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
***********************************************************************
"Anakin." The voice was soft echoing like a whisper on the wind swirling around in his mind. "Anakin." He reached out to him promising comfort and power. "Come to me." He heard it and in his mind saw where he was to go. So easy to follow the voice of his Master trusting him to take him where he needed to go. "All will be well." He stumbled along eyes closed, legs moving, guided along only by the voice.
"I'm coming." He whispered. He had never been on this planet before and yet he knew where he was going. His legs carried him with speed to a place he had never seen and yet it was somehow familiar to him. He never thought to resist the voice. Some how he had known he would never be able to even if he had tried. Better to let it lead him along to the destiny that was surely awaiting him. He was the Chosen One and somewhere in his sleep he knew he had been selected.
*************************************
Commander La'Kol sighed having just given the Jedi all the information he had concerning the whereabouts of his daughter. He could tell from their expressions that they too seemed disappointed that it was not more.
"Commander La'Kol the State House security is constantly monitored correct?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes. We have a central room with security monitoring the various images coming in from the imagery devices." He knew what the next question was going to be and he had no good answer for it. The deception had been well planned.
"Then how is it that no one saw the individual enter-" La'Kol interrupted the young man realizing he couldn't bare to hear the question one more time.
"We aren't sure how but there was a signal sent from outside the State House that was set to the frequency of the monitoring devices in that portion of the building. The signal was stronger and therefore it overrode the images that the equipment was sending replacing it instead with a loop of the area showing nothing out of the ordinary." He stood in frustration walking to the window.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged looks of concern then both turned to watch the man making his way to the window.
"We realize how difficult this in for you Commander." Qui-Gon's voice was soothing. "We are merely trying to understand the scope of the abduction to see if there is something that would help lead us to your daughter." The Commander nodded refusing to turn around for the moment until he had his emotions better under control.
"We didn't realize that she was gone until the next morning. We have no idea exactly what time of the night she was taken. She could be anywhere on the planet." He sighed.
"Would you say your daughter is fairly recognizable by the populace?" Obi- Wan's question seemed to surprise the man.
"Why yes of course. She had been in the public eye most of her life. I would say she would be easily recognized." His brow was furrowed.
"Then it would be logical that they got her to the holding place before dawn. They would never risk someone recognizing her." Qui-Gon spoke completing Obi-Wan's thought. He nodded to the knight.
"Do you ever alter the frequencies of your monitoring devices?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes we change them every day. It is very secretive. I could not tell you what the various frequencies are today." He moved back to his chair.
"What are you thinking?" Qui-Gon asked turning to Obi-Wan.
"Whoever pulled this off knew what security system was being used and the daily frequency for that particular unit. It has to be someone-"
"Inside the State House." Qui-Gon's words were hushed and heavy with the revelation they held.
La'Kol sat quietly his mind racing over all of the sympathetic words and expressions he had seen over the last few days. He suddenly saw each with a new set of eyes. One had surely been involved and had been hiding behind false sentiment. He shook his head. He couldn't imagine anyone wanting to harm Laroon.
"Planetary terrorist are sophisticated these days. They could have managed to hit the frequency after a few attempts." He argued.
"But they would need someone to tell them whether they had hit it or not. Who was manning the monitors when your daughter was taken?" Qui-Gon asked.
La'Kol rose and returned with a list of the security officers on duty that evening. He quickly marked two names then handed the list to Qui-Gon.
"Since we aren't sure when she was taken it could have happened during either shift. These are the two men that were to monitor the images on that evening."
"Who else besides security has access to the codes?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No one. They are entered by our Chief of Security into the mainframe as he leaves for the evening. " There was a brief moment of silence as the three men continued to attempt to unravel the mystery before them.
"May we speak to this man?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Yes he should be entering the new codes now. Let me summon him for us." La'Kol rose and pressed a button embedded in his desk. The door to his office opened immediately and Valem, his attaché, entered.
"Commander?" He asked nodding politely to the Jedi.
"We need Hargus Zaro." As soon as the words were out of his mouth Valem was on his way out of the door to retrieve the man.
"Commander?"Qui-Gon began securing La'Kol's attention. "I would like your permission to enter into this man's mind to see if there is any deceit in what he tells us."
La'Kol nodded. He normally would have been less willing to go along with Jinn on this but it was his daughter and he was desperate.
