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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Bant felt her eyes straining against the darkness that surrounded she and Master Windu. She could hear him in front of her and feel him faintly in the Force but knew that that sense would disappear as soon as they reached the ground level. Once they arrived at their destination they would be forced to mask their presence completely that is if they hoped to find the Knight alive.

Hard as she tried to keep her mind focused on her mission, she found herself constantly considering the new development involving her dearest friend. She felt angry with herself for not seeing it sooner. He had always stood out among the other initiates and padawans. He had always been a bit different. Everyone liked Obi-Wan. The fact that he was somehow special was accepted but remained unspoken among his friends. It was like some secret agreement that they all conspired to know but never to acknowledge.

Growing up in the crèche and then later in Temple classes he was fun to spend time with but always single minded in his pursuit of becoming a Knight. If things were about to go too far he was the one to step in and distracted the group taking it upon himself to get them headed in another direction. He did it effortlessly but in hindsight they all saw it. He was a leader but more than that. It was an elusive quality that Bant had never been able to put her finger on any more than she had been able to dismiss its existence. Now she knew and understood the significance of her friend.

They had always felt sorry for Obi-Wan having Qui-Gon for a Master. Even when she and Tahl had been together it was obvious that Qui-Gon was harder on Obi-Wan than the other Master's were on their students. Qui-Gon expected so much. Obi-Wan seemed almost desperate to give it the man no matter what the personal cost was to himself. It had been Tahl who had interceded on more than one occasion telling Jinn to back off or Kenobi to relax. She paused as she remembered her fallen Master. It was always plain to see that Obi-Wan had been the child that Tahl and Jinn had never conceived. She had loved him like a son.

Bant swallowed hard pushing back the tears that always threatened. Now those tears were ones of shame. She had treated her friend terribly after her master's death. She had been no better than Qui-Gon in that regard. She shuddered remembering those long hard years when the Obi-Wan she had grown up with had all but disappeared due to neglect and guilt. He had been devastated by Tahl's loss as well. She had been the mother he had never known, but unlike her husband and her padawan, Obi-Wan had never been comforted or allowed to mourn. He had instead been blamed. How awful had that been? How abandoned had he felt?

Bant and the Knight had come to a peace years later, but the damage had been done. She knew Obi-Wan loved her but there were moments when she still saw glimpses of the pain her rejection had caused. She had tried to redeem herself in Obi-Wan's eyes as she stood by him when Qui-Gon had finally once and for all walked away from him a year ago. Somehow standing beside him and allowing him to talk to her about things had eased her guilt, but only slightly. She realized that he had never failed her. He had always been there to comfort, encourage and support. Where had she been when he had really needed her? When his Master had forsaken him first out of grief, second out of ambition and finally in thoughtlessness? Three times the man had walked away from the boy. Three times Obi-Wan had persevered

Now rushing blindly into the darkness the young knight silently promised herself as well as her friend that she would not fail him again. Chosen One or not, he would always be her friend. She was happy she had been chosen for this mission. She felt hopeful that she would be able to help him. This was her chance to redeem herself once and for all and be the friend he had trusted her to be all along. She had broken that trust in her pain and youthful inexperience, but not today. She would not break that trust again.

As they began their final decent to the ground she felt Master Windu disappear in the Force and cleared her mind to do so as well. Reaching out briefly she sensed something dark and ominous in front of them. It felt like a pit filled with darkness but in the midst of the sea of evil she thought she felt a trace of light. Somehow it rang familiar and she smiled knowing it had to be her Obi-Wan.

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

"Shut up." Garin hissed wondering what it would take to finally convince Siri that she had to be silent.

"I didn't say anything." She complained from behind.

"Yes you did. You said Ouch." He spat reaching out to get his bearings.

"I hit my shin." Siri defended. "And by the way you're telling me to shut up has caused a lot more noise than my simple little ouch." He felt it as she finished her comment. He reached out and immediately found her mouth covering it completely and pulling her with him against the wall. She struggled for a moment thinking this was Garin's not to subtle way of getting his "Quiet Policy" across. It was then that she felt it as well. It was up ahead. There were two of them. They were dark. She wished for her Master. He was so much better at discerning this sort of thing than she was. She had never felt the dark side before, but now that she had she wondered if she would be tainted by it forever. It felt like a slick goo clinging to her senses.

They both steadied their breathing working to deepen their calm so that they could disappear further into the Force. They felt the figures moving ahead and off to the right down a corridor they had yet to encounter. It was only when they felt the two were a safe distance away that Garin removed his hand and Siri let out a sigh.

