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
*************************************************************************
It was cold. Anakin hated the cold. He pulled his sleep tunic tighter around him. He wished he had his cloak. He looked over and in the dim light coming from the hallway he could see the girl. She was still unconscious. He wondered what had happened to her. He remembered hearing her plead for his life but must have passed out He crawled over to where she lay on the floor.
Looking at her face he realized that she was very pretty. She had dark hair with very pale skin. She was older than he was. She was thin without looking frail. She looked strong. He touched her face and noticed that she moved a bit in response. Anakin smiled feeling a great sense of relief.
He reached out again and began gently patting her cheek and whispering her name.
"Laroon. Laroon." She squeezed her eyes closed tighter then slowly began to open them. Anakin exhaled slowly and watched her come awake.
She finally opened her eyes. She looked confused for a moment and then smiled when she realized that the boy looking down at her must be Anakin.
"Anakin?" She asked just to be sure.
"Hi." He said. "How do you feel?"
"You aren't dead. I thought that you were dead. They told me that you were." She reached up and touched him as if to confirm that he was indeed alive. His smiled brightened at this gesture.
"I'm real. " He said rising to his feet. She slowly joined him.
"Where are we?" She whispered as she followed him to the door. It wasn't completely closed. It concerned Anakin that it was sitting ajar. He still had the stupid collar around his neck so he knew he would not be able to touch the Force, but his instincts told him that if they left the room they would be walking into a trap.
Anakin stopped and motioned for the girl to lower her head so that he could whisper in her ear.
"I think it is a trap. They want us to go through this door. We need to find another way." They both began looking about for another escape route. It didn't take long for them to realize that the window would be their only option. Looking out it was obvious that they were several stories off of the ground. Anakin tried to open the window. After much effort he finally succeeded in prying in open. It was amazing that it wasn't locked. He supposed that whoever had them must have felt that the height would have prevented them from using the window for their escape or perhaps it too was a part of a trap. He felt a bit unsure, but felt there were no other options.
As he climbed up to the interior sill he felt Laroon's hand on his arm. Turning back he saw the look of concern on her face. She shook her head. He forced a smile then turned back to the window. He knew he couldn't use the Force but maybe there would be something on the exterior of the building that he could use to climb down to the ground. He took a deep breath and stepped out onto the sill. He heard a startled gasp from behind him and knew that Laroon was no longer alone in their room.
************************
It wasn't quite light when Obi-Wan felt the light tapping on his leg. He slowly remembered where he was and opened his eyes to find his Master gently tapping his leg with his gimmer stick.
"Master?" He tried to sit up but discovered something was on his chest. Looking down he remembered Adi. She was still snuggled next to him in a deep sleep her head exactly where it had been when they had drifted off.
"Time it is. Go ahead we must." Yoda made his way out of the tent giving Obi-Wan the privacy he needed to get dressed for his day.
Obi-Wan gently removed Adi's head from his shoulder placing a kiss to her forehead. He then moved quickly to get his boots, cloak, saber and utility belt. Making his way out of the tent he found Yoda waiting patiently for him.
The smaller Master was already on his way over to the swoop.
"How far do you think it is Master?" Obi-Wan asked giving the swoop a once over before they mounted it.
"Let us know when you wish for us to follow." Qui-Gon's voice surprised him.
Obi-Wan smiled at the Master. "Do you still have your comlink?" He asked. Qui-Gon brought his comlink from his belt rudely thrusting it in the Knight's direction. His movements seemed to indicate that he was angry about something. Obi-Wan watched as Yoda made his way over to the far end of the camp leaving the Master and his ex-Padawan.
"Master Jinn are you upset about something?" Obi-Wan asked.
Qui-Gon had slept very little after leaving the other shelter. He had spent a long time laying in the darkness thinking. He wasn't sure why he had gotten so angry at Obi-Wan. He was even more confused by his feelings of jealousy about Adi. He hadn't thought of seeing the woman in years. After much consideration and reaching out to the Force he realized that he was really upset about Anakin. He was very worried about the boy. He wondered how distracted Obi-Wan had been by Adi's arrival. Even last night knowing what they would all be facing the next day the two Jedi had conducted themselves inappropriately. This was not the time or the place for that sort of thing. A boy's life not to mention the fate of the galaxy hung in the balance.
