The Price of Sacrifice

by CalaisKenobi

From the time he was an initiate, Obi-Wan's life was difficult. Now, as a Master, it's even worse. Is there more to it than just fate and the Force? COMPLETE

3. 3

Anakin had never been one for following orders. Even as a slave, he had always found a way to circumvent authority. It was as much a part of him as his midichlorians. Every time Obi-Wan was on Coruscant for any extended period, Anakin was guaranteed to receive the lecture about obedience.

The lecture had become a routine between the Master and Padawan, and Anakin had long ago memorized it. As he prepared yet again to defy his Master's orders, the Padawan could almost hear Obi-Wan's voice in his head.

"You have made an oath to the Jedi order and to me Padawan. It is an oath not easily broken. You have pledged to obey me so that I may teach you and protect you. How am I to do my job if you won't do yours?"

During the lecture Anakin was always expected to listen dutifully, nod respectfully and finish with a "Yes Master, I'm sorry Master." This time, Anakin was free to express his true feelings.

As the Padawan began to inch his way closer and closer to the room he felt Obi-Wan's presence centered in, he whispered softly. "Yes Master, but where is the part of the oath that allows me to protect you?"

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

Ellana was absolutely infuriated, and all of the technicians knew it. The guards and the non-essential personnel had already high-tailed it to the nearest exit, but the remaining men and women were necessary and could not so easily escape their mistress' wrath.

"Why is this not working?" she screeched, pacing erratically over the solid steel floor. "You said this would work, and that we would have control of his mind. Do you have any idea what will happen to me if this doesn't work? Or rather, what will happen to you?" Ellana stopped her frenetic movements and stood facing a haggard looking man with dark curly hair and a perpetual frown.

"Mistress DuCruet, we are doing everything we can to break him. He is incredibly strong willed. None of the test patients held up beyond the first fifteen seconds; he has held on for over fifteen minutes now. I don't think he is going to break," with the last statement, Neopa took his life in his hands, and he knew it. But the constant strain of working for such a witch had finally worn him down.

"What do you mean you don't think he will break?" Ellana hissed in the overworked man's face. "Do you have any idea what I went through to bring him here? I had to travel to Caradonia to capture him after Valone failed so pitifully. Do you know what kind of a hell-hole that place is?"

"I have heard it can be quite unpleasant." Neopa knew he was already dead, so he might as well just ride out the storm and hold onto the slight hope that she would lose interest in him and move on to someone else.

"'Unpleasant?' No, 'unpleasant' was that stupid pilot I had to make eyes at to get a chance at the Jedi. 'Unpleasant' was playing second string to that fool Valone for so many years, faking my complicity and weakness. 'Unpleasant' was the way Valone died when they injected him full of my Master's newest concoction."

Glaring down at the unperturbed man, Ellana continued her tirade. "No, Caradonia wasn't 'unpleasant,' it was hell, pure unadulterated hell. And be assured, if you fail me, you will be spending the last few hours of your life staked out on that 'unpleasant' little world," Ellana threatened, before finally resuming her perusal of the monitors before her.

"Well, I'm glad to know you enjoyed our time together as much as I did," a voice called from the door, startling Ellana and the remaining technicians. No one should've been able to enter this far into the compound without tripping at least fourteen different sets of sensors.

Spinning on her heel, Ellana came about to face directly down the barrel of a blaster. At the small gasp that escaped the Sith witch, Solo smiled. "Speechless, eh? I always knew I had the power to knock a woman senseless with just my good looks and charm."

"I think it has more to do with the blaster you're wielding," Narissa amended, entering through the door just after the pilot. Stepping around where Solo still held his blaster pointed solidly at Ellana, Narissa glanced at the viewscreens showing a writhing and silently screaming Obi- Wan.

"Release him," Narissa demanded, turning her blaster on Neopa. "And don't even think of trying anything. I will shoot first, and question later."

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

"Sith!" N'erak yelled, loudly enough that Bant heard him from the room across the hall. The Healer had been unsuccessful in hailing the transport, but she had refused to give up until she heard from Obi-Wan. Upon hearing the curse from N'erak, she aborted her latest attempt and strode across the hallway.

"What?" Bant asked, entering the room and shutting the door behind her.

"The trail is degrading. It's almost as if something is eating away at the records," N'erak growled as he tapped futilely at the terminal.

"Eating away at the records? All of the records?" Bant asked, her mind automatically going to the vital patient records that the Med Center stored.

"No, not all the records, just a select few. Its almost as if whatever this is was specifically targeted to destroy only certain things," N'erak answered, not seeing the look of relief on the Healer's face.

"That's great!" Bant yelled, leaning down and wrapping her arms around N'erak in a quick hug.

"Great? How can this possibly be great? We are losing the records as we speak!" N'erak stared at Bant as if she had lost all contact with reality.

"Well, it's not great that we are losing the records silly. What's great is that they are specifically targeted. All we have to do is track which records are being erased. Then we will know who our mystery man is." Bant grinned at the dawning look of comprehension on the man's face.

"Bant, you are a genius." And with a few clicks of the interface, N'erak was once again hot on the trail of the Temple traitor.

Anakin could feel his Master's presence just on the other side of the wall, but he could not find a way to get to Obi-Wan. He had circled the small room several times, even traversing the floor above and below but had not yet found a single entry point.

\If I had my lightsaber, this would not be an issue\ the Padawan thought, beginning to despair of finding an entrance in time.

The floor above had been covered in some kind of machinery, and had not presented any access points. The floor below had presented a solid field of silvery steel, without a single seam or crack.

\They had to get him in there someway.\ Stretching out with the Force, Anakin focused on the room once more. As in all of his other attempts, the Force revealed nothing but a shaded confusion regarding the room. It was almost as if the walls were Force sensitive - acting much in the way a mental shield would.

When he had exhausted all other options, Anakin removed the knife from where he had returned it to his boot. He felt vaguely ridiculous sliding the blade of the knife up and down over the walls, but his instincts told him that if he was to access the room, he needed to do this. \Qui-Gon did tell me to trust my instincts after all. I suppose it works in this situation too.\

As the blade skimmed over the metallic walls, Anakin began to feel a strange vibration traveling down the hilt. Confused by the sensation, but not overly concerned, the Padawan continued his experiment.

Just as he reached the final wall of the small room, the hilt suddenly jerked and sparked in his hand, almost causing him to drop it. Anakin was so focused on the reaction of the knife that he almost didn't notice the crack that appeared in the wall.

