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
************************************************************
Plans he had made so many plans. All of his life he had been working towards this moment. The Chosen One within his grasp and yet he still had to turn him. Once Kenobi was his there would be no one who could stand in his way. The universe would be his. So much of it was already in his pocket. So many planets completely unaware that they were no longer free, it had been so easy to control them. They were his to do with as he saw fit. Sidious smiled as he allowed himself to revel in the feeling of power and domination.
His plans were all working out. He had one more to bring to fruition. He sighed taking in his appearance once more. He had always thought Qui-Gon Jinn attractive if you like the strong, blue eyed, athletic look. He was beginning to miss his own face but he knew that his best chance of turning the Knight was to work upon his weakness. Jinn was Kenobi's weakness.
Temple matters seldom remained a secret from the Senate. He had long heard tales of Jinn's abuse of the Knight. He had never physically harmed the boy that was for sure, but he had inflicted many emotional wounds. He had watched over the years with great interest knowing that the great Jedi was merely making his conquest of the Chosen One that much easier. Dooku had identified Kenobi from the moment he had arrived at the Temple. The records had been buried until recently. He had immediately notified Sidious. Sidious had thought to take the boy early as his apprentice but then had decided to allow the Jedi to train him. He was busy after all with his responsibilities as a Senator working towards the position of Chancellor.
He had tried to nab him once before when he had been forced to leave the Temple but unfortunately he had fallen in with a gang of pirates who wouldn't allow him anywhere near him. He had learned that Xanatos' sister had him for a short while, but he had escaped before Sidious could barter for him. Then he was back at the Temple under Jinn's supervision again. More training and more damage, no harm in Kenobi receiving a bit more of each after all each moment spent with Jinn was leading the young man to his destiny. He would stand at Sidious' side ruling the universe.
"He will call me Master." Sidious whispered still staring at his reflection.
In the mean time it was Maul who had just by chance located a young boy on Tatooine who could pod race. He had to be a Force sensitive and sure enough he was. It was obvious that the boy's mother was aware of her son's abilities and also had at some point learned of the Jedi prophecy. Maul had had to fight not to laugh in her face as she subtly tried to convince him that the boy was the Chosen One. He had contacted Sidious and asked how he was to proceed. Of course Sidious had decided that he would take the boy to be trained as a Sith, but he was still young and slavery was the perfect training ground for hate and pain. Why waste his time inflicting what the boy was already in line for. He would allow him to remain on Tatooine until he was ready to be trained.
It was by chance that Jinn found him first. Jinn had always proclaimed that it had been the Force. Sidious wondered at this. Could the Force have been trying to spare the boy from the fake that the dark lord had planned for him? If so it had failed. An evil smile twisted itself upon the old man's face.
Everyone on Coruscant knew of the Jinn's obsession with the prophecies of old. It truly could not have worked out better if Sidious had planned it himself. Of course the best way for Sidious to get his hands on the Chosen One was for Jinn to find what looked to be the Chosen One. When he had learned that upon discovering Skywalker that Jinn had raced back to the Temple throwing away the real thing for a cheap imitation, Sidious had fought to maintain his composure. In fact he had excused himself from the committee meeting feigning a headache to keep from laughing aloud. Of course his enjoyment of Jinn's failure had only come second to his outright delight at witnessing the outrage that the other Jedi had displayed at the man's cruelty toward Obi-Wan.
"Poor long suffering Obi-Wan." The man whisper shaking his head in mock sympathy. "How much longer will your suffering be? Once you become mine it will only intensify." He cackled. He was going to enjoy watching the young Knight suffer. Suffering led to pain and pain to hate and hate to end off all that was good, Kenobi had to suffer for the universe to be Sidious', so suffer he would.
Reaching out with his mind he realized that the Skywalker boy was in his quarters now. It was time to put his final plan into action. Playing upon the young boy's guilt and fear would be easy enough. Soon the Chosen One will be mine and the Skywalker boy dead. Checking his appearance once more in the mirror he activated the door to his quarters and headed out to persuade his Padawan.
******************
He had heard his Master recommend that Obi-Wan rest for a while as Anakin made his way to his quarters. He had felt a twinge of envy at the man's obvious concern for the Knight. He tried to shake the feeling but even as he entered his quarters it was still burning within him.
He knew that Qui-Gon would be coming to his room as soon as the Knight agreed to rest. Obi-Wan did look tired. At least if the Knight decided to rest he would be out of the way and Anakin and his Master would finally have some time to get back to his training. At the very least he hoped to have the chance to explain what had happened while he had been a captive of the Sith. It wasn't really his fault that his first mission had ended so badly. He had no control over that. He hoped his Master would agree.