Falling back into his Master mode he turned to Obi-Wan pausing a moment before speaking.
"Obi-Wan this relationship that you and Master Gallia are involved in-"
"Yes?" Obi-Wan asked feeling protective of Adi already having dealt with Qui-Gon enough over the years to understand that this was not a good way for their conversation to start.
"Well I find it highly inappropriate." Qui-Gon finished fully expecting at the very least an explanation and at the most an apology with the assurance that they would put it on hold for the time being.
"Really. Hmph." Obi-Wan frowned slightly then turned back to the Master his face fully composed as if he were still waiting for the Master to indicate what was bothering him.
"Anakin's life is in peril. We are facing the Sith in order to rescue him. This is a time when we all need to be fully centered and mission minded." Jinn continued feeling his patience wearing thin. Obi-Wan just nodded thoughtfully as if considering what the man was saying.
"And you feel that Adi and I are not fully centered or mission minded?" Obi-Wan asked.
"From what I heard coming from your shelter last night I should say not." Qui-Gon spoke in haste angry that the man wasn't being as contrite as had been expected.
"Master Jinn I find it insulting that you would call my professionalism into question and appalling that you dare to do the same to Master Gallia's. We are not teenage Padawans but adults fully capable of maintaining both our professional and personal lives. I understand that you are very concerned about Anakin and feel a great deal of anxiety over his rescue that is why I am going to forgive your intrusion and unjust opinion of my personal life. I am a Knight and will be treated as such."
"And I am a Master and demand to be treated as such!" The other man's voice caused Yoda to look in their direction. He wondered how things were progressing. From the volume level and stance of both men it was obviously going poorly.
"Then I suggest you act like one. You are not my Master and even if you were I am well past to the point of having a sex talk. Master Yoda is my Master and if he has a problem with my conduct then I am certain he will address it. He would not be sneaking around in the middle of the night eavesdropping on Master Gallia and me." Qui-Gon's face blushed bright red and his anger peaked.
"How dare you accuse me of something so vile. As a matter of fact I was trying to sleep when I was bombarded by the two of you in the throes of passion." Obi-Wan felt his face blush a bit as he felt a sudden rush of memories from the previous night come to his mind. He had not thought about their volume level.
"Excuse me but since this involves me I thought perhaps I should join the conversation." Adi walked to Obi-Wan's side as they presented a united front against the other Master.
"This is ridiculous. I merely requested that you reign in your emotions until Anakin is safely back with us and you have turned me into some dirty old man lurking about looking for cheap thrills. Conduct yourselves however you see fit but know this if I feel Anakin's rescue was in anyway impaired by this liaison I will have no choice but to bring a formal complaint before the Council." Qui-Gon huffed off.
Yoda had made his way back to the Knight.
"Leave we must while darkness covers us." Obi-Wan bowed slightly in the direction of his Master.
"Will you be ok here with him?" He turned concerned eyes upon Adi while he gestured in the direction where Qui-Gon had disappeared.
"I'll be fine. You be careful. " She tiptoed up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He smiled and mounted the swoop.
Adi watched as the two disappeared into the darkness. She had a bad feeling about what might lay ahead of them. She heard a noise behind her. She decided it was time that she and Qui-Gon got a few things sorted out now that her Knight was safely out of hearing range.
*****************************
Anakin felt the hand on his arm and felt himself being thrown to the floor. Staring up he saw two figures dress in Jedi like robes except they were made of a dark material.
"What do you want with us?" Laroon demanded.
"We want nothing with you just merely using you to keep the government officials off of our backs. Once we have our prize we will be disposing you." Darth Kial's words had the desired effect as the girl visiably retreated.
"What prize?" Anakin asked rising hesitantly to his feet.
Darth Sador came close his face inches from the boy's. His breath was hot as he looked intently into the boy's eyes. He could feel the darkness within the boy. He had touched it and come to see its advantages. Turning him would be easy enough, but that would come later.
"Why the Chosen One of course." He hissed. He watched as Anakin registered what he had said.