The screams however, now that the soundproofing was compromised, were impossible to ignore. Quickly resheathing the blade, Anakin forced the crack open with a judicious use of the Force and burst into the room where Obi-Wan lay bound to a table.

Just as he crossed through the hidden doorway, Obi-Wan suddenly stopped his tormented screaming and lay still. The deathly quiet was somehow louder than the agonized shouts had been.

Running across the room, Anakin immediately reached out and worked to unhook his Master. Once Obi-Wan was released from the bonds, Anakin pulled him off of the table, and cradled his Master's head on his knees, trying desperately to rouse him.

After failing to get a verbal reaction from Obi-Wan, Anakin resorted to the training bond. At the slightest touch of his mind to the Jedi Master's, Obi- Wan began to convulse.

Quickly breaking off the contact, Anakin retreated once more to his own mind. Realizing that he would have to rely solely on his own skills and experience if he were to save Obi-Wan and himself, Anakin began to prepare the Master to be carried out. Anakin may have been small for a thirteen- year old, but the Force could do amazing things.

Just as he began to rise to his feet, Obi-Wan stirred. Gently setting his Master back down on the floor, Anakin dropped to his knees beside him. "Master? Everything is going to be ok. I'm going to get us out of here."

Leaning down until his ear was almost touching Obi-Wan's lips, Anakin could barely discern what his Master said. As he used the Force to enhance his hearing, Anakin realized that he was having a hard time understanding not because Obi-Wan's voice was so broken, but rather because what the Master said made no sense.

The words were broken and barely whispered, but without the context behind them they meant little to the Padawan. "Always.always has a back door."

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

Bant had returned to the room across the hall from N'erak, trying once again to raise Obi-Wan or Anakin on the Republic Transport. After several hours of no response, she realized the effort was probably futile, but it kept her occupied.

She would have worked on patient charts but they were all held in the central terminal in the middle of the Healer's ward and she was uncertain she would be able to shield her tumultuous thoughts and emotions from the other Master Healers.

Bant could never remember feeling such conflicting emotions before in her life. The life of a Jedi was a life with little or no emotion. All 'feelings' were to be carefully catalogued, studied and immediately released. Such simple things could not be allowed to interrupt the life of serenity all good Jedi led.

At the current time, Bant was ready to tell the entire Jedi Order to go to hell. That was definitely an emotion that should be released, but the Healer was not sure she wanted to let go of it just yet.

It may have been a path to the Darkside, but the anger she was feeling at the Jedi Council was more than justified. \What could possibly be so important that they would simply throw Obi-Wan's life away for it? I know the Council would throw Anakin's away at the first opportunity, but to toss the famous Sith-slayer to the wolves?\

Bant had long ago accepted the Council's distrust and dislike of Anakin. She didn't necessarily approve of it, but she knew there was nothing she could do to change their minds.

There were those on the Council who were convinced that Anakin was a ticking bomb, just waiting for the chance to go off. No amount of pleading, or for that matter - sacrifice, on the part of Obi-Wan could convince the Councilors otherwise.

The only reason Anakin was permitted to be a Jedi was because Obi-Wan had threatened to leave if the Council did not accept him. The Council did not want to lose such a talented Knight, not to mention the great public relations boon that was Obi-Wan Kenobi.

She simply could not understand what could have such worth that would cause the Council to risk their "prize Knight's" life in such a manner.

As she stood pondering the workings of the Jedi Council and attempting once again to connect to the transport on Navira, Bant did not notice the door opening. Nor did she notice the figure that stalked silently up behind her.

As a Healer, Bant had never really honed the 'danger-sense' that Obi-Wan and the other Knights always spoke of. It was a skill she would sorely regret lacking.

Narissa was still studying the monitors when Anakin suddenly appeared in the room with Obi-Wan. She had succeeded in convincing the technician to stop whatever it was they were doing to him, but she had feared what they might have been doing to Anakin in the meantime.

Seeing the Apprentice with his Master brought a huge sigh of relief. \Now, all we need to do is get this Sith witch locked up somewhere and then this whole nightmare will be over. Maybe Navira can finally experience true peace\

Turning from the monitors to face Ellana, Narissa made sure to keep her back to a wall. She hoped this would soon be over, but she had learned never to underestimate her opponents.

The lesson had been hard, but it had been an important one. She would not allow Ellana to use their overconfidence to escape.

"Ellana, it's over. We've won, and you are going to pay for your crimes against Navira and the Jedi Order," Narissa stated, using the formal tone she had found so useful in her new occupation.

"Oh really?" Ellana smirked, recovered from her shock at seeing Narissa and Solo appear in her supposedly impervious base. "Did you really think it would be so easy? That's just pathetic."

With a wave of Ellana's hand the wall behind Narissa suddenly flickered then disappeared. Using Force-enhanced speed, the Sith bolted through the opening disappearing down a hallway.

Solo and Narissa both fired at the rapidly fleeing woman, but neither hit the mark. Just before she vanished totally from view, Ellana's voice filtered back to the four remaining in the control room. "I always have a back door."

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

Anakin wanted nothing more than to collect his Master and leave the base. Obi-Wan, though obviously in a great deal of pain, had other ideas. Raising his head up from where it rested on the floor, Obi-Wan whispered softly into Anakin's ear.

"Ellana. will have a back door. you must stop her. She mustn't escape." Having finally taxed what remained of his strength, Obi-Wan passed out, his head coming to rest on Anakin's knees.

Readjusting his Master to a more comfortable position, Anakin paused to listen to the ongoing blaster fire. Glancing down at his unconscious Master, Anakin realized that somehow Obi-Wan had known a rescue attempt was underway - even before the tell tale sound of blaster bolts.

Anakin was amazed his Master had been able to detect the rescuers, since it had taken so much of Obi-Wan's failing strength to simply communicate a few words to his apprentice.

Looking down at Obi-Wan's unconscious visage, Anakin suddenly realized just how powerful his Master really was. There were so many things that the older Jedi could do that Anakin could only dream of.

One day he hoped to be as great of a Knight as his Master, but for now he was content to simply have such an incredible teacher.

Sighing, Anakin readjusted Obi-Wan's head again, resting it more comfortably across his lap. "I will find her Master. But I am not going to leave you here, unconscious and at her mercy. I know that I am again disobeying orders, but I'm afraid you are just going to have to accept it."

Settling in to await the arrival of their would-be rescuers, Anakin reached down to smooth back the stray hair that cascaded over his Master's forehead. "I hope you can forgive me for this, but I will NOT leave you."

