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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Mace exited the lift a Master with a purpose. He already had the communications center forwarding him the three knight's comlink frequencies. He hadn't trusted sending out a summons on the system. Hearing laughter coming from a commons area he decided to take a chance and made his way to the room.

Upon entering he was rewarded by the sight of three young knights all sitting together at a far table playing some sort of holo game. Mace realized that the game that the three were enjoying was one that he too had often played with Qui-Gon in this very room years ago. He felt his chest tighten as he wondered about the whereabouts of his friend. What dangers was Qui-Gon having to brave in order to rescue the Chosen One. He quickened his pace.

Siri Tachi, Bant Eerin, and Garen Muln were engrossed with both the holo board before them and their current walk down memory lane. Mace could hear the knights' voices rising as he approached. It seemed that they all had very different memories of a certain mission that they had all been sent on as young padawans.

"You have got to be joking Garen. That is not what happened at all. If Obi were here he would be calling you on this." Bant declared as she keyed in her response and watched as the star fighter destroyed a planet. "He would set the story straight.'"

"Bant!" Siri declared. "We agreed to eliminate Garen's forces first." It had obviously been Siri's planet that Bant had just destroyed. Bant offered her friend an apologetic shrug as she passed the scanner pad to Garen.

"Ganging up on me. Where is Obi-Wan when I need him?" Garen reached for the pad.

"Where indeed?!" Mace's voice startling all three as the rose out of respect to greet the unexpected visitor. "But I'm relieved to find you all here when he needs you."

The three knights looked from one to the other in concern before turning their attention back to the Master. Mace glanced around the commons room to insure that they were still alone.

"We have an urgent rescue mission that has come to the Council's attention. It involves someone very near and dear to your hearts. I cannot go into more detail in this environment, but we are short on time. If you are willing to be a part of my team I can brief you in route. I can tell you that it has the potential to be an extremely hostile environment involving the sith. Any takers?" He asked watching as looks of both shock and horror crossed each knight's face as they considered the possibility of their friend being once again in close contact with the sith. Mace was pleased to see that there was not a moment's hesitation as the three young Jedi rose to meet the challenge determined to save their friend.

*********************

Obi-Wan forced his mind to remain focused. He was in danger but it was something more. The galaxy was in danger. The sith were on Coruscant. He continued to watch the blade as it hummed in the distance. The image was still blurry but he could make out the faint outline of the being wielding the weapon. It was one of the sith who had abducted him. As the reality of the situation suddenly came crashing in around him, quickly rejoined the land of the living. He had to get free. He had to escape. He had to figure out what it was that was holding him in place. He felt as if he were dangling over the edge of a deep abyss. Strings of energy restraining him and preventing him from obtaining his freedom.

The Knight pulled on his arms and tried kicking his feet out but this proved only to add to his frustration. He had not foreseen being held in such a device. He had never seen anything like it. He could feel the energy now once more traveling up through his legs and into his arms. It tingled and burned. He heard a menacing laugh and realized that the humming at stopped. Looking back in the direction of the sith he now saw that the being was approaching him.

"So you are awake?" Sador announced loudly the volume bouncing off the still sensitive parts of Obi-Wan's mind causing him to wince at the sound of the being's voice.

"I demand that you release me." Obi-Wan thought it was worth a try. "I want to speak to whoever is in charge here." He continued. Sador leaned in his vile breath rushing over Obi-Wan's face as he spoke.

"Are you sure ? You might want to think about that last request." He laughed igniting his saber once more and bringing it to the Knight's throat. Obi-Wan remained still as he helplessly watched the sith feeling the heat of the blade as it began to burn his neck. "He has been waiting for you. " He felt a chill run down his spine in spite of the burning energy coursing through his body.

"Then where is he?" Obi-Wan voice sounded braver than he felt at that moment. Obi-Wan took in his surroundings. It was strange. It appeared that he was in a large room that had been used at one time as a senate hall. He found himself in the center circle with seats rising up in all directions. It was as if he were in a floor of a small canyon. The top seats disappeared into darkness. The whole room seemed steeped in shadow. He hated not being able to see any escape routes. He could not see the door he had been brought through either. He wished once more that he had been conscious. He felt disconnected with his surroundings and at a great disadvantage. He scanned the area thoroughly knowing full well that the sith was fully aware of what he was doing.

