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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Once Obi-Wan was settled into the sick bay of the ship Anakin watched as his Master turned his attention to getting the jump coordinates into the navigational computer. Anakin was amazed at how quickly Master Jinn negotiated the new controls.

"I can help you with that Master." He stated. "If you will tell me where we are headed I am pretty sure I can handle the programming." He watched as Qui-Gon seemed to ignore his offer. He wondering if perhaps he had angered the man by being captured or perhaps he was just disappointed because he had not been able to free himself and the Commander's daughter. He ran through the last few days trying to see where he could have handled things better. Looking once more at his Master, he decided that he would remain quiet until they were in hyberspace then he would ask his Master if he was angry.

Leaving the cockpit Anakin made his way back to the sick bay. He stared at the Knight for a moment. Obi-Wan looked just as he had in the basement of the estate. He was pale and unconscious. He had a couple of bruises on his face. Anakin had no doubt that there was also a huge bruise on his right ribs where the Sith had landed a solid kick. He stepped forward until he was standing next to the Knight staring down at him.

He remembered the first time he encountered Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon had come aboard the ship after a brief encounter with what they now knew was a Sith. His Master had introduced them. He had seemed serious but kind. His thoughts turned back to the first day he had spent as a student at the Temple. The Knight had tried to help make his transition easier. The Knight had never really done anything to him, but for some reason he felt resentful and jealous of the man. He had taken Obi-Wan's place by Qui- Gon's side and yet something about the man made Anakin feel threatened.

He wondered why the man remained unconscious. He reached out touching the collar that was still around the Knight's neck. It was identical to the one he wore as well. He glanced around the room looking for something that he could use to remove them both. Finding a cutting knife he moved over to the mirror started the long process of cutting through the odd metal device. He hadn't made a mark on it when he heard his Master clearing his throat behind him.

"What are you doing Anakin?" He asked stepping forward.

"I wanted to take this thing off. I want to reconnect to our bond and feel the Force once more. I have really missed it." The older man smiled patiently at the boy.

"You must not remove it that way. They are usually lined with a detonation device. We will have to wait until we get to the Temple to remove it safely." Anakin nodded obviously disappointed and frustrated. He felt his collar once more the hint of fear about his eyes.

"Yes Master." He bowed obediently.

"Any change with our Knight?" He asked. Anakin felt himself bristle. He resented that his Master was calling Kenobi 'our knight'. //He isn't mine.// Anakin thought harshly but smiled at his Master and replied.

"No Master but maybe soon. He doesn't appear to have any serious injuries." Anakin glanced at the Knight then began making his way out of the bay.

Sidious had noticed the boy's reaction to his term of endearment in reference to the Knight. He had hidden his smile of satisfaction. Even with the collar in place he could feel the hate that was growing within the boy towards the Knight. He watched as the boy turned to head to the galley. Sidious walked over to the side of the Knight. He ran his hand down the side of the man's face looking for any signs of reaction. Seeing none he decided to try again when there would be no risk of Anakin interrupting him.

As he turned to leave he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. He was growing weary of Jinn's appearance but knew it was his best hope of turning the Knight. Turning back to look up on the blond man before him his face twisted into an evil smile. He knew that Kenobi couldn't hear him but he couldn't resist the chance to affirm it aloud.

"You will be mine Kenobi. My Chosen One." He turned to leave. He would find Anakin and get the next part of his master plan underway.

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It was dark. Something was terribly wrong. Pain. Pain. He remembered terrible pain. Tentatively searching the pathways of his mind he realized that the pain was gone. There was residual bruising but nothing serious. Something was missing though. The Force was missing. He reached for it but felt nothing. Slowly he began exploring his other senses now that his strongest one was dormant.

His hearing came first. He concentrated on the sounds coming to him. There was the faint whirl of machinery. He knew the sounds well enough from his past to know that he was in a medical bay of some sort. Hearing the medical equipment caused him to begin assessing his body to determine the extent of his injuries. Finding his vitals to be normal, he assumed his state of consciousness had been enough to warrant the need for medical monitoring.

