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
*********************************************************************
Obi-Wan entered the room three steps behind his ex-Master. He had felt Qui- Gon reaching out for the boy as they had raced to their quarters. From his brief contact with the boy on the ship he too was able to send out a calling to him as well. He hadn't received any sort of reply and from the look on Qui-Gon's face he knew that the boy was gone.
"I can't feel him." The Master announced wheeling around to face Obi-Wan. There was a panic in Qui-Gon that Obi-Wan had never seen before. Obi-Wan reached out to the man steadying him.
"We will find him." Obi-Wan reassured him. Qui-Gon looked at him gratefully then once again scanned the room for any clue as to where Anakin could have gone or who could have taken him. Qui-Gon was struck by the black hole he felt when he reached out to call the boy. He had expected his signature to be dampened but what frightened the man that the boy's signature appeared to be gone.
"We should check the security images." Obi-Wan announced. "Perhaps he is just wandering about the house." He knew better but was desperate to calm Qui-Gon so that they could set about searching for the boy.
"I will go down to the security center. You continue to reach out to him." Obi-Wan left the room and with enhanced speed quickly made his way to the center of the house where La'Kol had indicated that the security center was located.
****************
Upon entering the security area Obi-Wan was met by a security officer.
"I must see the security images surrounding the temporary quarters for the Jedi representatives." He justified his use of force suggestion due to the urgency of the situation. The man immediately cued up the images.
Obi-Wan watched in shocked confusion as Anakin made his way out of their quarters, down the hall and exited out a side door. No one had abducted him. He had left on his own. Obi-Wan played back the images several times looking for anything deceptive about what he was seeing. Had the boy willfully disobeyed his Master and left the building. Even if Anakin had chosen to do so it still didn't explain why neither he nor his Master could reach him through the bond.
On the fifth time through Obi-Wan noticed something that he had missed before. The boy had his eyes closed. He froze the image and watched it intently. Not wishing to lose any time he reached out to Qui-Gon. Feeling himself come in contact with the other man's mind he sent out his message.
/Master Jinn I think I have found something./
/Yes Obi-Wan?/ There was still a note of panic in the man but Obi-Wan noticed that he had released much of his fear into the Force.
/It appears that Anakin left on his own and was not taken./ Obi-Wan began.
/Are you suggesting that he ran away?/ Qui-Gon's emotional instability now rushing to anger. Obi-Wan sighed in frustration not wanting to battle the overly defensive Master again.
/No not at all. I noted something very odd about the images. It appears that Anakin is making his way out of the State House with his eyes closed. Even though he isn't using his sight he is fully aware of his surrounding. It appears---/
/That he was being led by a mind link?/ Qui-Gon finished already rushing in the direction of the other man in order to see the images for himself.
/Yes Master. I don't understand though how that could possibly block your ability to reach him. I mean even during the attack the bond was intact. I would have thought you would have sensed what had been happening if the bond had been involved./ Obi-Wan continued to replay the images of Anakin leaving the State House. / He was in his sleeping tunic so he had probably been sleeping when it had happened./ Obi-Wan winced at the vulnerability of the boy. He wondered if the boy had been in the middle of a dream and hesitated to think about what Anakin would find once he awoke. He shuddered pushing his concern for the boy aside. Now was not the time to focus on "what ifs" it was time to deal with the facts as they knew them.
He felt Qui-Gon's presence as he entered the room and came up behind him. Obi-Wan rose allowing the other man to sink into the seat directly in front of the play back screen. Obi-Wan cued up the images for Qui-Gon. They watched it several times as Obi-Wan froze the images that captured Anakin's facial features the clearest allowing the Master to confirm that the boy's eyes were indeed closed.
"Where could he have gone?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Well I suspect he is close by or else how could his signature have disappeared so quickly. We should try following his signature for as far as it can lead us. It is already growing faint." Obi-Wan suggested gentling encouraging the other man to his feet.
"What if the Sith has him?" Qui-Gon asked. Obi-Wan felt his heart go out to the man. He seemed so afraid for the boy. He was worried about Anakin but he wasn't the boy's Master so was able to distance himself more emotionally from what was happening.
"I do not think there is any "if" about it." Obi-Wan began sympathetically as they headed down the corridor leading the door through which Anakin had left. "We will find him Master and all will be well." He smiled reassuringly to the other man. Qui-Gon appreciated what the knight was trying to do for him but the emptiness that met his mind when he reached for the boy told him something very different.
Qui-Gon's worst fears had been realized. Anakin was in the hands of darkness.
************************************
Anakin awoke slowly. He could feel someone's hands in his hair and could hear someone's voice asking him to wake up. He thought for a moment that it was his mother's voice. He didn't want to go into the shop today. He didn't want Watto to yell at him and tell him he was lazy and good for nothing or worse.