"Looking to escape?" He asked bitterly. "Knock yourself out. Then again allow me?" He raised the saber scorching the other man's upper arm. Obi- Wan pulled away wincing in pain. "You don't seem so special." The sith commented lowering his weapon as he began to pace in front of the knight. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and sighed ignoring the being. He tried to calm himself enough to focus what little connection he had left with the Force to heal his searing wound. "I can feel a difference in you but so much of it is masked." Sador continued to scrutinize the Knight. He wanted some demonstration from the Knight. He wanted assurances that Lord Sidious was right. He wanted some small affirmation that this man was indeed the Chosen One. Sador weighed his desires against the risks. If the dark lord ever discovered that he had demanded proof on his own he would no doubt meet the same fate as Kial. He also had seen how the knight had easily overpowered Kial on the ship. What if the Knight did manage to escape?

Sador almost smiled at that complication. He would never be as stupid as Kial. He would not leave himself exposed. There was no real threat of the Knight escaping, but he feared what injury the Knight might inflict in his attempt to escape. Kial had been a powerful apprentice yet the Knight had handled him as though he were nothing at all.

Setting his fears aside, Sador wondered what sort of test he might give the Knight to dissuade his own doubts. When he looked up he noticed Obi-Wan's eyes staring intently into his own.

"You are afraid of me." Obi-Wan's voice cut through the sith like a knife. Sador fought the gasp that rose in his throat. The Knight was sensing him even though he was in a dampening vise. Sador's eyes involuntarily scanned the knight's hands and feet to insure that they were indeed still locked into the energy binders. Seeing that they were he met the Knight's gaze again. He watched as a smirk grew on the now slightly bearded face. He didn't like that the Knight had seen his vulnerability.

Obi-Wan marveled for a moment enjoying this sudden turn of events. The once arrogant sith was not obviously insecure and retreating while the imprisoned pathetic Knight seemed confident and powerful. Obi-Wan did feel powerful. He couldn't explain it. It was all a part of his new connection with the Force. It made him feel safe and secure but powerful at the same time. Reaching out he found that he could sense the other man's feelings.

"Go ahead Sador. Let's see if you are truly able to prevent my escape." The Sith stepped back.

"How did you know my name?" He demanded. "How did you--- you're in a dampening field-" The being continued to stammer in confusion until his eyes finally went wide.

"It is you." Sador spoke his voice sounding humbled and awed. Obi-Wan's expression immediately fell into a look of complete confusion as he tried to process the sith's next words. "You are the Chosen One."

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If anyone had ventured to ask the three young knights if they knew every inch of the Temple or connecting Senate building they would have eagerly answered in the affirmative. There had been far too many midnight games of 'Seek and Find' as well as 'Scare the Pants Off the Pathetic Padawan' for them to have left any dark corner unexplored. As Mace continued to lead the three down the long dark corridor they all realized that somehow they had missed this particular section of the senate building.

Knights Muln,Tachi, and Eerin watched as the Master finally came to a stop in front of a row of lifts then pointed further down to another row of lifts.

"These are the East lifts those are the West." Mace's voice cut through the silence. The Knights had remained silent as the rescue team had made their way through the Temple, into the Senate Building on their way to their current destination.

It had come as a disturbing revelation that the sith were holding Obi-Wan but each Knight found it even more concerning that the sith were carrying out this captivity in the lower levels of the Senate Building.

Master Windu had not been able to adequately explain how the sith could hide in plain sight of the Jedi Temple and not be found. He had also failed to make it completely clear why Obi-Wan would have been a target of the dark lord. They had all jumped to the conclusion that is had something to do with the battle that he and his Master, Yoda, had won on the planet of Naboo. It had been Obi-Wan who had destroyed the sith. Perhaps this was some sort of delayed pay back.

Mace had allowed the Knights to hold to their own theory at the time. He had alluded that there was more to the story, but had not gone into detail. He wasn't sure that now was the time to reveal Obi-Wan's vital role in insuring the future of the Jedi Order. He knew that these three Knights cared for the man and that it was their love for him that would motivate them far more than any mythical connection the Knight might have to an ancient prophesy.

Mace had been trying to reach Qui-Gon on his comlink now for over an hour. He was beginning to grow concerned. It wasn't like the man not to at least give some indication of his whereabouts. With each passing moment, Mace found himself more convinced that perhaps his team was no longer seeking out one captive but now three.