"What was that?" She whispered. She heard Garin activate his comlink. In the meantime she turned scanning the area behind them. Siri felt her skin crawl as her imagination took on a life of its own. She hated the darkness surrounding her. It made every sound seem to jump out and scream in her direction. She wondered if the figures that they had sensed had been Sith Masters or were they merely students, padawans? She couldn't imagine ever choosing darkness. She wondered at what age these students began their training. Were they merely Force sensitives found by the Sith before the Temple identified them? Did the darkness call them or were they forced into it not understanding or ever seeing that there was light? Garin's hushed whisper pulled Siri from her thoughts.

"Two. Is it safe? Yes. Yes. Hold on." Siri listened then felt Garin reach out beside her for a moment. She increased her scanning hoping that the beings surrounding them wouldn't be able to feel Garin's presence. She felt Garin retreat once more.

"Yes I can." He touched Siri's shoulder as he spoke and turned her causing her to scan in front of them. He felt her stiffen under his touch and knew that she was sensing what he had earlier. "We'll wait for your signal." Siri heard Garin sigh.

"We're to wait." He whispered. She nodded feeling the cold darkness fold in around them once more as they retreated into the Force biding their time until they could make their move. Pushing away her impending feeling of dread, Siri found comfort focusing on the light she had sensed amid the darkness knowing that the light was Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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

Obi-Wan watched helplessly as both Adi and Qui-Gon were locked into the energy binders identical to his own. His mind was racing for a solution. He had not considered this contingency. He had seen this as a battle between he and the dark lord alone. He had been fully prepared to accept the end of his life. Staring across to those he loved, he knew he could never willingly accept the end of theirs. He swallowed hard and forced himself to remain centered. He had to find a way to connect with the Force in spite of his restraints.

The dark lord was present now as were two apprentices. One was the tall being that had been a part of Obi-Wan's capture. The other was a Twi'lek. It was obviously a female with a slight bluish tint to her pale skin. Twice he caught her staring up at him. She would quickly lower her eyes but in those few seconds he had held her gaze he had found hope there. She wasn't nearly as devoted to her master as the other being was. He wondered how he might communicate with her. The dark lord's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

Obi-Wan glared at the man. He would not allow him to see his discomfort nor his insecurity where his friends' safety was concerned.

"Now here is my plan boy." The man moved closer. Obi-Wan found himself constantly struggling to place the familiar voice. It was on the tip of his brain but somehow kept eluding him. He felt certain without the stress of the situation he would place it immediately. If only he had the time to think. Time seemed the luxury he had lost now that Adi and Qui-Gon were a part of the equation.

"You will renounce your place among the Jedi and take your place as my apprentice." The man's silky voice washed over him. Obi-Wan realized it was intoned with force suggestion and fought to resist.

"I am a Jedi." Obi-Wan declared raising his chin in pure defiance. "I will never be your apprentice." The man only chuckled in response causing Obi-Wan to fight in order to maintain his bravado.

"Oh but my boy you never allowed me to finish. You WILL BECOME my apprentice and renounce your place in the Jedi Order or I will slowly but surely kill your Master and your lover." He pointed casually to the still unconscious forms hanging limply in their energy binders. Obi-Wan refused to look in their direction. He struggled to buy himself more time. He had to have time to figure out an escape. He had to have time to get Qui-Gon and Adi free.

"I sense your confusion." The dark lord muttered. It was then that Obi- Wan felt the cold fingers peeling back his shield and forcing their way into his mind. He reached out in a panic reinforcing his shields. He once more felt a sudden surge of the Force within him and was surprised when he opened his eyes and found the dark lord lying flat on his back on the ground at his feet. Obi-Wan smiled smugly hiding his own surprise at this sudden turn of events.

"Don't toy with me boy." The dark lord spat glancing about the room realizing he had been brought low in the presence of his students. "I will have you one way or the other." He stepped forward striking the defenseless Knight across the face. Obi-Wan immediately recovered and met the man's leer with a steely sea green gaze. Sidious glared at the two sith as he spun sharply and stormed from the room. Obi-Wan gazed at the sith remaining. Seeing his chance he seized it.

"He cannot turn me. He will fail. You must renounce your place with the sith and help me and my friends escape." Sador smiled broadly as he approached. Obi-Wan realized that his efforts had failed but it had been worth a shot.

"He will not fail." He spat with blind devotion. "You will die." His words eroded a bit of Obi-Wan's resolve but he refused to let it show. "Of course not before they die." He gestured to the two Masters. Sador held the man's gaze allowing a small smile to curl the corners of his mouth.