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

N'erak had just finished compiling a list of all of the tampered files when he heard the door across the hall open. \Bant's sense of timing has certainly improved\ he thought remembering the many times she had walked in on either him or Obi-Wan unexpectedly. Grinning, he stretched back over the chair and waited for Bant to enter the room.

When a few minutes had passed with no sign of the Healer, N'erak grew curious. Deciding to step out into the hallway to see if Bant was waiting out there, N'erak rose from his chair and crossed the small room.

He knew that she would not have left without telling him, but he was also positive he had heard the other door open.

A brief warning from the Force was enough to cause him to slow his approach to the door, and withdraw his lightsaber. It was highly unusual for a Jedi to use his lightsaber in the Temple for anything other than sparring practice, but if the deleted files were any indication, there was much happening in the Great Temple that could be classified unusual.

Extending his Force sense outside of the small terminal room, N'erak detected only two presences in the near vicinity. And both were in the room across the hall. One signature was definitely that of Bant, but the other was unfamiliar to him.

Keeping his hand firmly on the hilt of his lightsaber, he quickly crossed the hall and prepared to enter the other room. Reaching out to palm open the door, he took a deep breath and quickly centered himself.

He was unsure of what awaited him, but the Force was clearly telling him that there was someone dangerous on the other side of the door. With a quick slap of his palm, the door swished open.

Every instinct she had screamed for her to run, leave everything, get to a ship and get as far away from the Galactic Core as possible. Every instinct, that is, other than her survival instinct. She knew if she did not finish her task, she would be hunted down and slaughtered. And Ellana's death would not be nearly as quick or merciful as the death of her former "Master."

Valone had not been killed for failing Sidious; in fact Valone did not even known of the Sith Lord's existence. The dark Jedi had simply planned on getting revenge on Qui-Gon Jinn vicariously through his Padawan. Valone had no idea that the Jedi he was so intent upon held the interest of others in the galaxy.

The fallen Jedi had been executed simply to keep him from revealing the identity of his information source at the Temple. Sidious did not want his new apprentice to come under the scrutiny of the Jedi Council, no matter the reason. Tyranus was much too valuable of an asset.

Valone had died ignorant to the fact he had actually introduced the Dark Lord of the Sith to his latest apprentice; and that ignorance had allowed for his swift and painless death.

Ellana, on the other hand, not only knew of both Sidious and Tyranus, but also of Palpatine and Dooku. Her training in the Darkside had come from Sidious himself, with assistance from Darth Maul. Where Sidious had almost been a father, Maul had been a brother. She had not taken his death lightly.

When Sidious informed her of the plans in store for a certain Jedi Knight, she had been quite interested in becoming involved. With only a small amount of Force suggestion, she had convinced Valone to take her on as a servant, allowing her to monitor his activities and report back to the dark Lord. Valone had never even known she was Force sensitive.

Ellana had always planned on killing Valone once Obi-Wan was subdued and ready for transport. Even if his plan had succeeded, Valone would never have had the chance to take his revenge on the Knight.

Sidious had too much planned for the young Master to allow his death to come so quickly. Once Valone had succeeded in capturing Obi-Wan, Ellana would have killed him and taken the Knight to her Master for "reeducation."

Instead, the Jedi had taken her completely by surprise, and by the time she had regained consciousness, Obi-Wan Kenobi was safely ensconced in the Jedi Temple. It was only quick thinking on her part that had saved her from paying the price for that failure. She had gone to the Sith Lord and told him of her plans to pose as a Navirian delegate. Sidious had approved, and allowed her the chance to redeem herself.

And now it appeared she would fail again. \I cannot allow Obi-Wan Kenobi to escape!\ Ellana repeated in her head as she finally stopped her Force- enhanced sprint. She needed to return to the center of the compound to retrieve the Knight.

Once she had him safely secured in her ship, she would be free to transport him to another location and finish his "training." All she needed was for her guards to keep the invaders at bay long enough. \I will not fail in this. Obi-Wan Kenobi will be ours\

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

As the door to the comm. room hissed open, Bant turned from the data screen to greet her visitor. The site of the unlit lightsaber in his hand stopped her. "What.. what are you doing?" the healer asked, trying and failing to keep the slight tremor from her voice.

"The question is, what are you doing?" N'erak's hard gaze was focused on a spot just over Bant's shoulder.

"N'erak?" Bant began, but was stopped when a voice spoke up behind her.

"Knight N'erak, it is good to see you again. I had hoped we would have an opportunity to talk before I left," Dooku smiled, stepping into the middle of the room.

"Where did you come from?" Bant had not realized there was another person in the room with her.

"I am sorry to startle you Healer Bant. I was waiting for you to end your call before I interrupted," Dooku answered.

"That doesn't answer my question," N'erak growled. "I asked you what you were doing here?"

"Suspicious as always, N'erak. I always said that is what made you so good at undercover missions," Dooku smiled disarmingly. "I had wanted to offer a farewell to Knight Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker, but the Temple secretary informed me they were on a mission to Navira. I decided to send a quick comm., but when I attempted to log on, I realized that someone was already speaking to them. I traced the signal to here, and was hoping I could speak to Obi-Wan and Anakin once you had reached them."

"What do you mean offer farewells?" N'erak asked, still refusing to lower his 'saber.

"Ahh, I guess the Temple gossip chain is not as effective as usual. I have resigned from the Order and I am returning to my home planet." Dooku moved across the floor towards the door. "But, I can see your attempts to communicate are unsuccessful. Perhaps I will have a chance to talk to Obi- Wan once I have resettled at my new home. I am sorry to have disturbed you both." Offering a quick bow, Dooku departed from the small room, leaving Bant and N'erak alone.

"I never even sensed him come in," Bant uttered softy, after a brief silence had fallen over the room.

"Oh I did," N'erak said, finally reholstering his 'saber. "And that is not all that I sensed."

The removal of the holographic wall had triggered a silent alarm, and almost before they could react, the control room was filling with guards. Severely outnumbered, Solo and Narissa had no choice but to fall back, exiting through the door they had entered. As she sprinted, trying to keep up with Solo's longer strides, Narissa barely had the air to speak.

"Do you think Anakin will be able to get Obi-Wan out?" she huffed.

Realizing he was outdistancing the shorter woman, Solo slowed up. "I think so, he is a Jedi after all. Besides, we can't go back for them yet. We need to get out of the compound and back to Jame'a and the others. We might stand a chance if we have an open field of fire."

Wanting to argue, but realizing Solo was correct, Narissa followed the pilot out of the compound. Diving over a rocky outcropping, they both turned and began to fire at the pursuing guards. Without sufficient cover, the guards were dropping like flies.