The voice continued though and Anakin knew that he would have to open his eyes. He finally gave in and opened his heavy lids. It struck him odd they did not comply. Everything remained black. He moved his hands up to his eyes to make sure that he had indeed managed to open them. He felt a panic as he realized that they were open but he couldn't see. He was blind. He sat up quickly surprising whoever it was who had been holding his head.
"Master?" He cried out reaching for Qui-Gon but sensing nothing. He tried to remember where he was. He was on Tiress. He was in their quarters on Tiress. Something didn't feel right about that. Why was it so dark and the voice had not been either Qui-Gon's or Obi-Wan's.
"You're awake." The soft voice observed sounding shocked and startled.
"I'm blind." Anakin cried out to the person.
"No. It's dark in here. You aren't blind. There just isn't any light." Anakin struggled to get his breathing under control as he wondered if he could trust the person he could hear but not see. He felt his eyes straining against the darkness trying to make out anything.
"Where am I ?" He asked. "Where's my Master? How did I get here?"
"I don't know." The voice replied. Laroon wished that she had the answers to those questions and had actually been hoping that the boy would be able to give her some answers.
"Who are you?" He asked reaching out but failing to make any contact with the person. He could tell from the voice that his companion was a female and was young but that was the extent of what he was able to gather from her voice.
"I am Laroon La'Kol." He heard the air of dignity in her voice and it reminded him of the way the Queen of Naboo had sounded on the ship a year before. "Who are you?" She asked.
"I am Anakin Skywalker. I am the Jedi Padawan of Master Qui-Gon Jinn. So you are the Commander's daughter?" He asked already knowing the answer to his question not even sure why he asked it.
"Yes. Are you here to rescue me?" He heard the hope in her voice.
"Well I was supposed to be here to help with that I guess but this wasn't part of the plan." She heard the confusion in his voice and knew he was still trying to figure out how he had gotten there. So whoever had taken the Commander's daughter now had taken him as well. Anakin struggled to remember anything about the last few hours. He remembered being in their quarters. He remembered settling down for meditation then nothing.
"You don't remember anything about getting here? Where did you come from?" She asked.
"Tattooine." He replied absently.
"No." She began a little irritated at his lack of attention. "I mean where were you staying on the planet."
"Oh. We were staying at the State House." Laroon wasn't surprised. No doubt now that the same individual had taken them both. It felt so good to talk to this boy. She had been so afraid and alone in the dark. She hated that he had been taken but somehow his being here made her feel better. He was a Jedi Padawan. She should have known that from the braid she had felt while stroking his hair trying to wake him.
She remembered the last Jedi Padawan who had been on Tiress. She felt herself blush and was grateful for the darkness at that moment. She had fallen in love with the young man. Obi-Wan Kenobi had been his name. She had been too young for him. She had judged him to be in his early twenties while she had only been seventeen. He had been amazing to watch. " She shook her head for a moment. Something about what the boy had said suddenly struck her. "Did you say you are Master Jinn's Padawan?"
Anakin first nodded then realized she couldn't see him and finally gave a muttered, "Yes."
"Whatever happened to Obi-Wan Kenobi? Isn't he Master Jinn's Padawan?" Laroon felt alarmed.
"He was but isn't anymore. He is now a knight and came along on this mission with my Master and I." Anakin tried to sound less bitter about the knight's presence but wasn't sure if he had been successful in his attempt to do so.
"What are we going to do now?" She asked wondering at the abilities of the young boy. Obi-Wan had been older. He had been a man when he had arrived on Tiress.
"I don't know." Anakin reached out to the Force but found nothing. He tried once more calling to Qui-Gon but nothing. It was as if someone had taken the Force away from him. He reached up and found a collar around his neck. He also had manacles around each of his feet to keep him for running away. He could have easily released himself if he could just touch the Force. He tried once more but felt nothing.
"I know the chains are meant to keep us here but what do the collars do?" He asked the girl.
"What collar?" She asked reaching out in the direction of the voice to feel what the boy was talking about. After a few attempts Anakin finally guided her fumbling hands to the device he was talking about. She sighed. "I don't have one of those."
Anakin thought that that was odd but realized that it must have something to do with his inability to use the Force. Anakin felt a panic rising within him as he realized that he couldn't reach his Master, he wasn't sure how he had gotten there and the Force, something he had only come to control in the last year, was now out of his grasp. He struggled to get free from the collar's choking hold but found he could not.