Now that he had his hearing he decided to reach out with smell. He could tell he was taking in recirculated air. He was on a ship. He could also smell the faint scent of hydraulic fluid and bacta.

The bed felt soft beneath his body and he also sensed the tenderness on his side. He couldn't remember when or how he had injured his ribs but recognized the symptoms from past injuries to know that at least one was broken and two more were cracked. Realizing that his sense of touch was distracting him more than helping him, he moved away from it.

He skipped taste and went straight to sight. This was tricky because his eyes felt heavy and uncooperative. He slowly managed to open them slightly and was rewarded by a new wave of pain. Closing them once more he steeled himself before opening him again.

He didn't recognize the medical bay. He reached out and still the Force eluded him. Reaching up to rub his eyes his hand came into contact with the collar around his neck. He immediately understood why he couldn't feel the Force. Bracing his arms against the bed he pushed himself up and sat for a moment staring around the room. He didn't see his Master. He wondered if he were in the hands of the Sith. That would explain the existence of the collar. He felt his belt and discovered his saber missing. Swearing softly he gingerly lowered himself to his feet.

The door opened as if the weight of his feet had activated it. He instinctively fell into a hand to hand stance and leapt at the individual entering the room. He heard a young boy's voice and immediately released Anakin.

"You scared me." Anakin complained rubbing his neck where the Knight had grabbed him.

"Sorry Anakin. I didn't see that it was you. Are you alright?" He asked sizing the boy up. He was no longer missing which was a good thing but then again maybe now they were both missing which wasn't a good thing. He noticed the collar and began to suspect the later.

"I'm fine. I haven't been unconscious for hours and hours. Should you be up?" He asked taking a step forward.

Obi-Wan pulled the boy away from the door and began speaking in a more hushed tone.

"Where are we Anakin?" He asked. He knew they were on a ship, they were both collared but yet Anakin seemed to be moving about without any sort of hinderance.

"We are on the Chancellor's new ship. It is the fastest one in the Republic fleet." Anakin boasted with pride. He skipped bragging about the fact that he had actually helped Master Jinn pilot it away from Tiress. He could tell the Knight all about that later. Knowing that Obi-Wan was a pilot as well he knew the Knight would be envious of such an opportunity.

"How did we get here?" He asked becoming more confused as time went by. The last thing he remembered was pain and fighting with his Master against the Sith. Now he was on the Chancellor's ship. Had Adi and Qui-Gon arrived in time? Had his Master gone ahead with Adi and Qui-Gon to rescue Anakin and Laroon La'Kol?

"Where are Adi or Yoda?" Obi-Wan asked not giving Anakin a chance to explain. He felt very disoriented.

"They aren't here. It is just you and me and Master Jinn. He found us and rushed us off of Tiress. He told Laroon that it was important for him to get us off Tiress and away from the Sith." Anakin felt a surge of pride and warmth as he relived his Master's obvious concern for him.

"Where is Laroon?" He asked.

"He left her for Master Gallia and Master Yoda to find." Anakin replied hopping up on the medical bed and tinkering with a piece of monitoring equipment.

"He left her!" Obi-Wan exclaimed in alarm. Something wasn't right. Qui- Gon would never leave an innocent behind. The Knight felt his heart race and his breath grow shallow as he once again began searching for his saber. Something was definitely not right here. He reached out to the Force but felt nothing. He felt the collar around his neck.

"Why hasn't Qui-Gon removed our collars?" He asked the boy wondering how he could be so blind to the danger he was sensing.

"He said that they were rigged with an explosive device. He said if we tried to remove them that they would explode." The boy gently touched his collar sobered by the thought. He had had a explosive device embedded within him as a slave. The fear of being blown to bits wasn't new to him but it wasn't something that a person ever got use to.