"What are you going to do with me?" He quipped. He supposed these were the Sith he had heard about. Obi-Wan and his Master had faced a Sith and survived. Anakin felt his spirits buoy at that thought. Surely if a mere Padawan could defeat a Sith he would easily conquer one being the Chosen One and all. He felt a wave of pride wash over him.
He noticed Sador and Kial were both looking at one another laughing. They were laughing at him. Surely it was some method meant to shake him. He refused to give them the satisfaction. Despite his determination not to allow them a victory he felt the beginnings of doubt creep into his mind. He was the Chosen One. He was. Wasn't he?
********************
Obi-Wan and Yoda closed in on the structure that lay ahead of them. It was some sort of estate. It was huge with several floors, security perimeter, and even though there were no guards that were visible the estate no doubt had surveillance equipment posted.
/Are they in there?/ Obi-Wan glanced at his Master.
/Reach out yourself and see./ Came the response. Obi-Wan closed his eyes and felt along what he knew of Anakin's mind. He found him somewhere within the main quarters. He also sensed the darkness that was hovering nearby. He was about to release his search when suddenly he felt another presence. It was strangely familiar and very dark. He immediately broke his contact. Pulling back he was drenched in perspiration. Yoda studied him for a moment. He had sensed something that had been elusive to the Master. He smiled knowingly and placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder.
/What sensed you?/ He waited until Obi-Wan was able to steady his breathing.
/Anakin was there. He is in the main quarters./ He pointed to the spot where he had felt the boy's presence the strongest. /There. He seems to still be dampened. I am not sure why I could sense him now but I can. I also sense the darkness hovering very near./
/A trap it is./ Yoda wisely nodded squinting his eyes reaching out to the Force for guidance as to how to proceed.
/There's more Master./ Obi-Wan waited until Yoda opened his eyes and regarded him again. / I sense a much darker one nearby. It is vaguely familiar but I cannot place where I know it from./ Realizing that it was this presence that had caused the violent reaction in the Knight Yoda immediately reached out searching for the new threat. He felt an overwhelming desire to protect his precious padawan. It had very little to do with who Obi-Wan was in the Force and more to do with who the man was in the old Master's heart.
/Retreat we must. Regroup./ They began retreating back the way that they had come. The slowly made their way back to the waiting swoop. Upon arriving they realized it had been sabotaged in their absence.
Reaching out they both immediately went back to back in a defensive pose arms upon their sabers. Whoever had Anakin was working for one greater in the darkness. They were once again facing apprentices but now the Master Sith was nearby. Obi-Wan had no idea why the dark master would risk coming to Tiress knowing four Jedi were in pursuit of the boy. It seemed foolhardy. Yoda sighed continuing to keep his guard up knowing full well why the Master was there. He silently vowed that he would lay down his life before he would ever surrender the Chosen One into his dark hands.
*************************
Adi made her way over to where the older Master was breaking down the shelter he and Yoda had used the night before. Adi knelt down helping in the task.
"I have nothing against you Adi." He spoke as if wanted to defuse the situation.
"I couldn't care less. I'm wondering what you have against him?" She continued to roll up the material.
"I don't have anything against him." Qui-Gon tersely announced.
"Sith." She spat standing up. "Out with it." She placed her hands on her hips refusing to budge. He pushed past her in order to continue on with his task.
"There is nothing to tell. He was my padawan and I thought his behavior was unbecoming a knight so I told him." He retrieved the pack and began storing elements of the shelter.
"Well that's a big surprise. You finding fault with him. Tell me do you actually have to think about it or does picking him apart come natural to you? I mean after all you had 12 years of practice." She ripped the pack from his hand and threw it to the ground. "We will discuss this so you might as well stop avoiding it."
Qui-Gon sighed exasperated and moved to a nearby rock to sit down. "What do you want for me to say?"
"I want the truth. Have you ever noticed how easily you dismiss him? How easily you blame him and find fault with him? Do you have any idea how respected he is by all the other Masters?"
"Except his own." Qui-Gon spoke up angrily.