"I think this collar is preventing me from using the Force. I can't do anything without it." He knew his anxiety was showing. He didn't want to alarm the girl anymore than he had so he forced himself to relax and steady his voice. What would his Master do in this situation? He pictured Qui-Gon quietly meditating in a corner. He cast that image away. What would Obi- Wan do in this situation? He pictured the knight intently searching the area he could reach trying to gain whatever advantage he could. Anakin smiled for the first time since he had awakened.
"My Master will come for me. He will find us. In the meantime I need to know everything that you can tell me about our captors and this place." It was what his Master would expect. It was what a Jedi would do.
Sitting down he took a deep breath and turned in the direction he had heard the girl's voice from before. "Miss La'Kol tell me everything you know about this place and the people who have us."
"It's Laroon and I don't know much." She began speaking her feelings of hopelessness rising once again within her.
"Just tell me all that you do know and don't leave anything out. You never know what might turn out to be important." Anakin closed his eyes as he listened. Suddenly he found that the darkness wasn't comforting to him at all.
*******************
Darth Kial and Darth Sador united in their pursuit of evil yet physically diverse. Kial was a strong, short, hard man who found little use for words in dominating his surroundings choosing instead to use violence to control whereas Sador was a lean, tall, angular man whose physical skills were more than sufficient to overpower most warriors but instead relished the challenge of bending their minds to his will using his keen intellect. They both stood waiting for a Master.
They had been summoned from their posts on other planets to come to Tiress and aide a Master in his pursuit of a new apprentice. It wasn't just any apprentice. It was a legendary one. A person who many believed would never exist but was just the culmination of ages of whispers and lost hope.
"What could be keeping him?" Kial snarled irritated at having been kept waiting.
"Patience my friend, Master Sidious will be here soon enough." Sador flippantly commented. Kial threw the other man a menacing look.
"I am not your friend and you would be wise to remember that." Kial took a step towards the other warrior threateningly.
"That's funny." Sador replied sarcasm dripping from his tongue. "You giving me advice on wisdom. Stick to your strength's Kial. ." Kial took another step sending Sador moving for his saber.
"Enough!" Sidious yelled as he drew near the two figures. His presence immediately humbled both men as each lowered his eyes. Neither dared to look upon the face of Sidious. They could sense his great anger at their display. They fed on the fear that was growing within them and held it deep within so that they could draw upon later when it might be needed in battle. Fear led to hate. Hate led to strength and strength to power.
"I can't remain on this planet any longer so I am leaving you two behind to finish things for me. Do you understand what you are to do?" He hissed standing before the two men who were now lowered to one knee before him.
"Yes Master Sidious." They both replied in unison.
"I will require both the boy and the Master so capture and keep them as you see fit but bring me the knight unharmed is that clear?" He asked glaring down at his servants.
"Yes Master we will not fail you." Sador replied continuing to stare at the Master's feet.
"Very well once you have secured my prizes contact me immediately for further instructions. Oh and I need not remind you that we can't have any loose ends here. Make sure all are cut off before you leave." Sidious turned to make his way out to his waiting ship. He turned at the last moment calling to Darth Sador and Darth Kial, " Better that you would die than to fail me." He was already out of hearing range as they both replied once more.
"Yes Master."
**************
"What do you mean they've disappeared? They haven't contacted you since they left?" Adi asked her voice full of alarm.
"There was an incident with the Padawan and-"
"Gone he is. Sense it I do. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have gone after him." Yoda calmly replied amazing the Commander and alarming Den.
"Gone? How could he just be gone? " Adi asked. "Surely you have more details that this?" Adi wheeled on the Commander and the Vice Commander elect with the air of a woman not to be trifled with. First the dark attack on the boy and now he was missing. Obi-Wan had indicated that the presence that had come against the boy was very much like the presence of the Sith on Naboo. Adi felt her blood cool by a few degrees but managed to suppress the shudder.
"Reach out to my Padawan I will. Meditate I must." Yoda nodded to the Commander. "Show us to our quarters you will."
"I want to see the quarters that Master Jinn and Knight Kenobi were using. Perhaps I can locate something there that would indicate what has happened to the boy." Adi and Yoda began following the Commander and Vice Commander elect down the corridor.
They had both been a bit surprised when they had not spotted Qui-Gon or Obi- Wan upon their arrival. Adi had been particularly disappointed by the absence of the knight. Their surprise and disappointment had quickly turned to alarm when they had learned that the two had disappeared in search of Anakin who had also vanished earlier in the evening.
Commander La'Kol turned to Den. "If you will take Master Yoda to his quarters. I will escort Master Gallia to those of the other Jedi." Den nodded and immediately took a left veering off down another hallway. Yoda followed along.
"Keep your comlink open." Adi called to him. The older master nodded soberly. He was sensing darkness. It was close. It was standing in front of him. He was certain that the man leading him to his quarters had come into contact with it at some point. He couldn't sense it in him at the moment but he was a part of what was wrong here.