As Narissa and Solo kept up a constant barrage, Jame'a and Cynth, along with the other two Navirians, joined them. "Did you get the Knight freed?" Jame'a asked as he waited for his blaster to recharge.

"Yes, he and his apprentice are both free. They shouldn't have a problem getting out," Solo answered, when Narissa appeared unsure of what to say. They had left Obi-Wan unconscious after all.

"Should we hold position here, or try to get back to the transport?" Cynth asked.

"Take Don'e with you and go get the transport. We'll hold this area until you get back. Hopefully by then, Anakin and Obi-Wan will be ready to go." Almost before Jame'a had completed the order, Cynth and Don'e were leaving.

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

As she approached the control center, Ellana could sense that the intruders had been pushed back. The control room was badly damaged from blaster fire, but for the time being it was empty. Entering through the "wall" she had only recently run through, Ellana immediately fixed her gaze on the still- functioning monitors.

The lab had not been breached, as all of the walls were complete and unmarked. The table stood empty, the manacles still dangling from the edges. Using the toggle to move the cameras, Ellana searched the room twice. The second time revealed nothing different from the first: though the walls were sealed, the room was empty.

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

"What else did you sense?" Bant asked, following N'erak as he crossed the hall to the terminal room.

"A warning from the Force. It told me that there was danger in that room. I don't know what it means, but I have never really cared much for Master Dooku," N'erak elaborated, sitting down at the terminal.

"I wonder why he is leaving. It seems a bit suspicious that these files are being deleted at the same time that he is taking his leave of the Jedi Order." Bant had never met the Master before, but apparently both N'erak and Obi-Wan had. That in itself was unusual, since the three were so close, even now when Obi-Wan was gone so often.

"That is an odd coincidence," N'erak agreed.

Watching as the Knight flicked through several screens, Bant smiled weakly. "Well at least you have apparently had better luck than I have."

"Oh, I've had more than luck," N'erak grinned. "I've found our common denominator: Master Sifo-Dyas. All of the files were either encrypted, logged, accessed or downloaded by him."

"Then perhaps we should pay him a visit." Putting action to words, Bant crossed the room to the door. "I am quite interested in what he has to say."

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

Though he was unusually strong in the Force, Anakin found his physical strength to be somewhat lacking. There was only so much the Force could do to augment bodily strength, and it was barely enough for the apprentice to carry his Master.

Obi-Wan was by no means a large man, but he was an awkward burden to carry, and Anakin struggled tremendously to manhandle the inert form over a shoulder. "You know Master, usually I appreciate your strength, but right now I wish you had a few less muscles. You'd be much easier to carry that way." Keeping up a softly spoken running commentary in the hopes it would rouse Obi-Wan, Anakin carried the unconscious Master through the compound.

Anakin was unsure of where he was going, but the Force was leading him towards the back of the structure. He hoped that their rescuers were still somewhere in the vicinity and would give him a hand with his burden. He would not allow anyone else to carry Obi-Wan, but he wouldn't mind sharing the weight with someone.

As he moved through the compound, Anakin was focused on three things. Watching for guards was his first priority, trying to wake Obi-Wan his second, and locating their lightsabers was the third. Though it wasn't unheard of for a Knight or Padawan to lose his 'saber in the field, it was something all Jedi tried to avoid. A lightsaber was more than just a weapon, it was almost an extension of the Jedi's body; to lose one was almost as painful as losing a limb.

As he passed a closed door on his right, Anakin's Force sense told him Obi- Wan's and his lightsabers were inside. Gently lowering Obi-Wan to the floor, Anakin reached out to palm open the door. "I'll be right back Master. I need to get our 'sabers, and then we can leave this place." Stepping through the open door, Anakin didn't sense or see the cloaked figure suddenly appear at the end of the hallway.

As he sat on the large cushion Master Yoda provided for his larger humanoid guests, Mace watched the elder Councilor begin to awaken from his deep meditation. When Yoda's eyes blinked open, Master Windu took that as his cue to speak. "What have you seen?"

"Clouded it is, the Darkside resides strongly on Navira. Afraid Anakin is, in pain is his Master. A turning point this could be," Yoda spoke sagely.

"In pain? If Obi-Wan is hurt, we should send them assistance - especially if the Darkside is being used strongly on Navira," Mace urged. He had considered Qui-Gon Jinn one of his closest friends, and felt an obligation to protect the man's former Padawan. He had once been close with Obi-Wan as well, but Anakin Skywalker had caused an unbridgeable distance to grow up between the two men.

"Help them we cannot. If Knights we send, the Sith will flee. Captured she must be. Let her go the first time, Obi-Wan did. Rectify his mistake he will." In Yoda's harsh dialect it almost came out as a threat.

\Or perhaps it was meant to be a threat\ Mace thought uneasily. He tended to support Master Yoda heavily on the Council, so much so that the two almost always presented a unified front. Lately however, he had begun to question some of the Master's decisions.

It was apparent that Anakin would turn, and Mace agreed wholeheartedly that the threat should be eliminated as soon as possible - but not at the cost of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The young man had worked so hard and made so many sacrifices throughout his short life; it seemed wrong somehow to toss such dedication aside.

"If he is injured, he may not be able to 'rectify his mistake,'" Mace argued. "We are Jedi, we do not abandon our own simply because it is convenient. We must send a team to Navira to assist Knight Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker. The governor of the planet has requested our assistance, and we are honor-bound to respond."

"Member of the Republic Navira is not. Our problem it is not. Return Obi- Wan and Anakin will with the Sith captured. For the good of the entire Order we do this. Sacrifice a few for the many, it is what Jedi do."

"And if Obi-Wan and Anakin are unsuccessful in capturing the Sith.?" Mace prompted.

"Then doomed we all are," Yoda sighed, his eyes shutting once more in his search for a better answer.

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

"What do you mean he is not available?" Bant yelled at the Temple operator. She had been trying to track down Master Sifo-Dyas for the past half of an hour, with no success. Every time she thought she was close, another door would slam shut, leaving her with nothing.

"I am sorry Master Bant. Master Sifo-Dyas has become one with the Force," the operator responded in the reverent tone of voice all Jedi used when describing the incredible destiny that awaited them all.

"When?" Bant sighed, as N'erak placed his hand on her shoulder. The Knight had been sorting through the files he had managed to download onto his datapad when he had overheard the operator's response.

"I'm sorry, I don't have that information Master Bant. Perhaps you should check the Temple Records, they should have all pertinent data regarding the matter."