"I don't believe him." Obi-Wan replied absently and reached for a likely instrument and began working to remove his collar.

"Why would he lie?" Anakin asked.

"Did he look at your collar? Did he examine it?" He asked. Anakin shook his head his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Then how would he know? How could he possibly know that it was rigged with anything?" Obi-Wan heard a pop and knew he was close to getting the locking mechanism to release. "The answer is that he didn't. He lied."

"Master Jinn would not lie. He would never do such a thing." Anakin leapt from the table defensively.

"I can't believe you would think that little of me." Both Anakin and Obi- Wan turned in surprise finding Qui-Gon standing in the door way of the bay. Neither had noticed his return.

"Master." Obi-Wan began. "A Jedi who would leave an innocent behind is capable of many unthinkable things." Obi-Wan watched as Qui-Gon's face remained unchanged.

"I had no choice but to leave her. I was under orders from Yoda to get you and Anakin off of Tiress. He and Master Gallia were only minutes behind me. I had no choice. It was vital that the Chosen One be kept from the Sith." Qui-Gon took a step closer reaching out to help Obi-Wan remove his collar.

"The Chosen One is more important than an innocent girl we were sent to rescue? Our mission was clear." Obi-Wan argued.

"Circumstances changed." Qui-Gon replied "Anakin could you go check the navigational computer. I need you to run a couple of diagnostics. I am not familiar with this ship."

"Yes Master." Anakin bowed and with a final angry glare at the Knight left the room. Once he was out of sight Qui-Gon tightened his grip on the Knight and pulled him close.

"Never question me in front of my Padawan." His eyes were wild and angry. Obi-Wan was a bit taken aback by the man's sudden change in disposition. He jerked free of the man refusing to be intimidated.

"I will question you when you are obviously lying to him. Why would you tell him that his collar would explode if it were removed? You understand how devastating it is to be without contact with the Force." Obi-Wan reached for the tool again so that he could finish removing the collar. He was growing impatient with Qui-Gon's efforts.

"I didn't lie. I have heard of such collars it only makes sense that the Sith would use them. I certainly wasn't willing to risk his life to find out." He paused taking in the skeptical look on the Knight's face. "Okay." He conceded softly then moved to insure that the door was secured and Anakin no where in sight. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow as he watched the man. "I don't want Anakin accessing the Force. I suspect he has been dabbling with the dark side and until I can be certain that he is free of that temptation I cannot risk his being in touch with the Force at all." Obi-Wan was silent in the face of the man's admission.

"I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier." Qui-Gon softly apologized. "I am very worried about the boy." Obi-Wan nodded. It was understandable. Once a Jedi starts down the path of darkness it was rare that one would turn back. He found himself feeling great sympathy for his ex-Master. It had taken him years to recover from Xanatos. He wondered now if Anakin turned if Qui-Gon would ever recover. It broke his heart to realize that he wouldn't.

"You believe it is beyond just playing with dark ideas? You feel he is actually manipulating the Force using the dark side?" His voice was hushed weighed down with heavy concern. After realizing that the lock box had been full of the boy's own thoughts he had been harboring, he had known that Anakin had been embracing ideas that were contrary to the Jedi way of life. He knew that the Master needed to guide the boy and work to rid him of this habit, but to believe that Anakin was actually using the dark side of the Force sent a shudder through his body.

"I didn't sense anything that ominous when we were fighting the attack on his mind." Obi-Wan admitted absently still considering what Qui-Gon had revealed to him.

"Well I need your help. I can't free him of this without you. He is the Chosen One, Obi-Wan. He must not fall to the Sith. Would you be willing to help me? Would you be willing to save Anakin?" There was such desperation in the older man's eyes Obi-Wan would have been hard pressed to have declined. He placed what he hoped would be a comforting hand on the other man's shoulder and met his gaze.

"I will do whatever I can." Qui-Gon smiled.