La'Kol continued on with Adi moving up along side of him.
"Tell me everything that was learned before the disappearances." She asked her brow creased with concentration.
"Shortly after their arrival Master Jinn and Padawan, I mean Knight Kenobi came to me at my request so that I could give them what information I had concerning my daughter's disappearance. During the course of our conversation they requested to interview my head of security. He arrived and together they entered his mind. It was there that they discovered something that alarmed them to the point of racing from the room. I heard Kenobi say the boy's name and they were gone."
La'Kol indicated that they had arrived at the Jedi's quarters.
He opened the door and Adi made her way in. The room looked untouched. "Thank you Commander if I need any assistance or have any further questions I will contact you." The Commander bowed to the beautiful Master and then left.
Adi opened herself to the Force. She made her way into Qui-Gon and Anakin's room. Picking up various articles that obviously belonged to the boy she tried to reach out to sense the boy's Force signature. Though it lingered around the room she could not feel it beyond the walls of their quarters. She then moved to the other side of the quarters. As she entered Obi-Wan's room she felt his presence near her. His signature was very distinct to her. She walked over picking up his data pad. "Where are you?" She asked aloud. This was hardly the reunion she had pictured. Closing her eyes once more she attempted to sink deeper into the signature that filled the room. She felt it grow stronger. "Where are you?" She asked again.
"Right behind you." She turned to see Obi-Wan standing in the doorway. She sighed and rushed to him throwing her arms around his neck as he snaked his around her tiny waist. She pulled back and found his lovely green eyes staring down into hers. She smiled then and lifted her lips to his. It was a brief kiss sending a wave of warmth through them both. Pulling out of his grasp she immediately switched over into Master mode.
"Where have you been? Where is Qui-Gon and Anakin? " Obi-Wan smiled pressing his lips together amused at her sudden shift in gears. Not to be out done he too shifted gears clearing his throat he took on the demeanor of a knight reporting to the Council.
"Master Jinn in on his way to speak with my Master Yoda. Anakin has been abducted by a Sith. We feel there is a good chance that he is being held with the Commander's daughter. We have no idea who is behind this since we had just arrived when it occurred. We were able to follow Anakin's Force signature for quite a distance, but eventually it disappeared. We aren't sure if something happened at that point or if perhaps it was just that too much time had past. We are now in the process of seeking your help and that of my Master with the search. " He bowed to her.
She bowed back. "Then I suppose we should find Master Yoda and work out a plan of action."
"After you." Obi-Wan stepped aside gesturing for her to lead.
Once she had passed him and entered into the main living area she stopped cupping his face with her hands. "I thought you were feeling lucky." She shook her head staring into his eyes. "You gave me a scare."
"Did I?" He laughed. "You've never been on a mission with Qui-Gon and I trust me this is nothing." He then grew more serious lowering his forehead to hers for a moment. "Adi I do sense something ominous and dangerous behind all of this. I think it will get a lot worse before it gets better." She could hear his concern for her in his voice. She was touched and amused.
"And just who is the Master here?" She teased, but he refused to relax holding her tightly for a moment.
"I've never had someone that I was..well..involved with on a mission with me before. I believe it will be very hard for me to stay focused if I think you might be in danger. You've come to mean a lot to me Adi." She pulled away enough to bring him into a kiss. She parted her lips as she felt him move to deepen it. She allowed herself a moment to enjoy the sensation of his hard lean body against her own and the strength of his arms enfolding her. She had missed the taste and the touch of him. It moved her that he would care so much and she knew it would also be a challenge for her to stay focused on the mission and not on his safety as well.
"We are Jedi Obi-Wan first and foremost. Whatever we are or will be to one another we are Jedi and because of that we are not allowed the luxury of allowing our personal feelings to interfere with the good of the universe. I will be careful as I know you will be careful and we must trust the rest to the Force." She whispered the words softly against his lips feeling his resignation as he accepted what he had always known was the truth.
"Then may the Force be with you my Adi." He smiled cocking his head playfully his eyes shining down on her.
"And with you my knight." She played back laughing as she turned to lead them on to Yoda's quarters.
"Bet I can dodge a certain glimmer stick better than you can. First one to get thwacked loses." Obi-Wan challenged coming up beside her.
"You're on." She accepted setting her chin defiantly. He loved it when she did that. He loved when she was strong. He was beginning to realize that he just simply loved her.
**********************************************************************
Happy Thanksgiving!! This is my gobble gobble gift to my patient and loyal readers. Hope you turn off those mean old nasty football games tomorrow long enough to catch up on some reading. Sorry this one took so long but I was really at a loss as to where I wanted to story to go. Had to do some serious thinking. Thanks.