"Yoda admires him the most. If you were referring to you well I think your history speaks volume as for your judgment when it comes to Padawans." She had gone somewhere she hadn't wanted to but he had given her no choice. He was the most stubborn man she had ever dealt with.
"I will not sit here and be----"
"Picked apart?" She asked innocently. "Doesn't feel too good does it?"
"I don't pick him apart or dismiss him?" He replied the heat quickly dropping in his voice. The remark about Xani had hurt. He wondered if the young Master had any idea how many times each day he thought of that failure.
"Don't you? He is happy. Have you looked at him? He is happier than I remember ever seeing him and I believe I have something to do with that. He had a long miserable year after you threw him away but now he seems really happy. Can't you just let him have that? Can't you put your own failings aside long enough to be happy for him? " She knelt beside him and took his hand. He allowed it. He was suddenly too tired to fight anymore. His lack of sleep and worry for his padawan weighed down upon him.
"I am happy for him it's just-"
"What?" She implored.
"I feel so -"
"Scared? Guilty? Lost? What?" She shook her head watching him struggle to find out for himself.
"Guilty. I feel guilty. I shouldn't have left the boy alone. I should have known after the attack on the ship that he was vulnerable. " He was washed over by grief and lowered his head. "If I lose him too." He couldn't finish. His voice lost in emotion.
"I understand your fears Qui-Gon but you must release them. You've had a spotty history with Padawans but none of that has anything to do with Obi- Wan." She soothed.
"I know. He was my one great Padawan and I treated him badly. He has been very generous with me over the years and yet I just continue to hurt him. I don't understand it." He shook his head feeling ridiculous and ashamed of his behavior.
"Well they say we hurt the ones we love. Perhaps you hurt him because you know he will not walk away from you even when everyone else has." Her voice was soothing but firm. He lifted his blue eyes and met hers. She made perfect sense. He had always known somewhere deep inside of him from the moment he had laid eyes upon Obi-Wan that he was special. There was something about him that made him love again, made him come back to life after so many years of mourning, and he had rewarded the boy's endless devotion and love by abandoning him and blaming him. He had first left him after Tahl's death, then the clone disaster, and finally for Anakin, the Chosen One. Time and again he had left and always the boy who was now a man had found a way to forgive him.
"I must apologize to him, but I'm not sure that I haven't reached his limit. He warned me once on the ship that he was finished with forgiving me. " Qui-Gon tightened his grip on Adi's hand. "Could you talk to him? Could you tell him how sorry I am for what I said? I really am happy for you two though I have to admit-" He paused as Adi watched a small blush creep into his cheeks. "I had always hoped that you and I would have had a chance at what you have with him." Adi felt flattered. She had admired him for a time as well. It wasn't until Obi-Wan had come into his own that she had stopped thinking of his master and concentrated on the Knight.
"I too had my thoughts of you Qui-Gon, but that ship as flown. I have waited quite a while for this chance with your ex-Padawan and I won't allow you or anyone else to ruin it for us. Are we understanding each other?" The older man nodded. His ego had been salved by the fact that the fantasies had not been one sided.
"I understand." He smiled. "Now let's get these shelters down."
There was a sudden crackle of static over Qui-Gon comlink.
"Qui-Gon? Adi? " It was Obi-Wan's voice. He sounded alarmed.
"Go ahead Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon began.
"Our swoop has been sabotaged. We are two clicks out from the estate where Ani is being held. A dark presence is here as well as what Master Yoda and I believe to be the Sith Master. It appears to be a trap...wait...wait." The signal returned to static then went dead.
Adi looked to Qui-Gon. In that one terrible moment they both processed the information that they had received. A Sith Master was on planet. The Sith had known that Yoda and Obi-Wan were there. Something seemed to be a trap to the two Jedi and then their transmission had been abruptly ended. A moment later the two Masters were sprinting to their swoop. Reaching out and linking with Obi-Wan's mind Qui-Gon sensed a saber battle in process. He didn't want to distract the man, so he sent a wave of reassurance and hit the throttle full speed.
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Sorry about the screw up on posting the last chapter. Computer illiteracy is part of the magic that is me. Things are heating up. I hope that everyone is hanging on tight. I will try to get the next part up as soon as possible. Thanks for the patience.