As Mace's team reached the elevators he decided that he and Bant would take the West end while Garen and Siri would descend through the East shaft. He handed over their comlinks. Each now set to the same broadcast and receiving frequency as his own. They stood in silence listening to the approaching lifts. It was obvious from the groan of the machinery that these lifts had not been used for some time.

"Go no lower than the third level then look for a way to descend to the first. It will be dark but you must try to use as little light as possible. We are not sure what sort of surveillance equipment is being used. It is also important that you cloak your presence in the Force as much as possible. We are dealing with the Sith so they will be ruthless. If Master Yoda and Knight Kenobi's battle on Naboo is any indication of the siths' fighting capability I must warn you not to attempt to take on even an apprentice alone. You must stay together in your teams, if we are to have any hope of successfully rescuing Obi-Wan." The Knights nodded as the lifts arrived.

"One more thing," Mace began. "The sith can morph into other forms. Don't trust your eyes. It is important that you test Obi-Wan before you actually rescue him." This added bit of information seemed to throw the three for a moment.

"Test him?" Siri asked.

"Who better to know something that only the Knight would know except a childhood friend?" Mace smiled and it seemed to put the knights a bit more at ease.

"Any more questions?" Mace asked scanning each young face wondering if he had been correct in enlisting the aid of ones so new to the Jedi Order.

"What is the plan once we've rescued Obi-Wan?" Garen asked. "You've told us that we are to find Obi-Wan, secure his safety and return him to the Temple, but what of the sith then?" He asked. He was determined to save his friend. He refused to consider any other outcome, but wanted to make sure that they didn't lose sight of the larger picture. There were sith beneath the Senate building mere steps from the Temple itself.

Mace managed a grim smile in response. He could remember those bold and confident days. He admired Garen's determination as much as his ability to set his feelings for his friend aside placing the security of the Order and galaxy in the forefront of his thoughts.

"The sith will not give up the Knight without a fight." The Master's voice was steady and serious. "If you rescue the Knight the dark lord will be no more."

"What do you mean?" Bant asked feeling a surge of panic rise up in her.

"I mean that one side will not survive this. If we fail to get Obi-Wan we will not be returning to the Temple to contemplate our failure. We will be one with the Force." Mace waited for his words to register. He took a moment to consider whether or not to reveal that which he had withheld. "If we fail it will be the beginning of the end of our Order. If we do manage to save the Knight then it will mean the same for the sith." Mace had not wanted to lay such a heavy burden on the young knights but now realized it was necessary that they understand the gravity of the mission.

"Are you saying that the survival of the Jedi depends upon Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Siri asked her voice sounding confused and incredulous. It seemed hard to belief. Wasn't this the same boy she had watched fall flat on his face, trip over his feet, tumble into a stream, and spill his food in the dining hall? She tried to wrap her mind around the facts that Master Windu was revealing but found her thoughts lagging behind.

"What is he the Chosen One?" Bant tried to joke to mask her obvious discomfort. Mace moved without saying a word. Entering the lift nearest to his position, he turned to the others he motioned for Bant to join him. It was in his eyes that they read his response. Obi-Wan Kenobi was the Chosen One. Siri felt a smile form on her lips. Now it made sense. Yes, she had watched the young man trip, slip, stumble and fall, but she had also watched his amazing grasp on the Force, insurmountable devotion to the light, kind and compassionate heart, and breathtaking skill with a saber.

Looking to her friends she watched as the realization dawned on them one at a time. She marveled as they moved through the exact same steps she had just taken reconciling the boy that they had known with the man he had become.

The lift doors closed as Bant and Mace began their descent into the belly of the Senate Building leaving Siri and Garen standing alone. They turned to locate the shaft that they had been instructed to use.

"He'll be impossible to live with. We'll never hear the end of it." Siri commented under her breath. He could almost hear Obi-Wan milking this new revelation for prime places in the dining hall line and preferential status in deciding what club they would be hitting during their rare nights out.

Of course it would all be in good fun. The Knight would never really expect to be treated any differently. Garen wondered how long the Knight had known. He wondered why he had never revealed this fact to any of his closest friends. Thinking back over the events of the past year it began to dawn on him slowly that Qui-Gon Jinn had abandoned Obi-Wan thinking that the Master had found the Chosen One in another.

"Why didn't he ever tell us?" Siri's voice abruptly pulled Garen from his thoughts. As they entered the lift he turned to the young woman and softly stated.

"He never knew. I doubt he even knows now." The door of the lift closed surrounding them in darkness as they contemplated the implications of Garen's words.