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
*********************************************************************
Obi-Wan entered the room three steps behind his ex-Master. He had felt Qui- Gon reaching out for the boy as they had raced to their quarters. From his brief contact with the boy on the ship he too was able to send out a calling to him as well. He hadn't received any sort of reply and from the look on Qui-Gon's face he knew that the boy was gone.
"I can't feel him." The Master announced wheeling around to face Obi-Wan. There was a panic in Qui-Gon that Obi-Wan had never seen before. Obi-Wan reached out to the man steadying him.
"We will find him." Obi-Wan reassured him. Qui-Gon looked at him gratefully then once again scanned the room for any clue as to where Anakin could have gone or who could have taken him. Qui-Gon was struck by the black hole he felt when he reached out to call the boy. He had expected his signature to be dampened but what frightened the man that the boy's signature appeared to be gone.
"We should check the security images." Obi-Wan announced. "Perhaps he is just wandering about the house." He knew better but was desperate to calm Qui-Gon so that they could set about searching for the boy.
"I will go down to the security center. You continue to reach out to him." Obi-Wan left the room and with enhanced speed quickly made his way to the center of the house where La'Kol had indicated that the security center was located.
****************
Upon entering the security area Obi-Wan was met by a security officer.
"I must see the security images surrounding the temporary quarters for the Jedi representatives." He justified his use of force suggestion due to the urgency of the situation. The man immediately cued up the images.
Obi-Wan watched in shocked confusion as Anakin made his way out of their quarters, down the hall and exited out a side door. No one had abducted him. He had left on his own. Obi-Wan played back the images several times looking for anything deceptive about what he was seeing. Had the boy willfully disobeyed his Master and left the building. Even if Anakin had chosen to do so it still didn't explain why neither he nor his Master could reach him through the bond.
On the fifth time through Obi-Wan noticed something that he had missed before. The boy had his eyes closed. He froze the image and watched it intently. Not wishing to lose any time he reached out to Qui-Gon. Feeling himself come in contact with the other man's mind he sent out his message.
/Master Jinn I think I have found something./
/Yes Obi-Wan?/ There was still a note of panic in the man but Obi-Wan noticed that he had released much of his fear into the Force.
/It appears that Anakin left on his own and was not taken./ Obi-Wan began.
/Are you suggesting that he ran away?/ Qui-Gon's emotional instability now rushing to anger. Obi-Wan sighed in frustration not wanting to battle the overly defensive Master again.
/No not at all. I noted something very odd about the images. It appears that Anakin is making his way out of the State House with his eyes closed. Even though he isn't using his sight he is fully aware of his surrounding. It appears---/
/That he was being led by a mind link?/ Qui-Gon finished already rushing in the direction of the other man in order to see the images for himself.
/Yes Master. I don't understand though how that could possibly block your ability to reach him. I mean even during the attack the bond was intact. I would have thought you would have sensed what had been happening if the bond had been involved./ Obi-Wan continued to replay the images of Anakin leaving the State House. / He was in his sleeping tunic so he had probably been sleeping when it had happened./ Obi-Wan winced at the vulnerability of the boy. He wondered if the boy had been in the middle of a dream and hesitated to think about what Anakin would find once he awoke. He shuddered pushing his concern for the boy aside. Now was not the time to focus on "what ifs" it was time to deal with the facts as they knew them.
He felt Qui-Gon's presence as he entered the room and came up behind him. Obi-Wan rose allowing the other man to sink into the seat directly in front of the play back screen. Obi-Wan cued up the images for Qui-Gon. They watched it several times as Obi-Wan froze the images that captured Anakin's facial features the clearest allowing the Master to confirm that the boy's eyes were indeed closed.
"Where could he have gone?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Well I suspect he is close by or else how could his signature have disappeared so quickly. We should try following his signature for as far as it can lead us. It is already growing faint." Obi-Wan suggested gentling encouraging the other man to his feet.
"What if the Sith has him?" Qui-Gon asked. Obi-Wan felt his heart go out to the man. He seemed so afraid for the boy. He was worried about Anakin but he wasn't the boy's Master so was able to distance himself more emotionally from what was happening.
"I do not think there is any "if" about it." Obi-Wan began sympathetically as they headed down the corridor leading the door through which Anakin had left. "We will find him Master and all will be well." He smiled reassuringly to the other man. Qui-Gon appreciated what the knight was trying to do for him but the emptiness that met his mind when he reached for the boy told him something very different.
Qui-Gon's worst fears had been realized. Anakin was in the hands of darkness.
************************************
Anakin awoke slowly. He could feel someone's hands in his hair and could hear someone's voice asking him to wake up. He thought for a moment that it was his mother's voice. He didn't want to go into the shop today. He didn't want Watto to yell at him and tell him he was lazy and good for nothing or worse.