With a brief nod and a softly spoken "Thank you" Bant clicked off the comm. link. "Well, I guess I will go down to the Archives then and see what I can find," Bant said, stepping away from the comm. link.

"Don't bother," N'erak interrupted. "We'll have to go back to the terminal room to be certain, but I'm positive those files were among the ones that have so mysteriously disappeared."

"Well then, what are we going to do?" Bant asked her fatigue and frustration clearly visible as she dropped down into one of the padded chairs.

"Unless you are willing to speak to someone else, preferably someone on the Council who would've known the mission details and activities of Master Sifo-Dyas, I think we've hit a dead end," N'erak sighed, just as discouraged as his counterpart. With a calm he did not feel, he switched off his datapad and sat down in the chair across from the Healer.

The two resided in a heavy silence for several minutes, each mulling over thoughts of the apparent conspiracy. As they sat in mirrored dejected poses, there was a slight tremble in the Force. N'erak felt it first, but Bant was not far behind. The Force was clearly telling them something - something they needed to hear.

Clearing her mind, Bant centered and attempted to listen to the message the Force was imparting. The tremble became a whisper, and then the whisper became a shout. With a start, Bant jumped up from her chair and ran to the door. Peripherally she was aware of N'erak's equally startling reaction. As they raced through the halls to the Healer's ward, Bant smiled at N'erak. "Sometimes the Force whispers to us." she began the old crèche mantra.

".and sometimes it shouts," he replied, an equally large grin on his face. "And boy ever does it shout. I think I might have a headache for a week or so!"

Laughing softly, Bant pushed open the doors leading to the Healer's ward. "Well in that case, I guess we're going to the right place."

Sliding open the door to the cabinet where Anakin could sense his and Obi- Wan's lightsabers, the Padawan kept his attention focused on the unconscious form of his Master. Just as he had crossed the threshold of the doorway, Anakin had begun to sense a tingling in the back of his mind. It didn't feel like the training bond, but Anakin didn't know what else it could be. He didn't share any bonds with anyone other than Obi-Wan.

As he worked to open the secured box where the 'sabers rested, the tingling sensation grew. When it reached the point of being painful, Anakin finally submitted and sent out a Force probe to detect the source. He had wanted his lightsaber safely in hand before he tried to discover where the sensation originated, but he could not risk being incapacitated by the pain.

As the tendril extended from him, Anakin could almost visual its path. It first traced the room, and then extended to the hallway. After a brief touch to the unresponding Master, it continued on its way. Suddenly it was as if a black hole had opened and the unrelenting pull of gravity gripped the small tendril.

Startled, Anakin attempted to retract the probe, but it seemed the harder he pulled, the more it resisted. Remembering his encounter on the Republic Transport, Anakin knew he needed to take another approach. The last time this had happened, he had formed a connection with the mind of the Sith.

Slowly releasing his grip on the Force, Anakin allowed the tendril to dissipate naturally back into the energy field. Just as the last of the energy was about to fade, there was a brief surge. Before he could even respond, Anakin was pulled once more into the mind of the Sith. And this time, Obi-Wan would not be able to save him.

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

No matter how many they killed or incapacitated, the guards just kept coming. The four remaining members of the rescue team were finding it harder and harder to hold the small amount of ground that would be necessary for the transport.

"This isn't working!" Narissa called out over the blaster barrage.

"Well, if you have a better idea I'd sure like to hear it," Solo growled back. The pilot knew that their strategy was failing, but there simply weren't any other options.

"All we need to do is hold until Cynth gets back here," Jame'a interjected, before the governor and the pilot could start arguing again. The two had been at each other's throats almost from the moment they had met. If Jame'a didn't know better, he would've sworn that the cynical ex-smuggler had fallen for the Dan'erian governor of Navira. \Wouldn't that be a volatile combination.\ he thought, allowing himself a small smile.

"Once Cynth gets here, we can use the transport's blaster proofing as better cover, and the weaponry to help clear a way to the entrance. That should allow the Jedi the opportunity to escape," Jame'a continued.

"That's if the Jedi are actually able to escape on their own." Narissa commented, drawing a slightly sympathetic look from Solo. The expression was almost immediately crushed however, and the more typical smug grin appeared.

"Like I said, they're Jedi. We have nothing to worry about."

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

"My Master," Dooku bowed to the hooded image of Sidious.

"I trust you have been able to carry-out your resignation and are in route to Navira?" Sidious responded, in the slightly distorted tone he used in conjunction with the Dark Lord's identity.

"Yes my Master. However, there may be a slight problem," Dooku answered, not yet straightening from his bow. He was certain of his place as Sidious' apprentice, but he knew not to irk the temper of the volatile Darksider.

"A problem?" Sidious hissed.

"Yes my Master. Actually, two of them. Master Healer Bant and Knight N'erak. They are becoming suspicious, and their research might lead them closer to us than would be comfortable."

"And you were not capable of dealing with this yourself?" Sidious asked, obviously displeased.

"No my Master. Not without arousing more suspicion. I felt it best that my leave of the Temple come before any questionable incidents should occur," Dooku answered, only now straightening from his bow.

"Very well. Perhaps I can arrange something for such ambitious young Jedi. In the meantime, report to Navira immediately. I sense a disturbance there. Assist Ellana if necessary, and if she has failed."

"I will return her to you immediately my Master," Dooku offered, knowing that what awaited the young woman would not be pleasant.

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

"Alright, you need to distract the desk clerk long enough for me to check the files without interference," Bant stated, as she and N'erak walked towards the main information desk of the Healer's ward.

"And just how am I supposed to do that?" N'erak asked. "Wouldn't it be easier for me to check the files, considering your ineptitude with anything electronic?"

"Well, you could use that amazing personality of yours and lure her off, or you could just knock her unconscious," Bant growled sarcastically. "And I am not inept with electronics, they just don't like me."

"And if it's a him?" N'erak questioned, deciding not to respond to Bant's more sarcastic second suggestion.

"Then I guess you'll just have to work extra hard at being charming," Bant retorted. At the incredulous look on the Knight's face, Bant giggled. "Look, all you have to do is tell the desk clerk about the terrible headache you are suffering from. He or she will then have to leave the desk to summon a Healer; at which point I, using my clearance codes, will be able to access the information on Master Sifo-Dyas."

"But if you use your codes, then that will leave a record pointing straight back to you. I'm not sure what exactly is going on here, but I know enough to be certain that giving yourself away like that is not a good idea," N'erak said, pulling on Bant's arm to slow her down as they swiftly approached the main desk.