Moments later Hargus Zaro entered. He was a short man with dark hair and dark eyes. His face was open and friendly. Obi-Wan found himself realizing he was nothing like what he had expected. Most security heads were serious, worried looking men who had sacrificed many years of their lives living under the burden of keeping others safe. Zaro smiled at the men and extended his hand in greeting.
He turned to the Commander. "Are we any closer to knowing something Sir?"
The Commander shook his head. It was obvious that the two men knew each other.
"Zaro served under me in the years prior to the establishment of the planetary government." La'Kol explained as he took his seat and gestured for Zaro to do the same. "He is a whiz with surveillance and reconnaissance. He is the best that there is."
"Not the best." Zaro's voice sounded defeated and filled with sorrow as he glanced up at this friend.
Qui-Gon was relieved to know that Zaro was a friend to the Commander. This would make things much easier.
"Hargus, we need to ask you a few questions, but before I begin would you be agreeable to allowing me to come into your mind for the moment and seek out any information that might be eluding you? I can assure you that I will leave any thoughts not related to the girl's disappearance untouched." Qui-Gon's eyes communicated the urgency of the request. Zaro nodded without hesitation.
Qui-Gon looked to Obi-Wan who immediately fell into a meditative state. He would link his mind with Qui-Gon's and together they would come into Zaro's. He felt himself sink into Qui-Gon's calming presence. He resisted the urge to smile unsure of how the Commander would react. He doubted that he could put into words how much he had missed being linked to his Master in this way. He swallowed hard and gently nudged Qui-Gon to let him know he was ready whenever Jinn was.
Qui-Gon reached out taking Obi-Wan with him and slowly sunk into Zaro's thoughts. He moved slowly being careful not to cause the man any undue pain or alarm. He heard the man laugh. "Tickles." He said causing both he and Obi-Wan to smile. They had never heard that one before. They had not traveled far before they both froze.
/Qui-Gon./ Obi-Wan's voice was full of alarm.
/I sense it as well Padawan./ Qui-Gon swallowed his own apprehension.
It was the same presence that they had felt during the attack on board the ship. The same Sith who had come against Anakin had somehow moved into this man's mind and taken the necessary frequency codes. They wondered what else he had done but knew better than to linger in Zaro's mind. They didn't want to send him into a psychic shock. Qui-Gon backed out leaving Zaro smiling but with a faint itchy sensation in his brain.
Obi-Wan unlinked his presence with that of his Masters. He noted that Qui- Gon had turned to him and given him a comforting smile as he did so. He could tell from the man's expression that he too missed being a part of Obi- Wan's thoughts.
Qui-Gon cleared his throat.
"Did you find anything useful?" Zaro asked anxiously. He wanted to help. His friend La'Kol was putting on a brave front but he knew him well enough to see beneath it. He knew the man was hurting.
"Yes as a matter of fact we did." Qui-Gon's voice was soft and thoughtful.
"Zaro," Obi-Wan began. "Have you ever felt a sensation like you just did when we entered your mind?" The man stopped and considered what the young knight was asking him.
"Well now that you mention it I did. I was in my office working on some logs when I felt that same strange tickling and then later this itching in my brain. I had no idea what it was. I went home early and laid down for a while. It didn't last very long. I really didn't give it much thought." Obi-Wan nodded.
"Commander. " Qui-Gon began knowing he needed to be honest with the man but at the same time not wanting to take what little hope the man was clinging to from him, " I am afraid that things have just gotten a great deal more serious where your daughter is concerned. If my assumptions are correct, your daughter's disappearance is linked to the presence of a Sith."
Before La'Kol could respond Obi-Wan's voice caught the Master's attention. One word whispered in alarm causing the older man to leap to his feet and race for the door.
"Anakin."
**********************************
Pulmee Den had just delivered his "guest's" dinner when he heard footsteps echoing near the exit to the basement. He thought about calling out but then thought better of it. Why would anyone be here? It was probably just some kids nosing around. He once again chided himself for selecting a sight located in a residential area. Listening more closely he realized that he was only hearing one set of footsteps. The darkness surrounded him and he longed to turn on his light to see who it was that was approaching him. He knew he would have to take care of the intruder less they discover his prisoner and ruin everything.
"Den." It was the Sith. It was the dark lord. How could Sidious have found him here? He had made kidnapping the girl possible but Pulmee had never revealed her location to the man.
"Yes lord." He whispered into the darkness wondering where it stopped and the man started.