The voice continued though and Anakin knew that he would have to open his eyes. He finally gave in and opened his heavy lids. It struck him odd they did not comply. Everything remained black. He moved his hands up to his eyes to make sure that he had indeed managed to open them. He felt a panic as he realized that they were open but he couldn't see. He was blind. He sat up quickly surprising whoever it was who had been holding his head.
"Master?" He cried out reaching for Qui-Gon but sensing nothing. He tried to remember where he was. He was on Tiress. He was in their quarters on Tiress. Something didn't feel right about that. Why was it so dark and the voice had not been either Qui-Gon's or Obi-Wan's.
"You're awake." The soft voice observed sounding shocked and startled.
"I'm blind." Anakin cried out to the person.
"No. It's dark in here. You aren't blind. There just isn't any light." Anakin struggled to get his breathing under control as he wondered if he could trust the person he could hear but not see. He felt his eyes straining against the darkness trying to make out anything.
"Where am I ?" He asked. "Where's my Master? How did I get here?"
"I don't know." The voice replied. Laroon wished that she had the answers to those questions and had actually been hoping that the boy would be able to give her some answers.
"Who are you?" He asked reaching out but failing to make any contact with the person. He could tell from the voice that his companion was a female and was young but that was the extent of what he was able to gather from her voice.
"I am Laroon La'Kol." He heard the air of dignity in her voice and it reminded him of the way the Queen of Naboo had sounded on the ship a year before. "Who are you?" She asked.
"I am Anakin Skywalker. I am the Jedi Padawan of Master Qui-Gon Jinn. So you are the Commander's daughter?" He asked already knowing the answer to his question not even sure why he asked it.
"Yes. Are you here to rescue me?" He heard the hope in her voice.
"Well I was supposed to be here to help with that I guess but this wasn't part of the plan." She heard the confusion in his voice and knew he was still trying to figure out how he had gotten there. So whoever had taken the Commander's daughter now had taken him as well. Anakin struggled to remember anything about the last few hours. He remembered being in their quarters. He remembered settling down for meditation then nothing.
"You don't remember anything about getting here? Where did you come from?" She asked.
"Tattooine." He replied absently.
"No." She began a little irritated at his lack of attention. "I mean where were you staying on the planet."
"Oh. We were staying at the State House." Laroon wasn't surprised. No doubt now that the same individual had taken them both. It felt so good to talk to this boy. She had been so afraid and alone in the dark. She hated that he had been taken but somehow his being here made her feel better. He was a Jedi Padawan. She should have known that from the braid she had felt while stroking his hair trying to wake him.
She remembered the last Jedi Padawan who had been on Tiress. She felt herself blush and was grateful for the darkness at that moment. She had fallen in love with the young man. Obi-Wan Kenobi had been his name. She had been too young for him. She had judged him to be in his early twenties while she had only been seventeen. He had been amazing to watch. " She shook her head for a moment. Something about what the boy had said suddenly struck her. "Did you say you are Master Jinn's Padawan?"
Anakin first nodded then realized she couldn't see him and finally gave a muttered, "Yes."
"Whatever happened to Obi-Wan Kenobi? Isn't he Master Jinn's Padawan?" Laroon felt alarmed.
"He was but isn't anymore. He is now a knight and came along on this mission with my Master and I." Anakin tried to sound less bitter about the knight's presence but wasn't sure if he had been successful in his attempt to do so.
"What are we going to do now?" She asked wondering at the abilities of the young boy. Obi-Wan had been older. He had been a man when he had arrived on Tiress.
"I don't know." Anakin reached out to the Force but found nothing. He tried once more calling to Qui-Gon but nothing. It was as if someone had taken the Force away from him. He reached up and found a collar around his neck. He also had manacles around each of his feet to keep him for running away. He could have easily released himself if he could just touch the Force. He tried once more but felt nothing.
"I know the chains are meant to keep us here but what do the collars do?" He asked the girl.
"What collar?" She asked reaching out in the direction of the voice to feel what the boy was talking about. After a few attempts Anakin finally guided her fumbling hands to the device he was talking about. She sighed. "I don't have one of those."
Anakin thought that that was odd but realized that it must have something to do with his inability to use the Force. Anakin felt a panic rising within him as he realized that he couldn't reach his Master, he wasn't sure how he had gotten there and the Force, something he had only come to control in the last year, was now out of his grasp. He struggled to get free from the collar's choking hold but found he could not.