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
*************************************************************************
It was cold. Anakin hated the cold. He pulled his sleep tunic tighter around him. He wished he had his cloak. He looked over and in the dim light coming from the hallway he could see the girl. She was still unconscious. He wondered what had happened to her. He remembered hearing her plead for his life but must have passed out He crawled over to where she lay on the floor.
Looking at her face he realized that she was very pretty. She had dark hair with very pale skin. She was older than he was. She was thin without looking frail. She looked strong. He touched her face and noticed that she moved a bit in response. Anakin smiled feeling a great sense of relief.
He reached out again and began gently patting her cheek and whispering her name.
"Laroon. Laroon." She squeezed her eyes closed tighter then slowly began to open them. Anakin exhaled slowly and watched her come awake.
She finally opened her eyes. She looked confused for a moment and then smiled when she realized that the boy looking down at her must be Anakin.
"Anakin?" She asked just to be sure.
"Hi." He said. "How do you feel?"
"You aren't dead. I thought that you were dead. They told me that you were." She reached up and touched him as if to confirm that he was indeed alive. His smiled brightened at this gesture.
"I'm real. " He said rising to his feet. She slowly joined him.
"Where are we?" She whispered as she followed him to the door. It wasn't completely closed. It concerned Anakin that it was sitting ajar. He still had the stupid collar around his neck so he knew he would not be able to touch the Force, but his instincts told him that if they left the room they would be walking into a trap.
Anakin stopped and motioned for the girl to lower her head so that he could whisper in her ear.
"I think it is a trap. They want us to go through this door. We need to find another way." They both began looking about for another escape route. It didn't take long for them to realize that the window would be their only option. Looking out it was obvious that they were several stories off of the ground. Anakin tried to open the window. After much effort he finally succeeded in prying in open. It was amazing that it wasn't locked. He supposed that whoever had them must have felt that the height would have prevented them from using the window for their escape or perhaps it too was a part of a trap. He felt a bit unsure, but felt there were no other options.
As he climbed up to the interior sill he felt Laroon's hand on his arm. Turning back he saw the look of concern on her face. She shook her head. He forced a smile then turned back to the window. He knew he couldn't use the Force but maybe there would be something on the exterior of the building that he could use to climb down to the ground. He took a deep breath and stepped out onto the sill. He heard a startled gasp from behind him and knew that Laroon was no longer alone in their room.
************************
It wasn't quite light when Obi-Wan felt the light tapping on his leg. He slowly remembered where he was and opened his eyes to find his Master gently tapping his leg with his gimmer stick.
"Master?" He tried to sit up but discovered something was on his chest. Looking down he remembered Adi. She was still snuggled next to him in a deep sleep her head exactly where it had been when they had drifted off.
"Time it is. Go ahead we must." Yoda made his way out of the tent giving Obi-Wan the privacy he needed to get dressed for his day.
Obi-Wan gently removed Adi's head from his shoulder placing a kiss to her forehead. He then moved quickly to get his boots, cloak, saber and utility belt. Making his way out of the tent he found Yoda waiting patiently for him.
The smaller Master was already on his way over to the swoop.
"How far do you think it is Master?" Obi-Wan asked giving the swoop a once over before they mounted it.
"Let us know when you wish for us to follow." Qui-Gon's voice surprised him.
Obi-Wan smiled at the Master. "Do you still have your comlink?" He asked. Qui-Gon brought his comlink from his belt rudely thrusting it in the Knight's direction. His movements seemed to indicate that he was angry about something. Obi-Wan watched as Yoda made his way over to the far end of the camp leaving the Master and his ex-Padawan.
"Master Jinn are you upset about something?" Obi-Wan asked.
Qui-Gon had slept very little after leaving the other shelter. He had spent a long time laying in the darkness thinking. He wasn't sure why he had gotten so angry at Obi-Wan. He was even more confused by his feelings of jealousy about Adi. He hadn't thought of seeing the woman in years. After much consideration and reaching out to the Force he realized that he was really upset about Anakin. He was very worried about the boy. He wondered how distracted Obi-Wan had been by Adi's arrival. Even last night knowing what they would all be facing the next day the two Jedi had conducted themselves inappropriately. This was not the time or the place for that sort of thing. A boy's life not to mention the fate of the galaxy hung in the balance.