"We may all die today." Upon hearing the Knight's calm words, Sador felt his frustration spike. He was curious about this Knight, but was beginning to lose patience with his stupidity and stubbornness. He secretly delighted in what was to come. He longed to see this man broken by his Master. He wanted to hear Kenobi beg for release, a release that would never come. Clinching this jaw Sador turned and left the room. His exit left the Twi'lek behind. She stared at the Knight as well.

She was impressed and it showed in her expression. She hated both Sidious and Sador, but it mattered little. There was so much hate in her life she barely took time to consider it any more. She wanted to hate this Knight but found herself feeling quite the opposite. She found him attractive and strong. She enjoyed his bravery and cunning.

"All my life I wondered about the Chosen One. I never thought I would see him though." She stepped forward. Her voice was soft and slightly seductive. Obi-Wan was shocked having expected the same harsh reprimand from this sith as he had received from all the others. "And here you are. You truly are him." She lifted her hand and ran in up his chest before touching his cheek. Obi-Wan fought the urge to pull away from her touch. For some reason he felt that if given the chance she would choose him over the dark lord. She could be the key to Adi and Qui-Gon's safe release.

"You must help me." He attempted to put as much Force suggestion as possible behind his words but found it difficult with the energy binders cutting him off from the Force surrounding him.

He watched as the Twi'lek glanced at the two beings across the room.

"She is your's?" She asked. Obi-Wan refused to respond. The Twi'lek walked over lifted the woman's head back she examined the face. After a moment she removed her hand and the Master's head drooped forward once more. "She is your lover?" She asked waiting for the Knight to respond. Obi-wan refused once more. "No answer is an answer you know?" She replied to his silence. "She must love you very much to have come into this den to safe you? Did she not think you capable of saving yourself?" The Twi'lek smirked in amusement regarding Adi for a long moment. "Perhaps she just can't spot potential when she sees it."

Obi-Wan refused to even consider her words. He knew in his present state that they would only serve to confuse him more. He hated that Adi had taken this risk and the thought that she had done so willingly out of her love for him or a need to protect him only made it somehow more wonderful and terrible at the same time.

"Can you protect them?" He ventured. "If you won't help me, will you at least help them?" He heard his own desperation leaking into his words. Hearing the Knight betray his own emotions caused the sith to pause. She found herself staring first to him then back to his friends lingering longer upon the female once more. Turning back to the Knight, the Twi'lek said nothing her expression unreadable. Giving the Knight one last look she turned and left him alone with only his desperation and useless friends. Friends who had hoped to save him but now it appeared would be the reason for his fall.

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Yoda released his anxiety into the Force and found himself sinking deeper into his center. He had felt nervous and concerned all afternoon. It wasn't that he didn't have full faith in his beloved Padawan. He did. He knew the boy who had become the man. He knew the Knight he had stood beside as they had faced down a sith together. It wasn't Kenobi he doubted but himself.

All afternoon he had been revisited by memories. They were moments captured over the Knight's lifetime but all followed the same theme. They were moments when the Master had felt and urge in the Force to reveal what he suspected to the boy. Especially over the last year the urging had been strong. Obi-Wan had spent little time at the Temple over the last year but that excuse held little comfort for the old Master.

Now he knew that the Knight was in danger of falling. Not out of any failure of his own but his Masters. Both of his Masters had failed him. Qui-Gon had failed to see and appreciate Obi-Wan's potential and Yoda had felt the need to protect the Knight from it for some reason. The old Master had always believed that the right moment would come. In that perfect window of opportunity he would reveal what he had learned of Obi- Wan's destiny, but by now someone else had no doubt revealed his destiny tainting it with darkness, misery, and death.

Yoda shuddered releasing the overwhelming regret he felt into the Force. He had failed to teach the Knight. He should have prepared him. He should have helped his student explore his new connection to the Force. Together they would have discovered his limits and boundaries. They would have marveled and rejoiced in all the wondrous power he had been entrusted with. He had hoped for a moment when he could have expressed his joy knowing that it was a man of Obi-Wan's character who had been selected by the Force to serve as guardian of the light. Now he might never have that moment. He had waited too long.

Reaching out to the Force, Yoda felt it fill him. He felt it meld with him, moving in and out of his memories and thoughts. He felt it prompt him. He felt a spark within as he waited patiently for what it was that the Force was trying to tell him. It was there right beyond his fingertips. //Patience.// He told himself. //Patience.// He exhaled and opened his mind.

He saw it then like a vision. Opening his eyes Yoda felt a rush of dread. //Death.// He shook his head trying to make sense of what he had seen. //Death.//

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Obi-Wan wasn't sure how long he had been alone when he heard the door. Looking up he saw Dooku enter. He glared at the man.