"I think this collar is preventing me from using the Force. I can't do anything without it." He knew his anxiety was showing. He didn't want to alarm the girl anymore than he had so he forced himself to relax and steady his voice. What would his Master do in this situation? He pictured Qui-Gon quietly meditating in a corner. He cast that image away. What would Obi- Wan do in this situation? He pictured the knight intently searching the area he could reach trying to gain whatever advantage he could. Anakin smiled for the first time since he had awakened.
"My Master will come for me. He will find us. In the meantime I need to know everything that you can tell me about our captors and this place." It was what his Master would expect. It was what a Jedi would do.
Sitting down he took a deep breath and turned in the direction he had heard the girl's voice from before. "Miss La'Kol tell me everything you know about this place and the people who have us."
"It's Laroon and I don't know much." She began speaking her feelings of hopelessness rising once again within her.
"Just tell me all that you do know and don't leave anything out. You never know what might turn out to be important." Anakin closed his eyes as he listened. Suddenly he found that the darkness wasn't comforting to him at all.
*******************
Darth Kial and Darth Sador united in their pursuit of evil yet physically diverse. Kial was a strong, short, hard man who found little use for words in dominating his surroundings choosing instead to use violence to control whereas Sador was a lean, tall, angular man whose physical skills were more than sufficient to overpower most warriors but instead relished the challenge of bending their minds to his will using his keen intellect. They both stood waiting for a Master.
They had been summoned from their posts on other planets to come to Tiress and aide a Master in his pursuit of a new apprentice. It wasn't just any apprentice. It was a legendary one. A person who many believed would never exist but was just the culmination of ages of whispers and lost hope.
"What could be keeping him?" Kial snarled irritated at having been kept waiting.
"Patience my friend, Master Sidious will be here soon enough." Sador flippantly commented. Kial threw the other man a menacing look.
"I am not your friend and you would be wise to remember that." Kial took a step towards the other warrior threateningly.
"That's funny." Sador replied sarcasm dripping from his tongue. "You giving me advice on wisdom. Stick to your strength's Kial. ." Kial took another step sending Sador moving for his saber.
"Enough!" Sidious yelled as he drew near the two figures. His presence immediately humbled both men as each lowered his eyes. Neither dared to look upon the face of Sidious. They could sense his great anger at their display. They fed on the fear that was growing within them and held it deep within so that they could draw upon later when it might be needed in battle. Fear led to hate. Hate led to strength and strength to power.
"I can't remain on this planet any longer so I am leaving you two behind to finish things for me. Do you understand what you are to do?" He hissed standing before the two men who were now lowered to one knee before him.
"Yes Master Sidious." They both replied in unison.
"I will require both the boy and the Master so capture and keep them as you see fit but bring me the knight unharmed is that clear?" He asked glaring down at his servants.
"Yes Master we will not fail you." Sador replied continuing to stare at the Master's feet.
"Very well once you have secured my prizes contact me immediately for further instructions. Oh and I need not remind you that we can't have any loose ends here. Make sure all are cut off before you leave." Sidious turned to make his way out to his waiting ship. He turned at the last moment calling to Darth Sador and Darth Kial, " Better that you would die than to fail me." He was already out of hearing range as they both replied once more.
"Yes Master."
**************
"What do you mean they've disappeared? They haven't contacted you since they left?" Adi asked her voice full of alarm.
"There was an incident with the Padawan and-"
"Gone he is. Sense it I do. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have gone after him." Yoda calmly replied amazing the Commander and alarming Den.
"Gone? How could he just be gone? " Adi asked. "Surely you have more details that this?" Adi wheeled on the Commander and the Vice Commander elect with the air of a woman not to be trifled with. First the dark attack on the boy and now he was missing. Obi-Wan had indicated that the presence that had come against the boy was very much like the presence of the Sith on Naboo. Adi felt her blood cool by a few degrees but managed to suppress the shudder.
"Reach out to my Padawan I will. Meditate I must." Yoda nodded to the Commander. "Show us to our quarters you will."
"I want to see the quarters that Master Jinn and Knight Kenobi were using. Perhaps I can locate something there that would indicate what has happened to the boy." Adi and Yoda began following the Commander and Vice Commander elect down the corridor.
They had both been a bit surprised when they had not spotted Qui-Gon or Obi- Wan upon their arrival. Adi had been particularly disappointed by the absence of the knight. Their surprise and disappointment had quickly turned to alarm when they had learned that the two had disappeared in search of Anakin who had also vanished earlier in the evening.
Commander La'Kol turned to Den. "If you will take Master Yoda to his quarters. I will escort Master Gallia to those of the other Jedi." Den nodded and immediately took a left veering off down another hallway. Yoda followed along.
"Keep your comlink open." Adi called to him. The older master nodded soberly. He was sensing darkness. It was close. It was standing in front of him. He was certain that the man leading him to his quarters had come into contact with it at some point. He couldn't sense it in him at the moment but he was a part of what was wrong here.