"You have done well keeping the girl's whereabouts a secret." The man hissed. Pulmee wasn't sure if he should be grateful or annoyed. If he had truly been successful he would not be standing in the room with a Sith at the moment. "I am not like ordinary men." The voice answered him causing Den to swallow hard and vow to watch his thoughts.
"Why are you here?" He asked his voice betraying his fear of the lord.
"I have come to add a guest to your establishment." The Sith moved up to Den's side taking his light and turning it on. "He should be coming along any moment now."
"Why here?" Den asked not wishing to have another prisoner to feed and water and one day have to get rid of.
"Why not? You've plenty of room." The Sith replied laughing wickedly as he did so.
Pulmee heard a set of footsteps echoing down the stair case. They sounded lighter than the Sith's. He couldn't imagine why he was only hearing one set unless the victim was unconscious and being carried.
He glanced up at the Sith watching an evil smile twist on the man's face. It was the first time that the dark lord had allowed him to see his face. Pulmee knew that being privy to such knowledge would more than likely shorten his life span.
Pushing down the panic that was rising within him, Den stared back out into the darkness as his newest captive approached. His mouth dropped open at the sight of him. He turned quickly to Sidious wondering if the man were mad.
"Pulmee Den I believe you've met Anakin Skywalker?" The Sith hissed out.
Pulmee managed a nod. The boy seemed to be in some sort of trance. He had not reacted yet to either man's presence.
"Do you have the collars I gave to you?"
Pulmee nodded and moved to the far end of the area to retrieve one. When he returned Sidious took the device from him and secured it around the boy's neck. He ran his thin fingers through the boy's hair before shoving him slightly in Den's direction.
"Put him with the girl." Sidious moved away disappearing into the darkness leaving Pulmee alone with a frightened girl, a Jedi Padawan and a renewed feeling of dread.
*****************************************************************
Reading the reviews it seems that you guys would rather have frequent posts even though the chapters might be shorter than longer chapters with longer waits. I aim to please. I really appreciate all the comments and suggestions. They are very helpful to me. The action is starting and that is a bit harder for me to write. I just don't have much experience with it, so I will get new posts up as soon as possible. Thanks again to all my loyal readers. It is you that keeps me writing. What is a writer without her readers?
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
***********************************************************************
"Anakin." The voice was soft echoing like a whisper on the wind swirling around in his mind. "Anakin." He reached out to him promising comfort and power. "Come to me." He heard it and in his mind saw where he was to go. So easy to follow the voice of his Master trusting him to take him where he needed to go. "All will be well." He stumbled along eyes closed, legs moving, guided along only by the voice.
"I'm coming." He whispered. He had never been on this planet before and yet he knew where he was going. His legs carried him with speed to a place he had never seen and yet it was somehow familiar to him. He never thought to resist the voice. Some how he had known he would never be able to even if he had tried. Better to let it lead him along to the destiny that was surely awaiting him. He was the Chosen One and somewhere in his sleep he knew he had been selected.
*************************************
Commander La'Kol sighed having just given the Jedi all the information he had concerning the whereabouts of his daughter. He could tell from their expressions that they too seemed disappointed that it was not more.
"Commander La'Kol the State House security is constantly monitored correct?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes. We have a central room with security monitoring the various images coming in from the imagery devices." He knew what the next question was going to be and he had no good answer for it. The deception had been well planned.
"Then how is it that no one saw the individual enter-" La'Kol interrupted the young man realizing he couldn't bare to hear the question one more time.
"We aren't sure how but there was a signal sent from outside the State House that was set to the frequency of the monitoring devices in that portion of the building. The signal was stronger and therefore it overrode the images that the equipment was sending replacing it instead with a loop of the area showing nothing out of the ordinary." He stood in frustration walking to the window.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged looks of concern then both turned to watch the man making his way to the window.
"We realize how difficult this in for you Commander." Qui-Gon's voice was soothing. "We are merely trying to understand the scope of the abduction to see if there is something that would help lead us to your daughter." The Commander nodded refusing to turn around for the moment until he had his emotions better under control.
"We didn't realize that she was gone until the next morning. We have no idea exactly what time of the night she was taken. She could be anywhere on the planet." He sighed.
"Would you say your daughter is fairly recognizable by the populace?" Obi- Wan's question seemed to surprise the man.
"Why yes of course. She had been in the public eye most of her life. I would say she would be easily recognized." His brow was furrowed.