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"What?" Obi-Wan shook his head. It was a ploy. He had to watch the sith. What was it that his Master always said. 'Beware the dark side. Fear and Hate. Hard to see the dark side is.' This was deception. Anakin was the Chosen One.

//They think I am Anakin.// Obi-Wan reasoned. He was relieved that they had made this mistake but wondered how they could have done so. He was older and in no way resembled the boy. Such a mix up seemed highly unlikely, but he found himself grateful for it anyway.

He could not imagine the boy being held as he was now. Anakin had already given in to the darkness to some extent. It would have been harder for him to resist. He was still too young and inexperienced. He still had too many internal demons to work out before he would be ready to face such a test. Obi-Wan wondered for a moment if any Jedi ever reached the point of feeling ready to face such a test.

"You are the Chosen One." It was another voice that caught his attention. He had vague recollection of this man. He had seen him before but found himself struggling to remember where. He searched his memories quickly realizing that this was the man from his Master's holos. He had been a Jedi at the Temple and a friend to his Master. He had been at the Temple during Qui-Gon's training and had left around the time that Obi-Wan had been admitted.

"Dooku.' Obi-Wan spat as he watched the man move towards him dismissing the sith apprentice with a nod. "I thought you were dead."

Dooku chuckled his condescension. "Oh I am not dead, but alive. I am very alive. I plan to stay that way for years to come. Can't say that I hold out the same hope for you." He laughed once more watching the Knight's reaction or lack there of. He saw the steely determination in Obi-Wan's eyes and realized that it was going to be a challenge to turn the Chosen One to their side.

"So are you the one who has been expecting me?" Obi-Wan asked with little real interest. It mattered very little who it was that had been expecting him since he had no intention of turning. He would die first and he had no preference as to who struck the final blow.

"Yes and no." He stated leaning back against a rail that circled the area where the Knight stood. "I have been waiting for you, but the one you are seeking is on his way." The fallen Jedi stood and glanced about the room. "Do you know where you are?" He asked not looking at the Knight but instead still focusing on the room. The Knight remained silent watching the man for any advantage.

"This was the first Senate Hall." He announced proudly. "Centuries ago beings from across the galaxy joined together in search of peace and prosperity." He paused. "I remember watching one of the debates held here on a holo when I was a youngster. Of course there is no way for peace and prosperity to reside together so their plans were terribly flawed." He shook his head then turned smiling.

"The first sith slowly began controlling this hall. Bit by bit the systems turned. Do you know how the sith managed it? How they managed to undo all the good intentions?" Obi-Wan refused to respond. Dooku smiled anyway and walked closer to the young man leaning in so that his whisper hissed in the knight's face. "They merely asked one question. Do you know what that question was?" He waited hoping for the knight to take the bait. When he saw that Obi-Wan was not going to give in he continued.

"The sith asked one question of each system. They asked them to make a choice. "Do you want prosperity or peace?" Each system responded the same way. " He raised his eyebrows then continued. "Prosperity. So they turned on their neighbors and one by one systems fell, the innocent were slaughtered, the weak were over run, and the strong ruled." He leaned in with more fervor.

"You are the strong Obi-Wan. Why should you give your life for the pathetic inhabitants of this galaxy? Do you really think they care about the life of a lowly Knight?" Obi-Wan swallowed as he struggled to remain centered in the face of such evil.

"No. They don't, but then again you're use to your life being meaningless right? It never meant much to your Master? How many times were you rejected by Qui-Gon? Was it twice or three times?" Dooku saw the briefest of reactions before the Knight quickly masked his emotions. He smiled to himself. Kenobi had just revealed his weakness.

"Of course you have to enjoy the irony of his last rejection yes? He threw you aside for that miserable child claiming he was the Chosen One." Dooku laughed his deep voice echoing in the empty chamber. "He threw you away so that he could go down in history as the Chosen One's Master." Obi-Wan flinched involuntarily. These were memories he had yet to completely recover from. He fought to hide his reaction. "What a fool he is." "Dooku announced watching the Knight raise his chin in defiance. "And yet you who he hurt the most would still defend him?" He marveled.

Dooku walked away for a moment. He leaned against a podium gathering his thoughts then turned once more. "Do you want to tell him or shall I?"

Obi-Wan furrowed his brow. He had no idea what the insane man was babbling about.