He rolled his lips into his mouth wondering if his Master would conclude as he had that it had been his secret dark thoughts that had made him a target of the Sith to begin with. What if the man decided not to train him now? How would he ever be able to free his mother unless he was trained? If anything his time being held by the Sith had fortified his resolve to free his mother. He felt ashamed that he had waited this long. It had been over a year. She no doubt feared that he had long forgotten her. He felt an urgency to reach her. He wondered if there was anyway to get a message to her. He suddenly felt overwhelmed with sadness and desperation.
Reaching within himself he would still see the box and fought the urge to open it if only for a moment of comfort. He had vowed to be more careful ever since the attack on the ship coming from Coruscant. He thought again about Obi-Wan and how he had looked when the Sith had brought him into the basement. Anakin wasn't sure what had happened to him but he looked like Anakin had felt following the mind attack he had suffered. He still winced at the thought of the pain he had been in. He fingered his collar for a moment. Perhaps if he could just touch the Force he would feel less desperate to open the box. Perhaps just having the Force within his reach would be enough to comfort him.
He had been surprised at evening meal to discover that Obi-Wan's collar had been removed. His body had still been intact so Anakin was hopeful that he would be next All those years growing up he had constantly brushed up against the Force without understanding what it was, but now after spending a year embracing it he honestly felt completely lost without it.
Sinking down on his bunk he let his mind roam over the events of the past week. They had left a week ago to head out to Tiress. After three days they had arrived, he had been taken, he had been rescued and now here he was being whisked back. He sighed bitterly dwelling on the disastrous outcome of his first mission. It might be a while before the Council trusted him enough to send him on another mission, but then again he had faced the Sith and not fallen. Surely that would go a long way to convince the Council that he was not dangerous. He heard the door to his cabin open and looked up to see his Master enter. He missed their bond and getting at least a faint hint at what the man was feeling.
"Did Obi-Wan lie down?" He asked smiling at the other man.
The man didn't answer the boy's question, but instead moved to tower over him. "Not a word will you utter do you understand." His voice was menacing.
Anakin looked confused for a moment and then felt something frighteningly familiar. It was the cold fingers of the dark figure in his mind. He immediately twisted away from his Master, but Jinn's hands held him in place. He struggled and was about to yell out for help when he felt Qui- Gon's hand cover his mouth.
"I said not a word." He raised the boy's head until Anakin's frightened eyes were locked with his own. "Do you know who I am?" He asked. Anakin numbly shook his head. He had thought that he did but now he was beginning to doubt. At that moment Sidious lowered his disguise allowing his features to morph back into his own. Anakin's eyes went wider as he felt an inner terror begin to take over his body.
"Are you afraid?" Sidious asked his hot moist breath racing across Anakin's face.
Anakin shook his head but knew that he could hide nothing from this man. He could feel the man's thin cold fingers picking through his brain. He tried to steel himself for the moment when the pain would return but so far the man seemed content just to comb through his memories relishing his control. Anakin shuddered.
"You seem to dwell a lot on your mother." Sidious commented with mock sympathy then watched the effect of his words on the boy. "You miss her don't you?" Anakin nodded. "It was Jinn that refused to save her. He could have you know. He chose not to. He felt she would be a liability to you. She would interfere with your training. Remember, he told you this." Anakin wanted to reject that thought. It didn't sound like something that his Master would do but then again now that he sorted through his memories he felt a faint recollection that that indeed was the truth.
"He had no right to take you from your mother. He is lying to you. He has filled you full of lies and deceit." Anakin shook his head. That didn't sound right either he looked within his mind and found nothing to lead him to believe that.
"He told you that you were the Chosen One. That is a lie Anakin. You are not the Chosen One. You are nothing special. When he tires of you he will cast you away as he did Obi-Wan. " Anakin struggled harder breaking free of the man's hand for a moment.
"I am the Chosen One." He spat before Sidious could cover his mouth once more. Sidious laughed wickedly.
"No you are a poor pathetic slave boy who is serving as entertainment for him for the moment. Obi-Wan is the Chosen One. He is Qui-Gon's Chosen One. Once he grows weary of your weakness and failures he will once again turn back to Kenobi." He ran a finger along the boy's jaw aware now that the boy was not attempting to yell for help.
"He will not. He threw him away for me. He doesn't want Kenobi." He defended sounding helpless and desperate.
"You know it wasn't the first time he had thrown the Knight away. He had done it before and always he is drawn back to Kenobi. Always they are reunited. He is forgiven and they are a team once more. Even now you can feel it. Why do you think Kenobi came along on your precious first mission?" Anakin had no response. His mind reeling to comprehend all that the dark one was revealing to him.
"Jinn asked him along so that they could start over again. It is only a matter of time before he discards you. After all he sees you as merely a slave boy from a forgotten planet on the outer rim. He had no problem putting your life in jeopardy in order to help the Queen of Naboo did he? Would he have done such a thing to the Chosen One?" Anakin couldn't think straight. Little by little the cold fingers rifling through his mind were locating the memories to support the vile revelations.