Falling back into his Master mode he turned to Obi-Wan pausing a moment before speaking.
"Obi-Wan this relationship that you and Master Gallia are involved in-"
"Yes?" Obi-Wan asked feeling protective of Adi already having dealt with Qui-Gon enough over the years to understand that this was not a good way for their conversation to start.
"Well I find it highly inappropriate." Qui-Gon finished fully expecting at the very least an explanation and at the most an apology with the assurance that they would put it on hold for the time being.
"Really. Hmph." Obi-Wan frowned slightly then turned back to the Master his face fully composed as if he were still waiting for the Master to indicate what was bothering him.
"Anakin's life is in peril. We are facing the Sith in order to rescue him. This is a time when we all need to be fully centered and mission minded." Jinn continued feeling his patience wearing thin. Obi-Wan just nodded thoughtfully as if considering what the man was saying.
"And you feel that Adi and I are not fully centered or mission minded?" Obi-Wan asked.
"From what I heard coming from your shelter last night I should say not." Qui-Gon spoke in haste angry that the man wasn't being as contrite as had been expected.
"Master Jinn I find it insulting that you would call my professionalism into question and appalling that you dare to do the same to Master Gallia's. We are not teenage Padawans but adults fully capable of maintaining both our professional and personal lives. I understand that you are very concerned about Anakin and feel a great deal of anxiety over his rescue that is why I am going to forgive your intrusion and unjust opinion of my personal life. I am a Knight and will be treated as such."
"And I am a Master and demand to be treated as such!" The other man's voice caused Yoda to look in their direction. He wondered how things were progressing. From the volume level and stance of both men it was obviously going poorly.
"Then I suggest you act like one. You are not my Master and even if you were I am well past to the point of having a sex talk. Master Yoda is my Master and if he has a problem with my conduct then I am certain he will address it. He would not be sneaking around in the middle of the night eavesdropping on Master Gallia and me." Qui-Gon's face blushed bright red and his anger peaked.
"How dare you accuse me of something so vile. As a matter of fact I was trying to sleep when I was bombarded by the two of you in the throes of passion." Obi-Wan felt his face blush a bit as he felt a sudden rush of memories from the previous night come to his mind. He had not thought about their volume level.
"Excuse me but since this involves me I thought perhaps I should join the conversation." Adi walked to Obi-Wan's side as they presented a united front against the other Master.
"This is ridiculous. I merely requested that you reign in your emotions until Anakin is safely back with us and you have turned me into some dirty old man lurking about looking for cheap thrills. Conduct yourselves however you see fit but know this if I feel Anakin's rescue was in anyway impaired by this liaison I will have no choice but to bring a formal complaint before the Council." Qui-Gon huffed off.
Yoda had made his way back to the Knight.
"Leave we must while darkness covers us." Obi-Wan bowed slightly in the direction of his Master.
"Will you be ok here with him?" He turned concerned eyes upon Adi while he gestured in the direction where Qui-Gon had disappeared.
"I'll be fine. You be careful. " She tiptoed up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He smiled and mounted the swoop.
Adi watched as the two disappeared into the darkness. She had a bad feeling about what might lay ahead of them. She heard a noise behind her. She decided it was time that she and Qui-Gon got a few things sorted out now that her Knight was safely out of hearing range.
*****************************
Anakin felt the hand on his arm and felt himself being thrown to the floor. Staring up he saw two figures dress in Jedi like robes except they were made of a dark material.
"What do you want with us?" Laroon demanded.
"We want nothing with you just merely using you to keep the government officials off of our backs. Once we have our prize we will be disposing you." Darth Kial's words had the desired effect as the girl visiably retreated.
"What prize?" Anakin asked rising hesitantly to his feet.
Darth Sador came close his face inches from the boy's. His breath was hot as he looked intently into the boy's eyes. He could feel the darkness within the boy. He had touched it and come to see its advantages. Turning him would be easy enough, but that would come later.
"Why the Chosen One of course." He hissed. He watched as Anakin registered what he had said.
