Chapter 5 – Descent
"It seems that we are here Master," Anakin proclaimed, as he toggled one of the sensors on the transport's control panel. The Jedi Council had surprised him by procuring them a sleek new Headrunner 2, perhaps the top class of transport shuttle available. Usually, Jedi missions always seemed to involve a more…experienced class of ship, so Anakin's jaw nearly dropped when he saw the Headrunner 2. Of course it didn't take Obi-Wan long to spoil his good mood.
"They expect there to be danger though they have not said so. This ship is fast and well equipped for a fight. It seems they would like us to return alive."
With those words some of Anakin's cheer had dissipated, but now that they'd arrived at Icis, Anakin had to admit it had been a sweet ride.
"The asteroid belt makes navigating down to the planet surface quite treacherous. Are you sure you can handle it?"
Instead of a verbal response Obi-Wan felt Anakin gather the Force to him and plunge them straight toward the planet. Obi-Wan continued to gaze out the window as though Anakin had made no move at all. Inside though it took all his powers of control to remain calm. If they did hit one of the asteroids, not only could the impact damage their ship, they could set off the Hydera minerals inside. Obi-Wan knew that if this happened their ship would a little more than damaged. Still, at this moment he needed to support Anakin, to demonstrate his trust in his abilities. Frankly, for all Obi-Wan's complaining, he would rather have no one other than Anakin piloting a ship when it really counted.
"Left," Obi-Wan shouted, but Anakin was already moving. Or rather, the small asteroid was moving.
"Not enough time to move us, so I figured I'd move it," Anakin remarked, as he twisted the ship between 2 large asteroids.
"I had not realized you'd developed such a level of control," Obi-Wan replied, clearly impressed by what his Padawan had done.
"To be honest neither did I. It's amazing how elusive the Force can be sometimes, except when I need it the most."
"I hope you will remember that in the time to come Anakin," was Obi-Wan's only reply.
Anakin returned his attention to piloting the ship, though it was clear that the major danger was behind them. The Headrunner 2 descended into the misty atmosphere of the planet Icis. Obi-Wan looked out on a world of pure white, ice covering all that the eye could see.
"Is it all ice, or is there snow as well?" Anakin asked as he maneuvered the ship toward the surface.
"From the reports I have seen, it has a larger amount of ice per surface than any other planet of similar type. There is some snow, but from the looks of it, not much."
"Could a group of people survive on such a place for so long without freezing to death? Can we?"
"The expedition that Master Billaba was a part of stayed on world for 4 days without incident," Obi-Wan responded. "There is something strange about this place, as though it should not be what it is."
"You feel it as well."
"Feel it?" Obi-Wan said, surprise showing in his voice. "It was merely a thought formed from what I have heard of this place. What is it that you feel Padawan?"
"This place is strange. Not one report indicated signs of life and yet it practically calls to me in the Force. I do not understand it Master."
"Neither do I. Let us focus on that which we do know."
"We need to find somewhere to land," Anakin said as he moved the transport into a hovering position.
"Over there," Obi-Wan said as he pointed to one of the taller plateaus on the surface. "It will give us high ground from which to begin our search."
Anakin easily maneuvered the transport toward the plateau and landed as lightly as a feather. Obi-Wan immediately grabbed the long-range binoculars they had brought and proceeded to open the outer door.
"Start scanning while I take a look."
He hopped out of the transport as Anakin activated the ship's bio-tracking system.
"Anything?" Obi-Wan yelled from outside the ship.
"Nothing."
"I see nothing as well," Obi-Wan said as he climbed back into the ship and closed the door so that the chilling winds would not take hold within the ship. "Is there interference of some kind?"
"No, Master. This is a good tracking system from what I know of it, but it still can't search an entire planet."
"I was not expecting it to. I had hoped that the crashed ship would be nearby."
"Why would you think that?" Anakin asked, curious.
"Because you were more right than you know Padawan. You managed to follow the most likely descent of the Vil craft, given its last known position. I thought that the Force was guiding us to an easy rescue. It seems things will not be quite so simple."
Anakin had no response for that so he merely turned back to the console in order to observe the ship's readings.
"We must set out. Grab your gear," Obi-Wan said.
He rose quickly and walked to the back of the transport where he opened a second door to the transport. This one however was somewhat bigger than the first door, a necessary fact given that Obi-Wan was trying to get their snow sled out of the ship.
"Do I get to pilot that too?" Anakin asked with an obvious note of excitement in his voice. He threw Obi-Wan his gear and finished strapping on his own.
"I think the appropriate term would be drive. The answer however is no. I need you to focus your complete attention on the search. You have a better chance of finding them than I do."
Anakin quickly concealed his disappointment as he threw one leg over the seat of the snow sled and joined his Master.
"Of course," Obi-Wan said as he started the engine, "there is no reason you can't drive us back."
With that, Anakin brightened as they took off at breakneck speed. The snow sled was much like a speeder bike, hovering just slightly off the ground, but unlike a speeder bike it was equipped with wind repellent shields that tended to prove most useful when traveling in cold environments. Obi-Wan activated those shields, which formed a clear barrier between the riders and the freezing wind. The passenger seat was equipped with handle bars of its own, so Anakin was able to be quite comfortable as he scanned the area for any signs of life.
"Anything?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Nothing I can see. But I feel… go right."
Obi-Wan instantly obeyed, banking the snow sled to the right. He could sense some of where they were being led, through his bond with Anakin. Eventually the Padawan needed no words to direct Obi-Wan.
"This is very far from the most likely crash point. That troubles me."
"I sense no danger Master. Maybe you were right. The scientists moved off to find some shelter."
"Perhaps. But how did they move the ship I wonder."
To that Anakin had no reply, though he silently chided himself for not having thought of this before. No matter how strong he got, Obi-Wan still seemed to be ahead of him in so many things.
"There," Anakin said while pointing to a spot just below a large overhang of ice.
Obi-Wan slowed their pace as they moved up on the spot Anakin had indicated. Clearly, some sort of fire had burned here quite some time ago, though how long Obi-Wan couldn't say. He glided over the remains and caught a large glare from something off in the distance.
"The ship," Obi-Wan exclaimed as he directed them straight for it. "Jump off and observe. This could be a trap."
"Do you sense something Master?"
"No, but I've seen enough to know that a good trap is not always easy to spot. Stay out of range until I call for you."
"Yes, Master," Anakin said as he jumped off the snow sled.
Obi-Wan moved forward cautiously, reaching out with the Force to get any hint of danger. Sensing none, he landed the snow sled a good distance from the wreckage and proceeded toward it. The ship was badly damaged, but not by any sort of laser fire that Obi-Wan could see. One of the engines was blown off, which could have been from the crash, but judging by the condition of the other engines Obi-Wan highly doubted this was the case. More than likely, the engine was hit by something, perhaps an asteroid. Obi-Wan proceeded inside and remained there for several nervous moments from Anakin's point of view. It was all he could do to keep Obi-Wan in sight as the wind was starting to bear down on him. The time ticked away and Anakin's hand slipped to his lightsaber when he'd finally decided that Obi-Wan had been inside too long. That's when he heard the cry.
"Anakin, I need you."