He shook his head feeling the hate growing within him. He remembered back a year ago at how Jinn had acted as if he loved Kenobi on the transport from Tatooine to Coruscant only to abandon him completely in front of the Council. Of course he would hurt Anakin as well. He had used the excuse of Anakin being the Chosen One to get rid of Kenobi. He had hurt the Knight just for sport. Now he was coming back and it would be Anakin who would be destroyed.
"What will happen to me?" He asked his voice sounding as young as his years.
"You will be lost. There will be very little for you on Coruscant. None of the other Masters at the Temple would touch you. They see you as tainted with darkness. No doubt you will never see your mother again." That thought pierced that young boy through to his core.
"No." He whispered as the tears began streaking down his cheeks.
"I can help you though." Sidious leered. Anakin looked up not sure he could trust this evil being but then again the darkness had always brought more comfort to him than the light ever had. He raised his eyebrows silently inquiring.
"You must kill him. You must kill them both. When I give you the signal you must kill first Jinn and then Kenobi. Can you do that?" He asked his voice menacing.
Anakin shook his head slowly. Sidious' expression grew more hateful as he tightened his grip on the boy's small frame. He pinched down on his shoulders painfully causing the young boy to cry out in response.
"You hate them don't you?" He hissed. Anakin nodded.
"I want to kill them." He stated without emotion. "I just can't. They are more powerful and better trained." He watched as Sidious' frown grew into a wicked grin.
"When the time comes I will enable you to kill them. You must open your mind to me and allow me to guide your movements. Do you understand?" Anakin nodded.
"What happens after I kill them?" He asked quietly not really caring.
"Then I will take you to see your Mother and together we will free her." Sidious smiled. He knew now that the boy would be forever loyal to him. He had seen it in his memories before altering them as he saw fit. He watched Anakin's apprehension evolve into comprehension. Sidious loved young minds. They were so vulnerable so easily manipulated so filled with hope and so easily destroyed.
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There had been no way to track the Chancellor's ship. It had been given to the Jedi to use upon its arrival on Coruscant so there had not been any time to attach the standard positioning device. Master Gallia's appeal to a joyful and grateful Commander La'Kol had resulted in the Jedi being granted permission to use Tiress' fastest transport. It was just slightly slower than the ship she and Yoda had used getting to Tiress, the ship the Sith now used to take his prey away. The Tiress ship gave them one huge advantage. It possessed the ability to preset jump points. With any luck at all they would be able to catch the Chancellor's ship if only they could determine its course.
Adi and Qui-Gon were strapped into the cockpit readying the ship for departure. Master Yoda had taken to his quarters immediately upon entering the ship. Adi regarded Qui-Gon for a moment. He had been extremely quiet as they had performed the preflight checks.
"You ok?" She finally asked. He looked up at her in surprise. He seemed at a loss for words for a moment, but finally nodded.
"Liar." She smiled.
He smiled back and chuckled softly. "Not very good at hiding my feelings?" He asked. She shook her head.
"I just can't imagine what the Sith will do to them. I mean I can imagine and that is horrible enough in and of itself but to know that he will be inflicting it as if it were me." He stopped for a moment the thought being too terrible to bear. "I want to believe that they will know better. Anakin might. He and I well I haven't hurt him like I have Obi-Wan." He paused trying to bring his emotions back under some semblance of control. "I have hurt Obi-Wan so many times. He will not see that it is a Sith. He will think it is just Master Jinn extracting another pound of flesh." He stopped. He wanted Adi to reassure him that this was not the case but knew that she would be lying to him. It was common knowledge that he had always been hard on the man even from the time he had been a young padawan.
Adi pursed her lips into a hard line. " What do you want me to say Qui-Gon? Do you want me to say that it isn't so?" She sighed. "I can't." Qui-Gon nodded.
"I can say though that we will reach them and in that moment it will all make sense to him. He will see that it wasn't you. He will see that you didn't hurt him again." Qui-Gon nodded.
"I wish we were already there." He flipped the last switch. "They feel so far away. What do you think he is doing with them?" He asked.
"Well I am sure he is in the process of trying to turn Obi-Wan but since Anakin isn't the Chosen One I have no idea what he is doing with him." Adi stopped considering.
"He is using the boy to turn the Knight." The sound of the old Master coming into the cockpit caused them both to jump slightly.
"Of course." Qui-Gon stated. "He is using Anakin's innocence to lure the Knight into sacrificing himself to save another."
"A nasty habit the Knight has too willing to surrender his life." Yoda agreed.
"But then why appear to be Qui-Gon to do that?" Adi asked.
"Who knows the pain of betrayal at the hands of a Master better than Obi- Wan." Yoda sighed. Adi noticed Qui-Gon stiffen in his seat. She looked away. "He will long to prevent the same scars that he bears from marring the young one." Yoda considered.
"I don't think so." Adi stated. "He will not turn in order to save Anakin." Qui-Gon shook his head as the realization of the Sith's plan came together in his mind. He felt the sob rise in his throat and he struggled to swallow against it.