"What are you going to do with me?" He quipped. He supposed these were the Sith he had heard about. Obi-Wan and his Master had faced a Sith and survived. Anakin felt his spirits buoy at that thought. Surely if a mere Padawan could defeat a Sith he would easily conquer one being the Chosen One and all. He felt a wave of pride wash over him.
He noticed Sador and Kial were both looking at one another laughing. They were laughing at him. Surely it was some method meant to shake him. He refused to give them the satisfaction. Despite his determination not to allow them a victory he felt the beginnings of doubt creep into his mind. He was the Chosen One. He was. Wasn't he?
********************
Obi-Wan and Yoda closed in on the structure that lay ahead of them. It was some sort of estate. It was huge with several floors, security perimeter, and even though there were no guards that were visible the estate no doubt had surveillance equipment posted.
/Are they in there?/ Obi-Wan glanced at his Master.
/Reach out yourself and see./ Came the response. Obi-Wan closed his eyes and felt along what he knew of Anakin's mind. He found him somewhere within the main quarters. He also sensed the darkness that was hovering nearby. He was about to release his search when suddenly he felt another presence. It was strangely familiar and very dark. He immediately broke his contact. Pulling back he was drenched in perspiration. Yoda studied him for a moment. He had sensed something that had been elusive to the Master. He smiled knowingly and placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder.
/What sensed you?/ He waited until Obi-Wan was able to steady his breathing.
/Anakin was there. He is in the main quarters./ He pointed to the spot where he had felt the boy's presence the strongest. /There. He seems to still be dampened. I am not sure why I could sense him now but I can. I also sense the darkness hovering very near./
/A trap it is./ Yoda wisely nodded squinting his eyes reaching out to the Force for guidance as to how to proceed.
/There's more Master./ Obi-Wan waited until Yoda opened his eyes and regarded him again. / I sense a much darker one nearby. It is vaguely familiar but I cannot place where I know it from./ Realizing that it was this presence that had caused the violent reaction in the Knight Yoda immediately reached out searching for the new threat. He felt an overwhelming desire to protect his precious padawan. It had very little to do with who Obi-Wan was in the Force and more to do with who the man was in the old Master's heart.
/Retreat we must. Regroup./ They began retreating back the way that they had come. The slowly made their way back to the waiting swoop. Upon arriving they realized it had been sabotaged in their absence.
Reaching out they both immediately went back to back in a defensive pose arms upon their sabers. Whoever had Anakin was working for one greater in the darkness. They were once again facing apprentices but now the Master Sith was nearby. Obi-Wan had no idea why the dark master would risk coming to Tiress knowing four Jedi were in pursuit of the boy. It seemed foolhardy. Yoda sighed continuing to keep his guard up knowing full well why the Master was there. He silently vowed that he would lay down his life before he would ever surrender the Chosen One into his dark hands.
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Adi made her way over to where the older Master was breaking down the shelter he and Yoda had used the night before. Adi knelt down helping in the task.
"I have nothing against you Adi." He spoke as if wanted to defuse the situation.
"I couldn't care less. I'm wondering what you have against him?" She continued to roll up the material.
"I don't have anything against him." Qui-Gon tersely announced.
"Sith." She spat standing up. "Out with it." She placed her hands on her hips refusing to budge. He pushed past her in order to continue on with his task.
"There is nothing to tell. He was my padawan and I thought his behavior was unbecoming a knight so I told him." He retrieved the pack and began storing elements of the shelter.
"Well that's a big surprise. You finding fault with him. Tell me do you actually have to think about it or does picking him apart come natural to you? I mean after all you had 12 years of practice." She ripped the pack from his hand and threw it to the ground. "We will discuss this so you might as well stop avoiding it."
Qui-Gon sighed exasperated and moved to a nearby rock to sit down. "What do you want for me to say?"
"I want the truth. Have you ever noticed how easily you dismiss him? How easily you blame him and find fault with him? Do you have any idea how respected he is by all the other Masters?"
"Except his own." Qui-Gon spoke up angrily.
