Title: Hidden Shadows Seeking Light

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

Genre: Drama/Mild Angst

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

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

Just to a little guide as to what things mean:

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

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The blaster bolts came out of nowhere. There had been a second of warning through the Force and then they had come. Obi-Wan could feel the heat of the deflected bolts behind him as his Master fought at a furious pace to protect his back as he fought to protect that of his Master's. It brought back memories of the last battle that they had faced together. The Sith on Naboo had been a worthy opponent, but it had been their ability to work together using their individual strengths to benefit the other that had secured their victory. As he parried one more time to his right he felt the urgent touch of his Master's mind upon his.

/Get to cover we must./ Yoda sent giving the Knight an image of how they could make it into the brush. Obi-Wan immediately began moving in conjunction with his Master until they had reached the edge of the clearing. It was then that the blasts suddenly ceased. Each Jedi kept his saber ignited and raised. They felt vulnerable after being taken so easily by surprise. Neither Jedi had sensed anything until moments before the first blast.

/What do you think this is?/ Obi-Wan asked. /The Sith no doubt but how could they have found us so quickly?/

/Reach out./ Yoda commanded.

Obi-Wan immediately did so. It was difficult to fall into any semblance of calm knowing that at any moment they could once again be under attack. He kept his senses on high alert in the event that the blasts began again. He could feel the Sith close by. He could tell that both of the dark signatures were moving in their direction. It amazed him that he was now able to feel them so clearly whereas before they had eluded him. They must be very close.

He focused again on the signatures. He wanted to gather as much information as possible before their enemies launched yet another attack. There seemed to be two of them. Their signatures were different yet very similar to that of the Sith on Naboo.

/Apprentices. Two of them Master coming this way./ Obi-Wan sent before searching along another line leading in the same direction. It was different from the other two signatures but at the same time similar. As he drew closer he discovered that there was something very familiar about this signature. It was darker and stronger.

/The Master./ He sent then suddenly collapsed to the ground his saber falling harmlessly at his side. He felt a wave hit him and wash over him. It was pain, a searing line of frantic fire racing through his body then coming back to rebound within his mind before launching once again into his extremities. It was paralyzing. He was vaguely aware that Yoda was still beside him. He was also aware that the blasts had begun again, but he was unable to assist him. He felt his grip on his own consciousness slipping. He cradled his head in his hands searching for the origin of the pain and darkness. It was so much like what he had felt with Anakin.

The bolts ceased once more. Yoda hesitantly dropped to one knee reaching out to his Padawan trying to assess his injury. Finding no physical wound he attempted to speak to him through the bond. He felt it then. It was the same wave. Realizing its origin he immediately retreated from the bond and breathed heavily to regain his composure. The Knight was in an overwhelming amount of pain. He watched as the young knight jerked and convulsed as wave after wave of torment raced through his lean frame. He wanted to help him, but would need another to help. He needed Qui-Gon. Between the two of them they should be able to free Obi-Wan from this attack. Qui-Gon could work as Obi-Wan had to release Anakin.

He reached out along the dormant bond he still held with his other padawan, but stopped before actually making contact. He felt the Sith Master. He was coming closer. Yoda took up his saber once more placing himself between the approaching Sith and his Padawan. Swallowing hard the little Master readied himself for whatever action it took to protect his beloved Obi-Wan.

"You don't really want to make this harder for him do you?" The Sith hissed coming into view.

"Make it hard on you I will not him." The green Master warned raising his saber.

"Master Yoda I am aware of your skill as a warrior. I would not think of challenging you." He took another menacing step forward. "The wise do no attack their enemies strengths but instead use their weaknesses to bring defeat." Yoda continued to hold his stance. He wasn't sure what weakness he was about to face. He reached out to the Force asking for guidance as to how best to face it. The Force seemed oddly silent. It seemed dampened as if it were hidden in the shadow of the Sith standing before him.

"Dampener field I feel." Yoda cast around him searching for the dampening devices that were no doubt within sight. The Sith merely laughed and held out a remote controller. He had activated the field only moments before. He stared down at the knight who was writhing on the ground behind the small Master.

"Such a brave Knight really an excellent specimen don't you agree?" He took another step forward causing the Master to drop into an aggressive defense stance. "It will be quite a blow to the Jedi to have this one lost from them ranks." The Sith shook his head with mocking sorrow. Turning his gaze back upon the Master he raised his brows sympathetically.

"Do you think that you will have to give your life to protect him? Would you be willing to give your life to protect him? Is he worth the sacrifice?" The small master refused to answer. It mattered not what he was willing to do. He would do what he must to keep the man safe.

"I would hate to see you hurt Master Yoda. I doubt that there are adequate healing facilities anywhere on this planet. "What a sad day it would be for the Jedi if they were to lose you as well as Kenobi." Yoda tried to ignore what he was saying. Instead he continued to build up a Force net around Obi-Wan and himself. He could tell that the dampening field was hampering his efforts.