"He would turn to save me though." His voice grave and grieved as a silence consumed the cockpit. It was the truth. Kenobi would destroy himself to save his ex-Master. That is what the Sith had meant when he had revealed that Jinn was Kenobi's weakness.
"Get to them we must. Set a course for Coruscant you will." Yoda ordered. Adi turned to him a questioning expression on her lovely face. "Meditate I did. Sensed him briefly. Speeding to Coruscant they are." This was odd to all the Jedi in the ship. Adi entered the code and the ship launched. They would have time to consider their destination later for the moment it was essential that they get moving if they had any hope of saving the boy and the Knight not to mention the universe.
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Obi-Wan knew he wasn't alone when he opened his eyes. He reached out and felt the odd signature of Qui-Gon. There was something very strange about it. It felt similar to the way it had always felt yet something was wrong. Obi-Wan sought to put his finger on what it could be. He could tell that he was still suffering from the attack by the Sith. His mind still felt bruised as another headache threatened to overtake him. He opened his eyes finally and met the blue eyes of his ex-Master.
"I guess I was more tired that I believed." Obi-Wan confessed as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Qui-Gon smiled.
"Obi-Wan what do you know about the Chosen One?" He asked waiting for the Knight to sit up.
Obi-Wan stretched his arms above his head considering the question as he pulled himself upright. He had heard bits and pieces of the legend. He had done a bit of research into it during the past year when the feelings of rejection and abandonment would decide to haunt him.
" I know very little about it really Master. I read in the Journal of the Whills that it is the Chosen One who will fulfill the ancient Jedi prophecy which states "...And in the time of greatest despair there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as: THE SON OF THE SUNS." He sat silently waiting to hear what his Master had to say.
"We are entering a time of great despair my Obi-Wan. Planets and systems are leaving the Republic. The hope of the universe will ride on the shoulders of the Chosen One. He will have to balance the Force. Without his help the Jedi will fail and the universe will be under the power of the Sith never to be set free." Obi-Wan shook his head. It was too terrible to imagine.
"You believe that Anakin is the one to turn this tide?" He sounded skeptical. He noticed that Qui-Gon didn't leap to the boy's defense as he usually did. Perhaps he too was having his doubts. Obi-Wan waited.
"I believe the prophecy. I believe that only the Chosen One can prevent the Sith from succeeding and that is why I must not fail." He rose and made his way over to the Knight.
"I spoke with Anakin. He is very angry with me. He would not listen to me when I tried to talk to him about the darkness within him. Do you think that perhaps you could try?" Obi-Wan doubted that the boy would be receptive to him either. They had had an ongoing tension between them for some reason. He suspected that underlying insecurities within the boy were at the root of it. Reluctantly he nodded his head. Whether he succeeded of not he knew he had to try. If Anakin was the Chosen One or even if he wasn't, he could never stand by idly while a being willfully turned to the darkness.
Qui-Gon smiled. "I must warn you though." He grew very serious for a moment. "He is very angry and I sense much hate in him. I fear he might become physical in his resistance." Obi-Wan's eyes went wide and he smiled.
"Master surely you believe me capable of handling a young boy." He waited his eyebrows raised. Qui-Gon furrowed his brow.
"Don't let your guard down. The dark side lends much power. You must not be caught unaware."
Lowering himself to the floor, Obi-Wan check to insure his saber was at this waist before making his way to the back of the ship and the waiting padawan. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. He felt the Force screaming at him and yet because of his still healing wounds was having a difficult time discerning what it was that the Force was trying to tell him.
"Did you remove his collar?" H asked over his shoulder as he reached the door.
"No and you must not either. It is not only for his protection but for ours. I fear if he were to ever grasp the Force again he would kill us both." The Master's words pulled him up short. Anakin would never kill his Master. He loved Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon had rescued him from slavery, taken him in, trained him and given him the hope of becoming a Jedi. Seeing the concerned look on the Knight's face, Jinn walked over and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Smiling at the young Knight he brought him into an embrace. "Fear not my beloved Obi-Wan. I am safe as long as I have you to protect me." He pulled back and smiled at the Knight. Obi-Wan nodded absently giving a small smile in response. He knew that the Master's words were meant to lighten the mood but there had also been a bit of truth to him. Obi-Wan steeled himself hoping beyond hope that it wouldn't come to that.
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I got the prophesy info from the site listed below. This is what it said just to give credit where credit is due.
The Chosen One is the one said to fulfill an ancient Jedi prophecy:
"...And in the time of greatest despair there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as: THE SON OF THE SUNS." - Journal of the Whills, 3:127 http://www.aldera.net/theories/theory_midichlorians.php
Things are speeding up. Hope you have your seat belts on. Thanks again for the reviews. I am hoping for as many as I got with Broken Promises but I have a long way to go. Thanks for the patience and continued support. Until next weekend..