"What has been done to them to keep them out this long?" Obi-Wan demanded gesturing to Adi and Qui-Gon. Dooku smirked in amusement.

"You forget yourself Kenobi. You are a prisoner here. I don't answer to you." He moved to check on both Qui-Gon first and then Adi. He made a gesture with his hand and Adi's binders opened. The man catching her before she crashed to the floor.

"Show off." Obi-Wan muttered. He tasted bile creeping up his throat as he watched Dooku holding Adi. He wanted to demand that he release her but knew that his protest would only work against the woman he cared for. It was best that he appear disinterested. He just hoped he had the ability to do so. Adi made a soft moan low in her throat. Obi-Wan's eyes darted up meeting Dooku's.

Dooku smiled wickedly for a moment enjoying the emotions playing out on the Knight's face.

"I would love to get you in a sabaac game." He teased tightening his grip on the fallen Master.

"I would love to get my hands around your neck. How about it? I kill you then we play some cards?" Dooku enjoyed the spirit of this man. He had always been a bit afraid that Qui-Gon would beat that out of him, but now he saw that the spark had survived in spite of Jinn.

"I'd love to oblige you that Obi-Wan, but I have a date with a lovely Master. You'll excuse us." He knelt securing the Master's legs over his other arm as he began to carry her from the room.

Obi-Wan felt a panic rise up within him. Adi was helpless. She had no way to defend herself against whatever this evil man had planned for her. He had to stop them. He had to protect her. He loved her. He felt it throughout his being. It welled up inside as the of his helplessness tore away at the core of his being. Obi-Wan struggled in vain against his restraints pulling and twisting his body violently trying to break free. Realizing he was powerless he was unable to look away as the man made his way to the door.

"No no no no no no." He chanted in a whisper until he finally took a deep breath and cried out.

"No!" Obi-Wan yelled in spite of himself. "No!" He had to stop the fallen Jedi. "Dooku!" He wailed. The door opened. "NO! Take me!" His words were cut off as the door sealed shut.

Dooku smiled staring down at the rousing Master. Lord Sidious would be pleased. He would deposit the Master in her cell then find the lord and report this latest development. It was only a matter of time. Lord Sidious had been correct. Kenobi would be theirs.

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

"NO! Take Me!" The voice sounded hoarse but it was definitely Obi-Wan's. Bant reached for Master Windu involuntarily and felt his hand on her arm trying to reassure her. The sound of the Knight's plea echoing off the various corridors made it impossible to determine the direction or distance it had traveled. Mace suspected that he knew the direction but wished he could better determine the distance. They had been in a holding pattern now for a little bit. He now wished he hadn't broken up the teams. He knew that Garin and Siri were approximately in the same location but on the opposite side of the structure. He tried to remember any diagrams he had ever seen of the original Senate building.

He remembered that there were various meeting centers and reception areas. He remembered that there were offices surrounding the main Senate Chamber. He wondered if any of those offices had been converted into holding cells. He heard a soft hum and then suddenly the area was flooded by light.

Both Mace and Bant shielded their eyes from the onslaught. Having spent the last few hours in complete darkness neither being found it easy to adjust to the sudden painful intrusion of light.

"We're exposed." Mace gasped pulling Bant along the corridor. He wondered if Siri and Garin's area had also been illuminated. He feared that they had been discovered. Spotting an upcoming indention he palmed an activation panel and pulled Bant into a dimly lit room.

"So much for the cover of darkness." She muttered wiping the moisture from her eyes.

Mace felt the vibration from his comlink. He activated it.

"Lights." Garin's spoke softly into the comlink.

"Find cover." Mace replied.

"Done." Garin replied. "Now what?" He asked his frustration evident. Mace paused. He had to think. This was not a contingence he had planned on. He had just assumed that the power would be out on this level. He knew from his past dealings with the planetary regulatory agency that the planet power grid no longer supplied to this level. The agency arguing that the life forms existing on this level were not worth any energy expenditure. Just thinking of the agency's cold heartless tactics caused the Master to see red.

"They must be using a generator." Mace replied. "Doesn't matter we go forward on my mark."

"Did you hear him?" It was Siri's voice. Everyone knew who it was she was referring to. The memory of Obi-Wan's desperate cry hitting the group equally hard. Siri's obvious distress speaking for each of them. Mace could almost see the young woman her face lined with worry over her friend.

"Yes." He replied trying not to dwell on the desperation he had noted.