"Do you really think your Force net can protect him? Surely you realize that your ability to use the Force has been greatly diminished. It is an effort in futility." He smiled sweetly at Yoda then with false sincerity continued. " I would love to stay and chat with you but I really must take my prize and leave. You have a choice in how this happens though." Yoda looked around him trying to sense ifvany other beings were approaching. He knew that Obi-Wan had been in the middle of a transmission when the attack had come, so perhaps Qui-Gon and Adi were close. Between the three of them they had a much better chance of preventing the Sith from taking the Knight.

"Here are your choices old Master." Sidious spoke disgust dripping from his tongue. "You can allow me to peacefully take him or I can increase the power of the attack he is now experiencing until he either goes mad or succumbs. It is your call. You can spare his life or not. It matters little to me." Yoda doubted that it mattered little. He felt certain that the Sith wanted Obi-Wan and he knew why. He felt certain that there was no way that he could save the Knight on his own. He wondered if he could stall the Sith long enough for Adi and Qui-Gon to arrive.

"He seems to be in a great deal of pain. Surely your brief encounter with it a moment ago gives you a glimpse of his agony. Do you really wish to prolong it until help arrives?" He laughed seeing the Master's reaction. He knew that Yoda was not buying the thought that he didn't want Obi-wan. Perhaps the old master was aware of whom the Knight truly was. If so the Sith doubted Yoda would allow Kenobi to be killed, but then again who could ever figure out the Jedi. He knew that they all believed it better to die first than to fall to the dark, so perhaps Yoda would rather see his precious one dead rather than dark

"You are out of time and so is he." The Sith sent out another crippling wave of darkness causing the Knight to cry out. Obi-Wan felt his mind turning inside of itself. He was desperately searching for the cause of the pain so that he could somehow manage to defeat it. He felt parts of his consciousness slipping away. His mind was searching for any possible release. It was a human response to the pain. He had reached a point where his body knew it could either retreat or surrender. Trying to survive the attack the Knight's mind had begun to retreat. More pain shattered through his head then burned down the nerve passages throughout his body. He felt his muscles contract unbearably hard. He wondered if they would ever relax again. He felt as if his mind was splintering, fracturing off into separate directions. //Retreat// he commanded with his last ounce of endurance. //Retreat.//

Yoda watched Obi-Wan's face revealing none of the inner anguish he felt as he watched his beloved Knight suffer such terrible torment. He knew he dare not let the man fall. It would mean the end of the universe as they all knew it, but he couldn't bring himself to allow the Knight to die before his eyes. The Sith had been correct in assessing his weakness. Striving to hold to the light, he chose to have faith in the man he had come to know and love. He had seen the light shining within the Knight. He trusted it to hold him together and to prevent his fall. Lowering his saber the older Master tossed his weapon to the ground.

His actions were met by an evil cackle coming from the Sith in front of him. He had won and he wanted to ensure that the best that the Jedi had to offer felt the sting of his humiliation and the bitterness of failure. He made a swift motion with his hand and another Sith appeared and roughly grabbed the Knight where he lay. Throwing the obviously conscious man over his shoulder he headed back in the direction of the estate.

"I sense the approach of your friends." The Sith said calmly almost conversationally. "You will have to report to them of your great failure." He waited for the words to sink in. "How disappointed they will be."

"He will not turn." Yoda stated firmly refusing to allow the Sith an ounce of satisfaction.

In an instant the Sith used his Force ability to alter his appearance. Yoda watched in stunned amazement as the Sith Master suddenly appeared to take on the form of Qui-Gon Jinn. There was something definitely different but outwardly it was the man who had been his padawan and had at one time been the young Knight's Master. The cackling laughter returned.

"He might not turn for a Sith but is there anything that this Knight could ever deny his ex-Master? Jinn is his weakness and Kenobi is yours. You Jedi will fall in spite of your strength. It is your concern for others that makes you weak. It is your trust in your friends that will cause you to fall." Yoda wanted to speak but stood silent his mind desperately searching for a way to rescue his Padawan. He had been horrified at the power the Sith possessed. He knew that there were Jedi who could alter their appearance but he had never seen one take on the persona of another being. His mind reeled at the formidability of this weapon.

The sound of the approaching swoop caught the Master's attention as he turned to search for the arrival of his fellow Masters. Turning back to stare at the Sith he found that the evil creature was gone. It was if he had evaporated and with him so had any hope of saving Obi-Wan.



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Only one scene this time but it was a crucial one. It needed to happen before we could move forward. It was like shifting from fourth into fifth gear. Now we are speeding down the story highway please keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle. It is my goal to post the next chapter by Sunday. I had to spend some time deciding where we were headed on this road but now I can see our destination. The good news is I think you all will like where we end up. The bad news is that it might take us a few more weeks to get there. I promise to stop for snack and bathroom breaks as needed. Just let me know so I can be looking for the next good place to stop. So break out the car bingo, slap on your seat belts, remember no fighting in the backseat, and away we go.