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
************************************************************
Plans he had made so many plans. All of his life he had been working towards this moment. The Chosen One within his grasp and yet he still had to turn him. Once Kenobi was his there would be no one who could stand in his way. The universe would be his. So much of it was already in his pocket. So many planets completely unaware that they were no longer free, it had been so easy to control them. They were his to do with as he saw fit. Sidious smiled as he allowed himself to revel in the feeling of power and domination.
His plans were all working out. He had one more to bring to fruition. He sighed taking in his appearance once more. He had always thought Qui-Gon Jinn attractive if you like the strong, blue eyed, athletic look. He was beginning to miss his own face but he knew that his best chance of turning the Knight was to work upon his weakness. Jinn was Kenobi's weakness.
Temple matters seldom remained a secret from the Senate. He had long heard tales of Jinn's abuse of the Knight. He had never physically harmed the boy that was for sure, but he had inflicted many emotional wounds. He had watched over the years with great interest knowing that the great Jedi was merely making his conquest of the Chosen One that much easier. Dooku had identified Kenobi from the moment he had arrived at the Temple. The records had been buried until recently. He had immediately notified Sidious. Sidious had thought to take the boy early as his apprentice but then had decided to allow the Jedi to train him. He was busy after all with his responsibilities as a Senator working towards the position of Chancellor.
He had tried to nab him once before when he had been forced to leave the Temple but unfortunately he had fallen in with a gang of pirates who wouldn't allow him anywhere near him. He had learned that Xanatos' sister had him for a short while, but he had escaped before Sidious could barter for him. Then he was back at the Temple under Jinn's supervision again. More training and more damage, no harm in Kenobi receiving a bit more of each after all each moment spent with Jinn was leading the young man to his destiny. He would stand at Sidious' side ruling the universe.
"He will call me Master." Sidious whispered still staring at his reflection.
In the mean time it was Maul who had just by chance located a young boy on Tatooine who could pod race. He had to be a Force sensitive and sure enough he was. It was obvious that the boy's mother was aware of her son's abilities and also had at some point learned of the Jedi prophecy. Maul had had to fight not to laugh in her face as she subtly tried to convince him that the boy was the Chosen One. He had contacted Sidious and asked how he was to proceed. Of course Sidious had decided that he would take the boy to be trained as a Sith, but he was still young and slavery was the perfect training ground for hate and pain. Why waste his time inflicting what the boy was already in line for. He would allow him to remain on Tatooine until he was ready to be trained.
It was by chance that Jinn found him first. Jinn had always proclaimed that it had been the Force. Sidious wondered at this. Could the Force have been trying to spare the boy from the fake that the dark lord had planned for him? If so it had failed. An evil smile twisted itself upon the old man's face.
Everyone on Coruscant knew of the Jinn's obsession with the prophecies of old. It truly could not have worked out better if Sidious had planned it himself. Of course the best way for Sidious to get his hands on the Chosen One was for Jinn to find what looked to be the Chosen One. When he had learned that upon discovering Skywalker that Jinn had raced back to the Temple throwing away the real thing for a cheap imitation, Sidious had fought to maintain his composure. In fact he had excused himself from the committee meeting feigning a headache to keep from laughing aloud. Of course his enjoyment of Jinn's failure had only come second to his outright delight at witnessing the outrage that the other Jedi had displayed at the man's cruelty toward Obi-Wan.
"Poor long suffering Obi-Wan." The man whisper shaking his head in mock sympathy. "How much longer will your suffering be? Once you become mine it will only intensify." He cackled. He was going to enjoy watching the young Knight suffer. Suffering led to pain and pain to hate and hate to end off all that was good, Kenobi had to suffer for the universe to be Sidious', so suffer he would.
Reaching out with his mind he realized that the Skywalker boy was in his quarters now. It was time to put his final plan into action. Playing upon the young boy's guilt and fear would be easy enough. Soon the Chosen One will be mine and the Skywalker boy dead. Checking his appearance once more in the mirror he activated the door to his quarters and headed out to persuade his Padawan.
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He had heard his Master recommend that Obi-Wan rest for a while as Anakin made his way to his quarters. He had felt a twinge of envy at the man's obvious concern for the Knight. He tried to shake the feeling but even as he entered his quarters it was still burning within him.
He knew that Qui-Gon would be coming to his room as soon as the Knight agreed to rest. Obi-Wan did look tired. At least if the Knight decided to rest he would be out of the way and Anakin and his Master would finally have some time to get back to his training. At the very least he hoped to have the chance to explain what had happened while he had been a captive of the Sith. It wasn't really his fault that his first mission had ended so badly. He had no control over that. He hoped his Master would agree.