"Yoda admires him the most. If you were referring to you well I think your history speaks volume as for your judgment when it comes to Padawans." She had gone somewhere she hadn't wanted to but he had given her no choice. He was the most stubborn man she had ever dealt with.
"I will not sit here and be----"
"Picked apart?" She asked innocently. "Doesn't feel too good does it?"
"I don't pick him apart or dismiss him?" He replied the heat quickly dropping in his voice. The remark about Xani had hurt. He wondered if the young Master had any idea how many times each day he thought of that failure.
"Don't you? He is happy. Have you looked at him? He is happier than I remember ever seeing him and I believe I have something to do with that. He had a long miserable year after you threw him away but now he seems really happy. Can't you just let him have that? Can't you put your own failings aside long enough to be happy for him? " She knelt beside him and took his hand. He allowed it. He was suddenly too tired to fight anymore. His lack of sleep and worry for his padawan weighed down upon him.
"I am happy for him it's just-"
"What?" She implored.
"I feel so -"
"Scared? Guilty? Lost? What?" She shook her head watching him struggle to find out for himself.
"Guilty. I feel guilty. I shouldn't have left the boy alone. I should have known after the attack on the ship that he was vulnerable. " He was washed over by grief and lowered his head. "If I lose him too." He couldn't finish. His voice lost in emotion.
"I understand your fears Qui-Gon but you must release them. You've had a spotty history with Padawans but none of that has anything to do with Obi- Wan." She soothed.
"I know. He was my one great Padawan and I treated him badly. He has been very generous with me over the years and yet I just continue to hurt him. I don't understand it." He shook his head feeling ridiculous and ashamed of his behavior.
"Well they say we hurt the ones we love. Perhaps you hurt him because you know he will not walk away from you even when everyone else has." Her voice was soothing but firm. He lifted his blue eyes and met hers. She made perfect sense. He had always known somewhere deep inside of him from the moment he had laid eyes upon Obi-Wan that he was special. There was something about him that made him love again, made him come back to life after so many years of mourning, and he had rewarded the boy's endless devotion and love by abandoning him and blaming him. He had first left him after Tahl's death, then the clone disaster, and finally for Anakin, the Chosen One. Time and again he had left and always the boy who was now a man had found a way to forgive him.
"I must apologize to him, but I'm not sure that I haven't reached his limit. He warned me once on the ship that he was finished with forgiving me. " Qui-Gon tightened his grip on Adi's hand. "Could you talk to him? Could you tell him how sorry I am for what I said? I really am happy for you two though I have to admit-" He paused as Adi watched a small blush creep into his cheeks. "I had always hoped that you and I would have had a chance at what you have with him." Adi felt flattered. She had admired him for a time as well. It wasn't until Obi-Wan had come into his own that she had stopped thinking of his master and concentrated on the Knight.
"I too had my thoughts of you Qui-Gon, but that ship as flown. I have waited quite a while for this chance with your ex-Padawan and I won't allow you or anyone else to ruin it for us. Are we understanding each other?" The older man nodded. His ego had been salved by the fact that the fantasies had not been one sided.
"I understand." He smiled. "Now let's get these shelters down."
There was a sudden crackle of static over Qui-Gon comlink.
"Qui-Gon? Adi? " It was Obi-Wan's voice. He sounded alarmed.
"Go ahead Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon began.
"Our swoop has been sabotaged. We are two clicks out from the estate where Ani is being held. A dark presence is here as well as what Master Yoda and I believe to be the Sith Master. It appears to be a trap...wait...wait." The signal returned to static then went dead.
Adi looked to Qui-Gon. In that one terrible moment they both processed the information that they had received. A Sith Master was on planet. The Sith had known that Yoda and Obi-Wan were there. Something seemed to be a trap to the two Jedi and then their transmission had been abruptly ended. A moment later the two Masters were sprinting to their swoop. Reaching out and linking with Obi-Wan's mind Qui-Gon sensed a saber battle in process. He didn't want to distract the man, so he sent a wave of reassurance and hit the throttle full speed.
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Sorry about the screw up on posting the last chapter. Computer illiteracy is part of the magic that is me. Things are heating up. I hope that everyone is hanging on tight. I will try to get the next part up as soon as possible. Thanks for the patience.