"I am willing to take that risk for Obi-Wan. And like you said, we don't know what is going on here. We have no way of knowing that this is at all dangerous. And it will take too long for you to hack into the system. With my code, I can be in and out in under thirty seconds." Bant pulled her arm out of N'erak's grasp and continued on at her swift pace.

As they turned the final corner to the information desk, Bant winked at N'erak. "Besides, if you don't get an analgesic for that headache, you'll be whining my ear off the rest of the day."

If Anakin felt uncomfortable in the mind of a Sith, Ellana was horrified to find herself in the mind of the apprentice. She had not desired this contact the first time, and this time was much worse than the previous. The first time she had only caught brief images and snatches of conversations that had occurred throughout the young man's life. This time she found herself an unwilling bystander in the parade that was Anakin Skywalker's life.

From the dusty armpit of a planet known as Tatooine, to the halls of the Jedi Temple and every little detail in-between, Ellana was along for the ride. Even the battle on Naboo, where she saw through a nine-year old's eyes the frightening appearance of Darth Maul.

Ellana fought desperately to be released from the bounds of the bond that had sprung up between her and the Jedi urchin, but the more she pulled away, the deeper she was dragged in.

Finally deciding to save her energy and simply sit back and watch the show, Ellana quit fighting. As she watched the images of thirteen years flash before her, the Sith suddenly had a horrified thought. \If I am seeing his life. is he seeing mine? \

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

At first Anakin was not sure where he was or what had happened. The disorientation of viewing another person's life at such a rapid pace was having an effect on the young Padawan. "Ellana" had already advanced to the age of five before the Jedi realized what he was seeing. The images of the small baby swaddled in the black material had meant nothing to him, but the suddenly familiar looking five-year old helped Anakin out of his daze.

\So this is Ellana's life.and she is the Sith\ Anakin realized. He had not recognized that the Navirian delegate was one and the same with the Sith. Had he had time to meditate, the connection would have been obvious, but the past few days had not been conducive to any meditation, shallow or deep. From Obi-Wan's request that he pursue the woman, Anakin had realized that Ellana was dangerous, but he had somehow not connected her to the mind of the being he had connected with on the transport, nor the dark figure that had visited his cell.

\I guess I still have a lot to learn about realizing the obvious\ Anakin sighed bemusedly as he sat back to watch the play of events.

As he watched the years of Ellana's life pass, Anakin did not even attempt to fight, as he knew it would gain him nothing but a massive headache. \At least she's not TOO old. Hopefully this will be over soon and I'll wake up\

Anakin was startled out of his revelry by the appearance of a familiar looking young man in the flashes. \Who is that? And how would I know him?\ When the man appeared again, this time with another, Anakin had his answer.

\Obi-Wan?!!! Master looked that young and. vulnerable. once?\ The young Obi- Wan was shown fighting off a raven-haired man with a strange scar on his cheek. In the background, Anakin could see the figure of Qui-Gon Jinn approaching.

His interest blossoming, Anakin watched Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon fight off the scarred figure. Before the fight was resolved, the image changed again. Apparently, Ellana had not stayed for the entire battle. Instead a dark cloaked figure swept into the room and took the young girl away.

"Hush now child. Xanatos will take care of himself. He always does," the figure whispered, now revealed as an aging woman with haggard features and snow-white hair.

The elderly woman carried the small girl away from the scene of the battle and to a small transport ship. "Xanatos wants you to go stay with a friend of his for a little while. Your brother will be back for you soon little one, but for now Senator Palpatine has graciously agreed to let you stay with him."

Sobbing loudly, the little girl allowed herself to be strapped into the transport. As the ship burst from the atmosphere, the ebony-haired child waved to the rapidly disappearing planet. "Goodbye Xani. Goodbye Telos." Turning her gaze from the window, Ellana fixed her eyes forward. With only a small hitch to her breath, she composed herself and prepared for her future.

The images sped up once more, and Anakin viewed only flashes here and there. The image of a young woman running with no real hope of escape and the vision of the dark figure looming over the cowering Ellana were revisited. As he viewed the images, Anakin realized he was seeing them for the second time. The first time, the images had been too disjointed and he too frightened to really study them.

This time, the visions were much clearer, and Anakin was prepared to view them. The desperation and fear on the young Ellana's face were evident, and her Force aura resonated with anxiety and a sense of futility. The dark figure was still only a blur, but the figure that soon joined him was quite familiar to the young apprentice. It was a face that had haunted his dreams for years: Darth Maul.

Luckily the desk clerk was female, and quite bored. The sudden appearance of a handsome Knight who seemed most interested in her was more than enough to lure the senior Padawan away from the desk. As N'erak and the clerk rounded the corner to the exam rooms, Bant wasted no time in logging onto the system and accessing all files listed under "Sifo-Dyas."

The med-center files were part of an isolated system, without a connection to the larger Temple network. It helped to insure patient confidentiality and prevented tampering. Bant had almost forgotten about the extra security measures, and had it not been for the prompting from the Force, N'erak would probably not have thought of it either.

As she waited for the files to download to her datapad, Bant kept her attention focused on the empty hallway. She had every right to be here accessing information, but it was highly unusual for a Healer to download data to a personal pad. If her query of the system were put to a close scrutiny, it would be discovered that she was accessing the files of a deceased patient. Since the patient was dead, there really wasn't an excuse for her accessing his file.

As the datapad beeped, signaling that half the information had been downloaded, Bant heard footsteps echoing from the connecting hallway. \Don't come this way. don't come this way\ Bant chanted as she tried to hurry up the data transfer. Her thoughts went unheeded however as the sound grew louder and she could begin to hear voices.

Realizing she would not have the information download completed in time, Bant schooled her features to a placid mask and leaned back casually on the counter of the information station. Pretending to stifle a yawn, she smiled sheepishly as Mace Windu came around the corner escorted by Healer Ravenna. "Good evening Master Windu, Master Ravenna," Bant offered, hoping the two were just passing by.

"Good evening Master Bant," Ravenna answered. "Master Windu and I were just looking for you. We would like your opinion on a chemical analysis Master Jareo completed on a blood sample taken from a deceased patient. Your background in chemical compounds might allow you to see something we missed."

"Of course," Bant replied. "I'd be happy to check the analysis. If you would like to leave it here with me, I'll double check the conclusions and get right back to you." Just then the datapad chimed, signaling the end of the data transfer.