He rolled his lips into his mouth wondering if his Master would conclude as he had that it had been his secret dark thoughts that had made him a target of the Sith to begin with. What if the man decided not to train him now? How would he ever be able to free his mother unless he was trained? If anything his time being held by the Sith had fortified his resolve to free his mother. He felt ashamed that he had waited this long. It had been over a year. She no doubt feared that he had long forgotten her. He felt an urgency to reach her. He wondered if there was anyway to get a message to her. He suddenly felt overwhelmed with sadness and desperation.
Reaching within himself he would still see the box and fought the urge to open it if only for a moment of comfort. He had vowed to be more careful ever since the attack on the ship coming from Coruscant. He thought again about Obi-Wan and how he had looked when the Sith had brought him into the basement. Anakin wasn't sure what had happened to him but he looked like Anakin had felt following the mind attack he had suffered. He still winced at the thought of the pain he had been in. He fingered his collar for a moment. Perhaps if he could just touch the Force he would feel less desperate to open the box. Perhaps just having the Force within his reach would be enough to comfort him.
He had been surprised at evening meal to discover that Obi-Wan's collar had been removed. His body had still been intact so Anakin was hopeful that he would be next All those years growing up he had constantly brushed up against the Force without understanding what it was, but now after spending a year embracing it he honestly felt completely lost without it.
Sinking down on his bunk he let his mind roam over the events of the past week. They had left a week ago to head out to Tiress. After three days they had arrived, he had been taken, he had been rescued and now here he was being whisked back. He sighed bitterly dwelling on the disastrous outcome of his first mission. It might be a while before the Council trusted him enough to send him on another mission, but then again he had faced the Sith and not fallen. Surely that would go a long way to convince the Council that he was not dangerous. He heard the door to his cabin open and looked up to see his Master enter. He missed their bond and getting at least a faint hint at what the man was feeling.
"Did Obi-Wan lie down?" He asked smiling at the other man.
The man didn't answer the boy's question, but instead moved to tower over him. "Not a word will you utter do you understand." His voice was menacing.
Anakin looked confused for a moment and then felt something frighteningly familiar. It was the cold fingers of the dark figure in his mind. He immediately twisted away from his Master, but Jinn's hands held him in place. He struggled and was about to yell out for help when he felt Qui- Gon's hand cover his mouth.
"I said not a word." He raised the boy's head until Anakin's frightened eyes were locked with his own. "Do you know who I am?" He asked. Anakin numbly shook his head. He had thought that he did but now he was beginning to doubt. At that moment Sidious lowered his disguise allowing his features to morph back into his own. Anakin's eyes went wider as he felt an inner terror begin to take over his body.
"Are you afraid?" Sidious asked his hot moist breath racing across Anakin's face.
Anakin shook his head but knew that he could hide nothing from this man. He could feel the man's thin cold fingers picking through his brain. He tried to steel himself for the moment when the pain would return but so far the man seemed content just to comb through his memories relishing his control. Anakin shuddered.
"You seem to dwell a lot on your mother." Sidious commented with mock sympathy then watched the effect of his words on the boy. "You miss her don't you?" Anakin nodded. "It was Jinn that refused to save her. He could have you know. He chose not to. He felt she would be a liability to you. She would interfere with your training. Remember, he told you this." Anakin wanted to reject that thought. It didn't sound like something that his Master would do but then again now that he sorted through his memories he felt a faint recollection that that indeed was the truth.
"He had no right to take you from your mother. He is lying to you. He has filled you full of lies and deceit." Anakin shook his head. That didn't sound right either he looked within his mind and found nothing to lead him to believe that.
"He told you that you were the Chosen One. That is a lie Anakin. You are not the Chosen One. You are nothing special. When he tires of you he will cast you away as he did Obi-Wan. " Anakin struggled harder breaking free of the man's hand for a moment.
"I am the Chosen One." He spat before Sidious could cover his mouth once more. Sidious laughed wickedly.
"No you are a poor pathetic slave boy who is serving as entertainment for him for the moment. Obi-Wan is the Chosen One. He is Qui-Gon's Chosen One. Once he grows weary of your weakness and failures he will once again turn back to Kenobi." He ran a finger along the boy's jaw aware now that the boy was not attempting to yell for help.
"He will not. He threw him away for me. He doesn't want Kenobi." He defended sounding helpless and desperate.
"You know it wasn't the first time he had thrown the Knight away. He had done it before and always he is drawn back to Kenobi. Always they are reunited. He is forgiven and they are a team once more. Even now you can feel it. Why do you think Kenobi came along on your precious first mission?" Anakin had no response. His mind reeling to comprehend all that the dark one was revealing to him.
"Jinn asked him along so that they could start over again. It is only a matter of time before he discards you. After all he sees you as merely a slave boy from a forgotten planet on the outer rim. He had no problem putting your life in jeopardy in order to help the Queen of Naboo did he? Would he have done such a thing to the Chosen One?" Anakin couldn't think straight. Little by little the cold fingers rifling through his mind were locating the memories to support the vile revelations.
