabouts?" Pulmee asked false sincerity dripping from his mouth.

La'Kol simply shook his head and gestured to the chair closest to this desk. Pulmee settled himself into the seat as the Commander lowered himself behind the massive desk.

"Pulmee I didn't call you here to commiserate though I am sure we could spend most of the day doing so with all the tragedy we find our lives embroiled with. " He cleared his throat, "Personal problems aside our first obligations are to this planet. I trust that Valem has solicited your input as to the upcoming ceremony?" La'Kol paused raising his eye brows awaiting a response. Pulmee Den nodded indicating that he had. La'Kol continued, " I am afraid in light of everything else I have not been able to give your appointment the necessary attention. I hope that you will not see this as any sort of slight. These are difficult days for me. How are you holding up? I know that even though my friendship with Relian was relatively young, you had been life long friends with the man."

Pulmee paused as if considering the matter for the first time. When he spoke he was careful to appear hesitant and reluctant.

"I have to admit to being a bit numb still to the entire situation. I just can't seem to accept that Relian is gone. He was such a mentor and friend to me." He paused again as if holding back his emotions. "I feel I owe him so much. I am not sure that I could ever truly fill his shoes, but would feel it a privilege to live my life attempting to honor his memory." He cleared his throat and lowered his head.

La'Kol nodded in understanding. He had never truly seen eye to eye with Relian but over the last two years had come to respect the man. He had always been a person of dignity and integrity. He had helped La'Kol to set aside his own hyper northern nationalism over the last six months. They had begun working together to form policies which would better serve all the people of their planet. Looking at the humble and sincere man across from him La'Kol felt his spirits buoyed. Pulmee had been Relian's assistant for many long years. It only stood to reason that they would be like minded in their goals and philosophies.

La'Kol managed to smile at the man, but it was an expression born of much personal turmoil.

"I am sure that you will honor his memory with your diligent service and loyalty to his aspirations for our united planet. I look forward to working with you to make his dreams a reality." He grew silent for a moment causing Pulmee to shift uneasily in his chair. "In light of the turmoil of recent days the Republic has granted my request for negotiators to aid us in our transition until this time of unrest has passed. The two Jedi that negotiated our first agreement should be arriving sometime tomorrow afternoon. It is my hope that they can allay some of the fears that seem to be surfacing in both hemispheres among our people and also perhaps help to locate my daughter before it is too late." The Commander's voice caught on the word 'daughter' but he quickly cleared his throat and pressed on. . "Master Jinn and his Padawan Kenobi were the ones correct?" Pulmee asked.

"Yes that is correct, but now I believe that Padawan Kenobi had earned his rank of Knight. Master Jinn has a new padawan who will be accompanying them. They will be staying in the State House for the duration of their visit. They will be present for the swearing in ceremony as well as the formal dinner following it. We should shoot for the day after tomorrow for your swearing in ceremony. Is that acceptable? " La'Kol asked glancing at his data pad as he did so.

"Whatever you think is best." Pulmee replied humbly.

"Very well then. I will be in touch as soon as I have the necessary confirmation. " La'Kol gave Den a nod of dismissal and that was that.

Pulmee Den fought his urge to smile at his own cleverness as he walked from the room. Everything was proceeding as planned. The meeting with La'Kol and gone easier than he had expected. He knew that once he was in power he it would only be a matter of days before he replaced La' Kol as Commander. Glancing back over his shoulder Pulmee almost felt sorry for the man sitting behind the desk. Involuntarily Den smirked as he thought. //almost.//

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The Council meeting had been long and tedious as yet another planet's petition for removal from the Republic came up for debate. The Senate had been sending all petitions to the Council before taking any official vote. It was the hope of the Senate that Jedi negotiators could be sent to the various systems to investigate the possible cause of the petitions as well as intercede and reverse the planetary government's thinking.

Adi caught herself drifting off and away from the current argument. The same points were being made over and over again and yet no action could be decided upon. She resented the growing feeling that her time was being wasted. She had never been one to put off tomorrow what needed to be done today. She felt certain that if examined closely a pattern would emerge as to the planetary systems which were leaving the Republic. They all used differing excuses but somehow they seemed to be linked. It was just a feeling that she had but she felt certain that the Force was showing her something.

She tried once more to reiterate her concern and feelings but found herself once more embroiled in a debate as to the Council's role in the universe. Why must everyone be so territorial she wondered? What did it matter whose job it was as long as someone did it and did it well? She sighed and shook her head. She had just decided to rise and walk out when a young female Padawan entered the Chambers.

"Masters." She bowed. "We have just received a transmission from Master Jinn and Knight Kenobi. It is coded for "Immediate Attention of the Council" requesting an immediate response as well." She stopped waiting for Master Windu to decide if the Council would receive the transmission now or have it recorded to be received later. Adi caught herself holding her breath as Mace decided.

"Thank you Padawan Keeren. Please have the transmission relayed into the Chambers immediately." He gave Yoda a side glance. Adi wondered what that meant but she found herself more concerned as to why Obi-Wan would be sending an urgent transmission to the Council.

After all the earlier arguing the room seemed uncomfortably quiet. In a matter of moments there was a soft whirring noise and the image of Qui-Gon Jinn appeared before the Council. He bowed to Masters Yoda and Windu before speaking.

"Masters, we have left hyperspace in order to make an urgent report as well as to submit a request to the Council." Yoda and Windu exchanged knowing glances wondering if this had to do with some huge falling out between Jinn and Kenobi. Perhaps putting them together so soon had been a mistake.

"Proceed." Mace nodded his voice betraying his anticipated exasperation with Jinn.

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Argh! Can you believe I left you hanging like that? Me neither. I just had to do it though. I was the perfect place to stop. I will try to get the next post together and up quickly. Hope you guys aren't too upset with me. I just thought that we all needed a little angst in our lives. How else will we ever continue to appreciate all the our beloved Obi endures. (big smile here) Thanks again for the reviews. I expect some comments about my cliff hanger try not to be too mean ok? Thanks again for the encouragement.