"Do you trust me Obi-Wan? " Qui-Gon asked his eyes filled with hope. "I know I hurt you in the past. Do you think that you can trust me again?" Obi-Wan was taken aback. He swallowed hard. He was touched by the desperation in the man's eyes. Qui-Gon had hurt him but he had also trained him, saved him, nursed him when he was sick, guided him when he felt lost. How could he not trust him? Obi-Wan nodded smiling at the man.

"Yes Qui-Gon I believe I can trust you." His voice was hushed and serious.

"Good." He smiled. "In order to save Anakin it is important that you trust me completely. You must do as I ask and not question me. It is our only hope of saving the boy." Obi-Wan stiffened slightly wondering what lay before them in this endeavor to win back Anakin.

"I will try Master." He sighed.

"Do or do not there is no try." Qui-Gon answered the simplicity of his words complicated by the gravity of the situation. He wanted to trust Qui- Gon without question. The man was more knowledgeable about the Force and also about Padawans than he was.

"Then I will trust you." He smiled his eyes locked on Qui-Gon's.

There was a loud pop as Qui-Gon finally succeeded in removing the collar around Obi-Wan's neck The older man watched as Obi-Wan was filled with the Force once more. The Knight leaned against the bulkhead trying to maintain his balance as this sixth sense was suddenly returned to him. Looking up he laughed when he realized Qui-Gon was staring at him with such close scrutiny.

"Ahhhh Air." Obi-Wan smiled and laughed once more. Qui-Gon met his smile. After taking another long moment to adjust he focused back on the Master. "We will save Anakin, Master."

"I have no doubt Obi-Wan. Working together how could we fail? I will complete the Chosen One's training. I have foreseen it." He smiled. Obi- Wan failed to notice the leer that made its way into the other man's eyes. It cleared as quickly as it arose.

"Are you hungry?" He asked walking the Knight out of the medical bay.

"Are you kidding me? When am I not? Let's see what the Chancellor has to eat. Five to one it makes our meager transport meals look like prisoner's rations." They both laughed at that. Obi-Wan reached out again reveling in the pure joy of sensing the Force once more. He tentatively touched Qui- Gon's signature as a test of his returning ability. The signature seemed a bit off. He touched it once more causing the man to turn and regard him for a long moment.

"Are you alright?" Qui-Gon asked sounding sincerely concerned. "You look as pale as when you had Balteran flu. Let's hope it isn't that." The man smiled. Obi-Wan shook his head

"It's odd. You don't feel like yourself." Obi-Wan said knowing it must sound ridiculous. Qui-Gon laughed.

"And you don't look yourself. Guess that makes us quite the pair." Obi- Wan shook his head. Surely it was a side effect of the collar. In a day or two he would be back to normal in the meantime he and Qui-Gon would need to focus on Anakin. Together they had a few days to save the boy before they reached the Temple. Obi-Wan just hoped it wasn't too late.

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"What do you mean he appeared as Qui-Gon? Are you telling me that the dark lord has both Anakin and Obi-Wan but they think that he is Qui-Gon?" Adi was pacing impatiently as she and Yoda waited for Qui-Gon to finish returning Laroon La'Kol to her father.

"Know not what the Sith is doing but after what the girl said deceiving Obi- Wan and Skywalker I suspect he is.' He was keeping his tone even but was just as concerned as the young Master. The Sith was aware that Jinn was Kenobi's one great weakness. He would never understand why the boy had been so desperate for the love and approval of his Master after all that Jinn had done to him. It was a weakness with all humans though. He was no difference that the rest of his species. They all need to love and be loved. He sighed.

"Surely Obi-Wan and Anakin will be able to sense the difference. He can't duplicate Qui-Gon's Force signature. They will realize the rouse and either escape or destroy him." She hoped her voice sounded more confident than she felt. The thought of the Knight obviously in a weakened condition thinking he was safely in the hands of his ex-Master filled her with a feeling of despair. He would rely on the dark lord. He would trust him. She felt a scream rising in her throat and forced herself to swallow it.