He shook his head feeling the hate growing within him. He remembered back a year ago at how Jinn had acted as if he loved Kenobi on the transport from Tatooine to Coruscant only to abandon him completely in front of the Council. Of course he would hurt Anakin as well. He had used the excuse of Anakin being the Chosen One to get rid of Kenobi. He had hurt the Knight just for sport. Now he was coming back and it would be Anakin who would be destroyed.
"What will happen to me?" He asked his voice sounding as young as his years.
"You will be lost. There will be very little for you on Coruscant. None of the other Masters at the Temple would touch you. They see you as tainted with darkness. No doubt you will never see your mother again." That thought pierced that young boy through to his core.
"No." He whispered as the tears began streaking down his cheeks.
"I can help you though." Sidious leered. Anakin looked up not sure he could trust this evil being but then again the darkness had always brought more comfort to him than the light ever had. He raised his eyebrows silently inquiring.
"You must kill him. You must kill them both. When I give you the signal you must kill first Jinn and then Kenobi. Can you do that?" He asked his voice menacing.
Anakin shook his head slowly. Sidious' expression grew more hateful as he tightened his grip on the boy's small frame. He pinched down on his shoulders painfully causing the young boy to cry out in response.
"You hate them don't you?" He hissed. Anakin nodded.
"I want to kill them." He stated without emotion. "I just can't. They are more powerful and better trained." He watched as Sidious' frown grew into a wicked grin.
"When the time comes I will enable you to kill them. You must open your mind to me and allow me to guide your movements. Do you understand?" Anakin nodded.
"What happens after I kill them?" He asked quietly not really caring.
"Then I will take you to see your Mother and together we will free her." Sidious smiled. He knew now that the boy would be forever loyal to him. He had seen it in his memories before altering them as he saw fit. He watched Anakin's apprehension evolve into comprehension. Sidious loved young minds. They were so vulnerable so easily manipulated so filled with hope and so easily destroyed.
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There had been no way to track the Chancellor's ship. It had been given to the Jedi to use upon its arrival on Coruscant so there had not been any time to attach the standard positioning device. Master Gallia's appeal to a joyful and grateful Commander La'Kol had resulted in the Jedi being granted permission to use Tiress' fastest transport. It was just slightly slower than the ship she and Yoda had used getting to Tiress, the ship the Sith now used to take his prey away. The Tiress ship gave them one huge advantage. It possessed the ability to preset jump points. With any luck at all they would be able to catch the Chancellor's ship if only they could determine its course.
Adi and Qui-Gon were strapped into the cockpit readying the ship for departure. Master Yoda had taken to his quarters immediately upon entering the ship. Adi regarded Qui-Gon for a moment. He had been extremely quiet as they had performed the preflight checks.
"You ok?" She finally asked. He looked up at her in surprise. He seemed at a loss for words for a moment, but finally nodded.
"Liar." She smiled.
He smiled back and chuckled softly. "Not very good at hiding my feelings?" He asked. She shook her head.
"I just can't imagine what the Sith will do to them. I mean I can imagine and that is horrible enough in and of itself but to know that he will be inflicting it as if it were me." He stopped for a moment the thought being too terrible to bear. "I want to believe that they will know better. Anakin might. He and I well I haven't hurt him like I have Obi-Wan." He paused trying to bring his emotions back under some semblance of control. "I have hurt Obi-Wan so many times. He will not see that it is a Sith. He will think it is just Master Jinn extracting another pound of flesh." He stopped. He wanted Adi to reassure him that this was not the case but knew that she would be lying to him. It was common knowledge that he had always been hard on the man even from the time he had been a young padawan.
Adi pursed her lips into a hard line. " What do you want me to say Qui-Gon? Do you want me to say that it isn't so?" She sighed. "I can't." Qui-Gon nodded.
"I can say though that we will reach them and in that moment it will all make sense to him. He will see that it wasn't you. He will see that you didn't hurt him again." Qui-Gon nodded.
"I wish we were already there." He flipped the last switch. "They feel so far away. What do you think he is doing with them?" He asked.
"Well I am sure he is in the process of trying to turn Obi-Wan but since Anakin isn't the Chosen One I have no idea what he is doing with him." Adi stopped considering.
"He is using the boy to turn the Knight." The sound of the old Master coming into the cockpit caused them both to jump slightly.
"Of course." Qui-Gon stated. "He is using Anakin's innocence to lure the Knight into sacrificing himself to save another."
"A nasty habit the Knight has too willing to surrender his life." Yoda agreed.
"But then why appear to be Qui-Gon to do that?" Adi asked.
"Who knows the pain of betrayal at the hands of a Master better than Obi- Wan." Yoda sighed. Adi noticed Qui-Gon stiffen in his seat. She looked away. "He will long to prevent the same scars that he bears from marring the young one." Yoda considered.
"I don't think so." Adi stated. "He will not turn in order to save Anakin." Qui-Gon shook his head as the realization of the Sith's plan came together in his mind. He felt the sob rise in his throat and he struggled to swallow against it.