"You really don't know do you?" Dooku laughed once more. "This is more delicious than I ever imagined. "Don't you see boy? He threw away the Chosen One to be Master to a slave?" He smiled cruelly. Obi-Wan refused to reveal his emotions but inside his heart was pounding. He felt himself being pulled under. Could it be true? Could he be the Chosen One? Had Qui-Gon thrown him away by mistake? Somehow Anakin being the Chosen One had taken a bit of the sting out of the rejection. That sting now returned with a fury burning the Knight's heart with a pain so intense it eclipsed that which was racing through him from the dampening vise. It took the Knight a moment to realize that Dooku was speaking once more.

"He's here you know?" He watched the Knight stiffen. "He is here to save you." Obi-Wan reached out and in spite of the dampening field could now faintly sense Qui-Gon near him. He pulled back immediately feeling uneasy about touching his ex-Master's mind.

"He'll fail you though." Dooku announced making his way towards the hidden exit.

Obi-Wan felt himself unable to pull away from the other man's words. "He'll fail you. He always has and he always will. His failure has nothing to do with his ability though. He is a fine Master and a talented Jedi. His failing has to do with you." Obi-Wan lifted his eyes. Dooku reveled in the pain he saw there. "He never wanted you remember? He said it himself. He never wanted you. How could he have missed the fact that you were the Chosen One?" He paused then laughed mockingly.

"Well we both already know the answer to that. It's hard to see what we don't want to see. He saw what he wanted to see. He saw a liability. He saw a failure. He saw the man responsible for his wife's death. The man who was capable of killing the children he rescued from the cloning project." He waited watching with delight the effect his words were having on the young knight. "He saw you." He added causing Obi-Wan to feel a brief flare of dispair.

Satisfied with his progress Dooku turned with a smug grin and exited the room leaving Obi-Wan to struggle with both his present and his past.

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Obi-Wan knew that he couldn't think about the words that the fallen Jedi had used against him. He and Qui-Gon had both struggled to put their past behind them. Still the old memories continued to assault his heart and his mind. He felt himself giving into the rising feeling of despair.

//Could it be true?// He considered. //I am the Chosen One?// The thought was too ridiculous to believe.

"I am the Chosen One." Obi-Wan whispered aloud into the empty hall. He found himself laughing in spite of his circumstances.

"I'm glad you've accepted the truth." This was a different voice as he watched a dark cloaked figure approach. This was the one. This was the sith master. Obi-Wan took a deep breath striving to slow his racing heart. He knew better than to give into his fear. He released it and instead gathered his courage around him.

"You are the Chosen One." The man's words were spoken with pure conviction. "And you will be mine." He hissed moving his hand up grasping the knight's chin forcing him meet the master's eyes. Obi-Wan jerked out of the man's hold.

"I will never turn." He said emphatically. "You are wasting your time."

"Oh you will turn." The dark lord's words were laced with cruel conviction. Obi-Wan felt a sense of unease rising from within. The dark lord was so confident. There was something in the man's manner that caused the Knight to feel anxious. He glanced around the room wondering what it was that the dark lord had in mind.

Seeing no torture devices in sight he relaxed a bit. He knew that the pain would come but was relieved to see that he would have a few more moments to achieve peace with the Force before he was released into it.

"I will never turn." He stated firmly. "Not for you and not for Dooku. I am not afraid to die and I will die before I become a servant of the darkness." His voice was steady and calm. He was amazed at his own sense of conviction. There was no fear only the Force.

The dark master cackled his eerie evil laughter sending a disgusted shiver up the Knight's spine. He mockingly applauded the Knight's performance.

"Bravo! Bravo!" He sarcastically shouted. "Oh I entertained no delusions that you would turn for Dooku or myself. You are far too self sacrificing to comply for our benefit. I never believed for a moment that you would turn to save yourself either." He announced walking away for a moment. He made a gesture with his hand and the hidden door flew open once more.

Obi-Wan stared in horror as Qui-Gon and Adi were roughly pushed into the room. They collapsed onto the floor at the Knight's feet. He found himself unable to look away from his battered and unconscious friends as the evil man's words washed over his mind.

"But you will turn to save them or you will watch them die."

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Okay this is the hardest chapter I have ever written. There were so many characters, emotions, situations, and plot elements. I hope I pulled it off guys. If not just chalk it up to a beginner trying to improve her skills. Things are starting to pick up we are getting close I think. Thanks to each and every one of you for sticking with me through this lengthy tale. Thanks and see ya next week..