"Then it would be logical that they got her to the holding place before dawn. They would never risk someone recognizing her." Qui-Gon spoke completing Obi-Wan's thought. He nodded to the knight.
"Do you ever alter the frequencies of your monitoring devices?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes we change them every day. It is very secretive. I could not tell you what the various frequencies are today." He moved back to his chair.
"What are you thinking?" Qui-Gon asked turning to Obi-Wan.
"Whoever pulled this off knew what security system was being used and the daily frequency for that particular unit. It has to be someone-"
"Inside the State House." Qui-Gon's words were hushed and heavy with the revelation they held.
La'Kol sat quietly his mind racing over all of the sympathetic words and expressions he had seen over the last few days. He suddenly saw each with a new set of eyes. One had surely been involved and had been hiding behind false sentiment. He shook his head. He couldn't imagine anyone wanting to harm Laroon.
"Planetary terrorist are sophisticated these days. They could have managed to hit the frequency after a few attempts." He argued.
"But they would need someone to tell them whether they had hit it or not. Who was manning the monitors when your daughter was taken?" Qui-Gon asked.
La'Kol rose and returned with a list of the security officers on duty that evening. He quickly marked two names then handed the list to Qui-Gon.
"Since we aren't sure when she was taken it could have happened during either shift. These are the two men that were to monitor the images on that evening."
"Who else besides security has access to the codes?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No one. They are entered by our Chief of Security into the mainframe as he leaves for the evening. " There was a brief moment of silence as the three men continued to attempt to unravel the mystery before them.
"May we speak to this man?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Yes he should be entering the new codes now. Let me summon him for us." La'Kol rose and pressed a button embedded in his desk. The door to his office opened immediately and Valem, his attaché, entered.
"Commander?" He asked nodding politely to the Jedi.
"We need Hargus Zaro." As soon as the words were out of his mouth Valem was on his way out of the door to retrieve the man.
"Commander?"Qui-Gon began securing La'Kol's attention. "I would like your permission to enter into this man's mind to see if there is any deceit in what he tells us."
La'Kol nodded. He normally would have been less willing to go along with Jinn on this but it was his daughter and he was desperate.
Moments later Hargus Zaro entered. He was a short man with dark hair and dark eyes. His face was open and friendly. Obi-Wan found himself realizing he was nothing like what he had expected. Most security heads were serious, worried looking men who had sacrificed many years of their lives living under the burden of keeping others safe. Zaro smiled at the men and extended his hand in greeting.
He turned to the Commander. "Are we any closer to knowing something Sir?"
The Commander shook his head. It was obvious that the two men knew each other.
"Zaro served under me in the years prior to the establishment of the planetary government." La'Kol explained as he took his seat and gestured for Zaro to do the same. "He is a whiz with surveillance and reconnaissance. He is the best that there is."
"Not the best." Zaro's voice sounded defeated and filled with sorrow as he glanced up at this friend.
Qui-Gon was relieved to know that Zaro was a friend to the Commander. This would make things much easier.
"Hargus, we need to ask you a few questions, but before I begin would you be agreeable to allowing me to come into your mind for the moment and seek out any information that might be eluding you? I can assure you that I will leave any thoughts not related to the girl's disappearance untouched." Qui-Gon's eyes communicated the urgency of the request. Zaro nodded without hesitation.
Qui-Gon looked to Obi-Wan who immediately fell into a meditative state. He would link his mind with Qui-Gon's and together they would come into Zaro's. He felt himself sink into Qui-Gon's calming presence. He resisted the urge to smile unsure of how the Commander would react. He doubted that he could put into words how much he had missed being linked to his Master in this way. He swallowed hard and gently nudged Qui-Gon to let him know he was ready whenever Jinn was.
Qui-Gon reached out taking Obi-Wan with him and slowly sunk into Zaro's thoughts. He moved slowly being careful not to cause the man any undue pain or alarm. He heard the man laugh. "Tickles." He said causing both he and Obi-Wan to smile. They had never heard that one before. They had not traveled far before they both froze.
/Qui-Gon./ Obi-Wan's voice was full of alarm.
/I sense it as well Padawan./ Qui-Gon swallowed his own apprehension.
It was the same presence that they had felt during the attack on board the ship. The same Sith who had come against Anakin had somehow moved into this man's mind and taken the necessary frequency codes. They wondered what else he had done but knew better than to linger in Zaro's mind. They didn't want to send him into a psychic shock. Qui-Gon backed out leaving Zaro smiling but with a faint itchy sensation in his brain.