"He would turn to save me though." His voice grave and grieved as a silence consumed the cockpit. It was the truth. Kenobi would destroy himself to save his ex-Master. That is what the Sith had meant when he had revealed that Jinn was Kenobi's weakness.
"Get to them we must. Set a course for Coruscant you will." Yoda ordered. Adi turned to him a questioning expression on her lovely face. "Meditate I did. Sensed him briefly. Speeding to Coruscant they are." This was odd to all the Jedi in the ship. Adi entered the code and the ship launched. They would have time to consider their destination later for the moment it was essential that they get moving if they had any hope of saving the boy and the Knight not to mention the universe.
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Obi-Wan knew he wasn't alone when he opened his eyes. He reached out and felt the odd signature of Qui-Gon. There was something very strange about it. It felt similar to the way it had always felt yet something was wrong. Obi-Wan sought to put his finger on what it could be. He could tell that he was still suffering from the attack by the Sith. His mind still felt bruised as another headache threatened to overtake him. He opened his eyes finally and met the blue eyes of his ex-Master.
"I guess I was more tired that I believed." Obi-Wan confessed as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Qui-Gon smiled.
"Obi-Wan what do you know about the Chosen One?" He asked waiting for the Knight to sit up.
Obi-Wan stretched his arms above his head considering the question as he pulled himself upright. He had heard bits and pieces of the legend. He had done a bit of research into it during the past year when the feelings of rejection and abandonment would decide to haunt him.
" I know very little about it really Master. I read in the Journal of the Whills that it is the Chosen One who will fulfill the ancient Jedi prophecy which states "...And in the time of greatest despair there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as: THE SON OF THE SUNS." He sat silently waiting to hear what his Master had to say.
"We are entering a time of great despair my Obi-Wan. Planets and systems are leaving the Republic. The hope of the universe will ride on the shoulders of the Chosen One. He will have to balance the Force. Without his help the Jedi will fail and the universe will be under the power of the Sith never to be set free." Obi-Wan shook his head. It was too terrible to imagine.
"You believe that Anakin is the one to turn this tide?" He sounded skeptical. He noticed that Qui-Gon didn't leap to the boy's defense as he usually did. Perhaps he too was having his doubts. Obi-Wan waited.
"I believe the prophecy. I believe that only the Chosen One can prevent the Sith from succeeding and that is why I must not fail." He rose and made his way over to the Knight.
"I spoke with Anakin. He is very angry with me. He would not listen to me when I tried to talk to him about the darkness within him. Do you think that perhaps you could try?" Obi-Wan doubted that the boy would be receptive to him either. They had had an ongoing tension between them for some reason. He suspected that underlying insecurities within the boy were at the root of it. Reluctantly he nodded his head. Whether he succeeded of not he knew he had to try. If Anakin was the Chosen One or even if he wasn't, he could never stand by idly while a being willfully turned to the darkness.
Qui-Gon smiled. "I must warn you though." He grew very serious for a moment. "He is very angry and I sense much hate in him. I fear he might become physical in his resistance." Obi-Wan's eyes went wide and he smiled.
"Master surely you believe me capable of handling a young boy." He waited his eyebrows raised. Qui-Gon furrowed his brow.
"Don't let your guard down. The dark side lends much power. You must not be caught unaware."
Lowering himself to the floor, Obi-Wan check to insure his saber was at this waist before making his way to the back of the ship and the waiting padawan. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. He felt the Force screaming at him and yet because of his still healing wounds was having a difficult time discerning what it was that the Force was trying to tell him.
"Did you remove his collar?" H asked over his shoulder as he reached the door.
"No and you must not either. It is not only for his protection but for ours. I fear if he were to ever grasp the Force again he would kill us both." The Master's words pulled him up short. Anakin would never kill his Master. He loved Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon had rescued him from slavery, taken him in, trained him and given him the hope of becoming a Jedi. Seeing the concerned look on the Knight's face, Jinn walked over and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Smiling at the young Knight he brought him into an embrace. "Fear not my beloved Obi-Wan. I am safe as long as I have you to protect me." He pulled back and smiled at the Knight. Obi-Wan nodded absently giving a small smile in response. He knew that the Master's words were meant to lighten the mood but there had also been a bit of truth to him. Obi-Wan steeled himself hoping beyond hope that it wouldn't come to that.
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I got the prophesy info from the site listed below. This is what it said just to give credit where credit is due.
The Chosen One is the one said to fulfill an ancient Jedi prophecy:
"...And in the time of greatest despair there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as: THE SON OF THE SUNS." - Journal of the Whills, 3:127 http://www.aldera.net/theories/theory_midichlorians.php
Things are speeding up. Hope you have your seat belts on. Thanks again for the reviews. I am hoping for as many as I got with Broken Promises but I have a long way to go. Thanks for the patience and continued support. Until next weekend..