"I see you are already involved in something," Master Windu stated, craning his neck to look around the still reclining Healer. "Perhaps this is a bad time."

"Not at all," Bant said. "I've just finished what I was working on. Now where is this analysis you need me to look at?"

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

When the connection broke this time, it was just as unnatural a break as the first time. The first time Obi-Wan had used his lightsaber hilt to knock Ellana unconscious breaking the flow. This time, it was the planet of Navira that had the honor. Although one of Narissa's first tasks as governor had been to order weather-controlling satellites, the system was not up and running yet. Unpredictable storms still swept the planet, especially in the mountain lowlands where Ellana's base was stationed.

This particular storm was not as powerful as the majority of Navirian storms, but it was powerful enough to generate several bolts of lightning. The first strike missed the base, but the second struck the unshielded control room. The blaster fire had damaged the weather shielding of the center of the base, making it susceptible. As the lightning bolt ricocheted through the small room it fried the remaining functional circuits, plunging the entire base into darkness.

The lightning bolt traveled through the many electrical systems of the base, causing massive damage to the entire compound. The hallway Ellana, Obi-Wan and Anakin stood in was one of the most damaged areas. The majority of the electrical discharge had traveled down the wiring that supplied the southern side of the compound.

As Anakin and Ellana stood, still locked deeply in each other's conscious mind, the dangerous and powerful product of Mother Nature continued its journey through the ceiling wiring. Just as it passed over the figures of Anakin and Obi-Wan the electrical charge found an impasse. The wiring had been clipped by blaster fire during Narissa and Solo's escape, and the bolt had nowhere to go. The only other wiring in the section ran through the floor. With a resounding hiss, the still powerful charge leapt from the ceiling to the floor via the highest point in the hallway: Ellana.

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

As she pulled the transport up behind the soaked members of the rescue team, Cynth took a moment to be grateful she had had the foresight to pull the cover up over the driver's compartment. She had actually raised the shielding to protect from blaster bolts, but it worked just as well against the torrential downpour that had soaked her comrades.

Smiling at the drowned appearance of Jame'a as he joined her in the driver's compartment, Cynth earned a dirty look from the head of Navira's guard. "Don't say a word," Jame'a cautioned, knowing Cynth was familiar with his dislike for Navira's wildly unpredictable storms.

"Wouldn't think of it, Chief," Cynth grinned as she maneuvered the transport so that the forward blaster banks were targeted on the compound. The entire rescue team was now safely ensconced in the blaster shielding of the transport, and only one of the guards had been seriously wounded. Narissa was working to treat the blaster burn as Solo and Jame'a quickly conferred.

"I say we keep a path cleared for the next fifteen minutes. If we don't see the Jedi by then, we can radio back to your main base and have the second team meet us here," Solo suggested.

"I agree, but I think we should radio the second team now. It never hurts to be prepared," Jame'a said.

"That's true. when it comes to Jedi it seems one can never be over- prepared," Solo mumbled just under his breath.

Looking up from the almost completed bandage job, Narissa grinned. "Why Captain Solo, I would never have pegged you as the jealous type."

"Jealous? Me, jealous? Of what, their amazing aptitude for finding danger even in the simplest of assignments?" Solo argued indignantly.

"No, jealous because of their aptitude in finding their way out of danger, especially when their pilot seems intent on getting them killed."

"I didn't know she was a Sith. How was I supposed to know that." Solo mumbled, deciding it was in his best interest to simply not speak for the remainder of the wait.

With a quick wink at the bemused Jame'a, Narissa went back to tending the guard's wound in the now silent transport.

As the smell of burnt flesh permeated the air, Anakin leapt over his still unconscious Master and ran to the side of the fallen Sith. It was obvious that even his skill in the healing arts would not be enough to save the life of the badly injured woman.

Waiting for the last of the electricity to exit her body, Anakin then lifted Ellana's head enough that she could breath unhindered. He was unsure why he was showing such care for the enemy of all he stood for, but he thought it was due to the personal connection they had shared as well as the sense of guilt he still harbored after the deaths he had caused on Caradonia. He could not prevent this death, but he could ease it for the still beautiful young woman.

As the convulsions finally stilled to only a faint trembling, Ellana opened her eyes and focused on the figure above her. "Why. why are you helping me?" Ellana asked in a voice gone hoarse with her previously pained shrieks.

"I'm not sure," Anakin answered truthfully. "Maybe because I know that you did not become what you are by choice. Maybe because I don't think anyone deserves to die alone. Or maybe because I am hoping you will tell me how to help my Master."

"I won't help him," Ellana hissed vehemently. She was in a great deal of pain, and knew that her life would soon end, but she would not assist the man that had killed both her biological brother and Maul.

"Then help me," Anakin soothed, rubbing a hand gently down her uninjured arm. Her left arm and her face were the only places on her body that didn't appear to be burned. He used the gentle contact to add his own Force-energy to Ellana's, helping to dull the pain. "My Master's and my shields are still intertwined. I can feel his pain and his confusion, and it is hurting me. I don't want to see him suffer so much. Please just tell me what I can do to help him."

"He wanted him turned. fallen.but too powerful. Rest. heal.be fine." Ellana's voice began to fade as the agony of her injuries slowly overwhelmed both her and Anakin's Force energy. Realizing that her time was running out, Ellana wanted to offer one more thing to the only person who had ever truly been kind to her, even if it was only at the moment of her death. "Check his records. mission. Healer's. Sidious wants him. and he will have him," coughing as her burnt lungs finally began to fail, Ellana could no longer speak.

"Thank you," Anakin said sincerely. He truly felt bad for the young woman before him, so powerful in the Force, but never really having stood a chance to be anything but a Darksider. As her pain level rose, the Padawan reached a gentle hand to her temple. "Sleep, and find peace," he offered, using the strongest Force compulsion he had ever attempted.

As Ellana's eyes fluttered closed for the final time, Anakin whispered softly into her ear. "May the Force be with you."

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

As the rescuers kept up the constant barrage on the entryway, the defending guards began to fall back. When the entry area was finally clear, Jame'a finally stopped firing. "Now that the guards know they can't use that exit, they will have to come from the other openings. That should allow the Jedi to use this exit mostly unhindered," Jame'a said at Cynth's slightly confused look.

"But won't they have trouble exiting with the doorway so damaged?" Cynth asked.

"Probably, but it was either that or let them fight their way out through a battalion of guards. I am sure they will appreciate not having to struggle every step of the way simply to make it to the transport," Jame'a answered, his gaze still focused intently on the now empty southern exit.