"Injured Obi-Wan is and untrained is the boy no match would they be for a Sith Master. Find them we must." Yoda grimaced. "Contact the Temple I will put out a trace on the Chancellor's new ship I will." Yoda didn't wait for a reply as he made his way to the communication center.

Adi watched his retreat relieved to have a moment alone to gather her thoughts and center herself. She had to will herself to let go of all of her fears where the Knight was concerned. She had no doubt that the Sith would either turn him or kill him. She knew with all certainty that Obi- Wan would not turn, so unless they located that ship soon he would be dead. She shuddered at the thought. They had just begun to explore what they meant to one another. She now realized that his feelings ran as deeply as hers. Swallowing hard she was determined not to give herself over to the tears that were threatening. Obi-Wan didn't need her weakness; he needed her strength. They would find him and Skywalker if it took everything she had to make it happen. She would find him.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the approach of Qui-Gon. His face was lined with worry. He walked as if a great weight was upon his shoulders. She knew he was concerned about his Padawan, but also concerned for the Knight as well. He had been very quiet since Yoda had dropped the bomb about Obi-Wan being the Chosen One. He had initially rejected the possibility but now seemed to accept it on some level. As if reading her thoughts he spoke up as he came up beside her.

"I can't believe I missed it." He gave a wistful smile. "All those years lost in my own grief and he carried on with his own training never giving over to feelings of anger or despair. All those years he protected me thinking he was giving me time to heal from my loss. I hurt him so deeply and yet he never hated me. Even when he left the Temple he looked for some worthwhile cause to give his life for. Always so centered, so Force focuses, so grounded in the light how could I have missed it Adi? How could I have not seen it?" He whispered having made his way over to the windows staring out at the grounds of the State House.

"Sometimes we are staring too close to truly see what it in front of us." She offered knowing it wasn't the truth. She looked at him and caught him giving her a doubtful look. She smiled in spite of herself.

"You can do better than that." He offered.

"I think you were so afraid of what he would become you never even consider what he already was." That got her a nod. It felt like the truth.

"Fear, it leads to the dark side. No wonder I was led to Anakin. Yoda is right perhaps I was led to him by the dark side of the Force. I can't believe I threw Obi-Wan away for Anakin. I was such a fool." He sounded so full of despair. A part of Adi wanted to rub salt into the old man's wounds. She had watched the damage that he had inflicted on Obi-Wan over the years. It had broken her heart to watch the young man turn himself inside out to please an impossible Master. Looking at Qui-Gon and seeing him so broken as he gazed vacantly out the window, Adi felt a new compassion for him. She walked over and took him into her arms embracing him warmly.

"He wouldn't want you to do this. He wouldn't want you to torture yourself over mistakes that have been made and forgiven. We must now concentrate on finding him so that you can have a chance to see him for what he really is and not what you believed him to be." She pulled back forcing the man to look at her. "He is using Obi-Wan's love for you as a way of turning him. You must put these feelings aside if you hope to save him. Can you do that?" She watched as his eyes turned from sadness to steeled determination. Never had she seen such resolve. It filled her with hope and promise.

"I will not fail him." He stated. "We will find him and it will not be too late."

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Here's the weekly installment. I am posting it a day early because I could and also I wasn't sure what time I would be able to tomorrow. I didn't want it to be real late in the day. I really appreciate the reviews and those of you who are kind enough to lend your encouragement to me, the fledgling writer. So what do you think is going to happen? I would love to hear because quite honestly I am not sure. I am just going where my imagination takes me. I am hoping it is somewhere believable. Look for next weeks post on Sunday. I am going to have to do some serious plot consideration this week. Thanks again to all my loyal readers. It is so much fun writing knowing that you are out there reading. I wish each of you a very Happy New Year. My resolution is to finish this story up strong. Thanks for hanging in there.