"They were taking someone else." Siri pointed out. It should have been a restatement of the obvious but instead Mace realized he hadn't considered what the Knight had said only the emotion of his voice. He had said 'Take me.'

"Has to be either Adi or Qui." Mace replied. He couldn't imagine what the sith were planning. It was hard to predict evil when you never entertained such thoughts yourself.

"We have to move now." Garin prompted. He knew his friend and if anything happened to either Master Gallia or Jinn, Obi-Wan would never forgive himself.

"No." Mace's voice was firm. "We have no idea where we are or what the situation is. I'm going to go out and scout the situation. Maintain silence until you hear from me. " He understood how hard this was for the young Knights, but the Master had seen too many missions go south because of rash behavior.

"Master?" He heard Bant's voice and turned to where she was now standing. He watched as she lifted something from a chest of some sort. It was a robe. It was a sith robe. He smiled at her as she threw the robe in his direction. "Looks like you just became a sith." He managed a grim smile as he nodded.

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Adi woke alone in her cold cell. She blinked her eyes against the light. It had been so dark before. She couldn't remember much. She had been with Qui-Gon then they had heard a voice from behind them. She felt a rush of panic as she looked around the small office realizing that Qui-Gon Jinn was no longer with her. //What could they have done with him?// She tried to comfort herself by believing that the man had somehow escaped. He was no doubt struggling to get to Obi-Wan at that very moment. She closed her eyes trying to hold on to that image. Slowly it began to fade giving way to the reality which was that Qui-Gon was no doubt probably in a room very similar to her own helpless to aid the Knight.

She wondered where Obi-Wan was. She wondered if he was near. She reached out. There was a sense of something. It felt like Obi-Wan but it was defused. No doubt the Sith were using a dampening field of some sort on him. Of course they would be idiots not to given his place in the Force. She wondered for a moment if such devices would be effective on one so strong in the Force. Surely they wouldn't be. Of course the last she had heard Obi-Wan had no idea that he was the Chosen One. Adi found herself fighting an intense urge to kick both Qui-Gon and Yoda's butts for not telling the man. If she ever got a hold of Yoda's walking stick she would have them both in a dead run.

Now because of their lack of honesty, Obi-Wan faced the most dangerous struggle of his life completely unprepared. The thought was overwhelming. Adi pushed herself to her feet in order to move away from it. She hoped that by occupying herself with her own plan of escape she could set aside her growing fears for Obi-Wan. She missed him. She wrapped her arms around herself as she examined the door to her room. Her arms felt so different around her body. Obi-Wan's felt strong and warm. She thought of the strength of his chest pressed to her back as she would lean into him. She closed her eyes and imagined the warmth of his breath on her neck. She could almost feel his soft lips trailing up to her ear.

"He has asked me to help you." Adi started that was twice someone had snuck up on her in this hell hole. Opening her eyes she found herself standing face to face with a Twi'lek.

"How did you do that?" Adi demanded.

"You are too easily distracted. Were you in his arms just now?" The Twi'lek smirked but kept her hand on her saber handle. Adi narrowed her eyes assessing her enemy.

She wondered why this sith was coming to her now. Why would she ask such a question? There was something about her that was familiar. Adi struggled to put her finger on it but couldn't.

"Who are you?" Adi finally asked when she realized that she couldn't discover the answer on her own.

"Do you not recognize me?" The Twi'lek asked bitterly. Adi remained motionless her expression blank. She didn't recognize this woman and yet something felt familiar. "You and your fellow Jedi met me on Ryloth. You were searching for-"

"Force sensitives." Adi finished looking the woman over. "We only had four spots left on the transport and you were-"

"Number five." She spat at the Master. "Let me see if I can remember your words to me." She paused backing away from the Master as if trying to remember the words that had haunted her for years now. If only she had been able to forget. "You said young Pratell we would love to have you as a part of our Temple but we can only take four. You must hold to the light until we return."

"We did but you-" Adi began but was quickly cut off.

"Were gone." Pratell declared. "Yes you see right after you left a man came to me. It couldn't have been more than two weeks. He sought me out. He was dressed as a Jedi. He said there was a special program for me. I of course was thrilled that I was getting another chance to be a part of the Temple. I knew that at nine I was already fairly old to be identified and placed. I had been crushed by your rejection but now suddenly this man was making my dreams come true."

"What man?" Adi asked clearly puzzled. Pratell leaned in and whispered harshly.

"Dooku."

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Hey how is that for an action packed chapter? So many wonderful reviews!!! You guys kept me smiling all week and obviously typing. I hope we are heading in the right direction now. Until next week thanks again for the encouragement and support.