Obi-Wan unlinked his presence with that of his Masters. He noted that Qui- Gon had turned to him and given him a comforting smile as he did so. He could tell from the man's expression that he too missed being a part of Obi- Wan's thoughts.
Qui-Gon cleared his throat.
"Did you find anything useful?" Zaro asked anxiously. He wanted to help. His friend La'Kol was putting on a brave front but he knew him well enough to see beneath it. He knew the man was hurting.
"Yes as a matter of fact we did." Qui-Gon's voice was soft and thoughtful.
"Zaro," Obi-Wan began. "Have you ever felt a sensation like you just did when we entered your mind?" The man stopped and considered what the young knight was asking him.
"Well now that you mention it I did. I was in my office working on some logs when I felt that same strange tickling and then later this itching in my brain. I had no idea what it was. I went home early and laid down for a while. It didn't last very long. I really didn't give it much thought." Obi-Wan nodded.
"Commander. " Qui-Gon began knowing he needed to be honest with the man but at the same time not wanting to take what little hope the man was clinging to from him, " I am afraid that things have just gotten a great deal more serious where your daughter is concerned. If my assumptions are correct, your daughter's disappearance is linked to the presence of a Sith."
Before La'Kol could respond Obi-Wan's voice caught the Master's attention. One word whispered in alarm causing the older man to leap to his feet and race for the door.
"Anakin."
**********************************
Pulmee Den had just delivered his "guest's" dinner when he heard footsteps echoing near the exit to the basement. He thought about calling out but then thought better of it. Why would anyone be here? It was probably just some kids nosing around. He once again chided himself for selecting a sight located in a residential area. Listening more closely he realized that he was only hearing one set of footsteps. The darkness surrounded him and he longed to turn on his light to see who it was that was approaching him. He knew he would have to take care of the intruder less they discover his prisoner and ruin everything.
"Den." It was the Sith. It was the dark lord. How could Sidious have found him here? He had made kidnapping the girl possible but Pulmee had never revealed her location to the man.
"Yes lord." He whispered into the darkness wondering where it stopped and the man started.
"You have done well keeping the girl's whereabouts a secret." The man hissed. Pulmee wasn't sure if he should be grateful or annoyed. If he had truly been successful he would not be standing in the room with a Sith at the moment. "I am not like ordinary men." The voice answered him causing Den to swallow hard and vow to watch his thoughts.
"Why are you here?" He asked his voice betraying his fear of the lord.
"I have come to add a guest to your establishment." The Sith moved up to Den's side taking his light and turning it on. "He should be coming along any moment now."
"Why here?" Den asked not wishing to have another prisoner to feed and water and one day have to get rid of.
"Why not? You've plenty of room." The Sith replied laughing wickedly as he did so.
Pulmee heard a set of footsteps echoing down the stair case. They sounded lighter than the Sith's. He couldn't imagine why he was only hearing one set unless the victim was unconscious and being carried.
He glanced up at the Sith watching an evil smile twist on the man's face. It was the first time that the dark lord had allowed him to see his face. Pulmee knew that being privy to such knowledge would more than likely shorten his life span.
Pushing down the panic that was rising within him, Den stared back out into the darkness as his newest captive approached. His mouth dropped open at the sight of him. He turned quickly to Sidious wondering if the man were mad.
"Pulmee Den I believe you've met Anakin Skywalker?" The Sith hissed out.
Pulmee managed a nod. The boy seemed to be in some sort of trance. He had not reacted yet to either man's presence.
"Do you have the collars I gave to you?"
Pulmee nodded and moved to the far end of the area to retrieve one. When he returned Sidious took the device from him and secured it around the boy's neck. He ran his thin fingers through the boy's hair before shoving him slightly in Den's direction.
"Put him with the girl." Sidious moved away disappearing into the darkness leaving Pulmee alone with a frightened girl, a Jedi Padawan and a renewed feeling of dread.
*****************************************************************
Reading the reviews it seems that you guys would rather have frequent posts even though the chapters might be shorter than longer chapters with longer waits. I aim to please. I really appreciate all the comments and suggestions. They are very helpful to me. The action is starting and that is a bit harder for me to write. I just don't have much experience with it, so I will get new posts up as soon as possible. Thanks again to all my loyal readers. It is you that keeps me writing. What is a writer without her readers?