La'Kol continued on with Adi moving up along side of him.
"Tell me everything that was learned before the disappearances." She asked her brow creased with concentration.
"Shortly after their arrival Master Jinn and Padawan, I mean Knight Kenobi came to me at my request so that I could give them what information I had concerning my daughter's disappearance. During the course of our conversation they requested to interview my head of security. He arrived and together they entered his mind. It was there that they discovered something that alarmed them to the point of racing from the room. I heard Kenobi say the boy's name and they were gone."
La'Kol indicated that they had arrived at the Jedi's quarters.
He opened the door and Adi made her way in. The room looked untouched. "Thank you Commander if I need any assistance or have any further questions I will contact you." The Commander bowed to the beautiful Master and then left.
Adi opened herself to the Force. She made her way into Qui-Gon and Anakin's room. Picking up various articles that obviously belonged to the boy she tried to reach out to sense the boy's Force signature. Though it lingered around the room she could not feel it beyond the walls of their quarters. She then moved to the other side of the quarters. As she entered Obi-Wan's room she felt his presence near her. His signature was very distinct to her. She walked over picking up his data pad. "Where are you?" She asked aloud. This was hardly the reunion she had pictured. Closing her eyes once more she attempted to sink deeper into the signature that filled the room. She felt it grow stronger. "Where are you?" She asked again.
"Right behind you." She turned to see Obi-Wan standing in the doorway. She sighed and rushed to him throwing her arms around his neck as he snaked his around her tiny waist. She pulled back and found his lovely green eyes staring down into hers. She smiled then and lifted her lips to his. It was a brief kiss sending a wave of warmth through them both. Pulling out of his grasp she immediately switched over into Master mode.
"Where have you been? Where is Qui-Gon and Anakin? " Obi-Wan smiled pressing his lips together amused at her sudden shift in gears. Not to be out done he too shifted gears clearing his throat he took on the demeanor of a knight reporting to the Council.
"Master Jinn in on his way to speak with my Master Yoda. Anakin has been abducted by a Sith. We feel there is a good chance that he is being held with the Commander's daughter. We have no idea who is behind this since we had just arrived when it occurred. We were able to follow Anakin's Force signature for quite a distance, but eventually it disappeared. We aren't sure if something happened at that point or if perhaps it was just that too much time had past. We are now in the process of seeking your help and that of my Master with the search. " He bowed to her.
She bowed back. "Then I suppose we should find Master Yoda and work out a plan of action."
"After you." Obi-Wan stepped aside gesturing for her to lead.
Once she had passed him and entered into the main living area she stopped cupping his face with her hands. "I thought you were feeling lucky." She shook her head staring into his eyes. "You gave me a scare."
"Did I?" He laughed. "You've never been on a mission with Qui-Gon and I trust me this is nothing." He then grew more serious lowering his forehead to hers for a moment. "Adi I do sense something ominous and dangerous behind all of this. I think it will get a lot worse before it gets better." She could hear his concern for her in his voice. She was touched and amused.
"And just who is the Master here?" She teased, but he refused to relax holding her tightly for a moment.
"I've never had someone that I was..well..involved with on a mission with me before. I believe it will be very hard for me to stay focused if I think you might be in danger. You've come to mean a lot to me Adi." She pulled away enough to bring him into a kiss. She parted her lips as she felt him move to deepen it. She allowed herself a moment to enjoy the sensation of his hard lean body against her own and the strength of his arms enfolding her. She had missed the taste and the touch of him. It moved her that he would care so much and she knew it would also be a challenge for her to stay focused on the mission and not on his safety as well.
"We are Jedi Obi-Wan first and foremost. Whatever we are or will be to one another we are Jedi and because of that we are not allowed the luxury of allowing our personal feelings to interfere with the good of the universe. I will be careful as I know you will be careful and we must trust the rest to the Force." She whispered the words softly against his lips feeling his resignation as he accepted what he had always known was the truth.
"Then may the Force be with you my Adi." He smiled cocking his head playfully his eyes shining down on her.
"And with you my knight." She played back laughing as she turned to lead them on to Yoda's quarters.
"Bet I can dodge a certain glimmer stick better than you can. First one to get thwacked loses." Obi-Wan challenged coming up beside her.
"You're on." She accepted setting her chin defiantly. He loved it when she did that. He loved when she was strong. He was beginning to realize that he just simply loved her.
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Happy Thanksgiving!! This is my gobble gobble gift to my patient and loyal readers. Hope you turn off those mean old nasty football games tomorrow long enough to catch up on some reading. Sorry this one took so long but I was really at a loss as to where I wanted to story to go. Had to do some serious thinking. Thanks.