"I'm sure they did appreciate it," Narissa called as she jumped out of the transport followed quickly by Solo and Jame'a. "And I bet Anakin would appreciate it even more if we helped him now."

As if he had heard her, Anakin looked up from under his burden and smiled gratefully. "I would certainly appreciate all the help I can get."

As Anakin and Jame'a carried Obi-Wan between them, Narissa and Solo kept up a constant barrage of blaster fire to keep the few remaining rebels at bay. As they reached the transport, Cynth was already maneuvering the vehicle for the trip back to the eastern shore where reinforcements were waiting.

"Take us back to our base," Jame'a called out. "Contact the second team and have them clear this base and download any information they can."

"And contact the Jedi Temple. Tell them to dispatch a Healer here as soon as possible!" Narissa added. She knew that Obi-Wan was seriously injured and would probably benefit the most from being treated at the Temple, but Narissa was still worried about the message Master Yoda had conveyed to her earlier. Something about this whole situation seemed wrong, and she was not yet ready to let Obi-Wan out of her sight; at least not until he was once again able to take care of himself.

"Move out!" Narissa yelled once they were all back aboard the transport. With only a brief nod of deference, Cynth set the transport on its highest speed and took off.

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

"What are you working on so diligently this late at night?" Master Windu asked, as he tried once again to peek around where Bant stood in front of the terminal.

"Nothing too important. I just couldn't sleep and decided to update some old patient charts," she smiled easily, even if she really felt like screaming at the obstinate councilor who had so cavalierly risked her friend's life multiple times.

"Is it common to have such dedication among our Healers?" Windu addressed the question to Master Healer Ravenna who stood silently at his side.

"Bant is one of our best," Ravenna answered diplomatically. She knew the councilor was on a fishing expedition, and she certainly was not going to help him. Ravenna may have had the extreme compassion so common to Healers, but that did not stop her from wanting to occasionally beat some sense into stubborn Jedi. And Mace was one of the most stubborn she had ever met, whether it was as a patient or a Council member.

"Well we are lucky to have her then, aren't we," Mace improvised, apparently deciding to give up on his information quest. "As for the analysis, I would appreciate it if you could look it over and return it to me as quickly as possible. This is not common knowledge however, and I would hope that you could be discrete about it."

"Of course," Bant acquiesced as she took the proffered datapad. "I'll look it over and get right back to you."

"Thank you," Mace said, before once again turning to Master Ravenna. "I had a few other questions for you, if you still are willing to answer them."

"Certainly," Ravenna offered, not missing the quick look Bant shot at her. "Perhaps we can continue this conversation in my office."

Sensing the wave of gratitude Bant sent over the remains of their training bond, Ravenna smiled slightly. She knew her old Padawan was up to something, and as soon as she could ditch the Council member, she would find out what it was.

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

As Narissa joined Anakin in trying to assess Obi-Wan's injuries, the young Padawan looked up from where he kneeled on the floor. "Most of his injuries are mental. I am not sure what they did to him physically, but I can't sense any damage. His sunburn and concussion have even been healed."

"Will you be able to help him until the Temple Healer arrives?" Narissa asked.

"I'm not sure. I guess I will have to though, since there really isn't any other option," Anakin answered as he rose to his feet. Reaching his hand out to the Navirian governor he smiled gently. "Padawan Anakin Skywalker, it's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."

"Please call me Narissa," she said offering her hand as well. "Obi-Wan told me so much about you when he was here last time."

"You know my Master?" Anakin asked, unconsciously clutching Narissa's hand tighter.

"Of course. He was here only a few months ago to help capture the fallen Jedi who served as the leader of the eastern faction. He helped us to remove Valone, and allow our planet to unite," Narissa answered, confused that the Padawan did not know of his Master's great deeds in the service of the Navirian people.

"Oh, of course," Anakin hedged. "Perhaps when we have time you can tell me more about my Master's mission here. He always downplays his missions so much, it's almost as if he is ashamed of the great things he has done." Anakin knew he was walking a fine line between believable and overdone, but he was desperate to hear what the Navirian governor had to say.

"I'd be happy to tell you all about it. Your Master is truly a great man," Narissa smiled as the Padawan finally released the hand he had held in such a powerful grip.

"Thank you," Anakin whispered softly.

As Masters Windu and Ravenna disappeared around the corner, Bant huffed a sigh of relief. Quickly signing off of the terminal, she collected her two pads and retreated to her office. She knew that N'erak would know to look for her there.

As she clicked on the stim-tea pot, she studied the datapad Master Windu had given her. She had really wanted to turn down the assignment to review the analysis, but to do so would have proven suspicious. So now she would have to carry out the Council's pet project while still working to help Obi- Wan and treating patients.

\Good thing the Force can be used in lieu of sleep.\ she thought as she dropped down into her desk chair to wait for the tea to steep.

Flipping past the opening screens with the symbol of the High Council and the classified warnings, she went immediately to the page with the actual chemical breakdown. The patient would not be identified until later screens, presumably to keep the analyst from coming to any biased conclusions.

Stifling a yawn, Bant looked over the breakdown formula for the compound identified as Narsicsis. The formula looked remarkably similar to a medicine used to treat severe burns. The formula was so similar in fact, that Bant almost missed the slight differentiation between the two. If the original analyst had not been Force-Sensitive the distinction would never have been noted.

In the compound for Narsicsis, three of the electrons in the outermost orbital of one of the elements were excited using a controlled Force surge. The difference in the resonance of the atom was then enough to significantly change the usage of the compound.

Where Devronex was used to treat the pain accompanying burns, Narsicsis served a more nefarious purpose. In small amounts it would severely inhibit a Force-sensitive's connection to the Force. In larger amounts it could and would kill.

Shocked to find mention of such a dangerous substance in what was obviously a recent case, Bant took a few moments to collect herself before reading on. She stood and walked over to the teapot, pouring herself a cup of the stim tea. Before she returned to her study of the datapad, she logged onto her terminal and set it to search for any and all references to Narsicsis.

Scanning the rest of the Council report proved useless, as the information about the identity of the patient had been removed. All she had was the formula, the name of the compound, and the date of the report. Sighing, Bant glanced up at her still searching terminal and then turned her attention to her other data-pad. Going directly to the cause-of-death report, Bant sipped her tea and studied the final hours of Master Sifo- Dyas.

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

As he left Master Healer Ravenna's office, Mace Windu returned to the information desk. The senior Padawan that was serving as desk clerk had a slightly glassy look to her face, and barely even acknowledged his presence. Stepping up to the terminal he had just recently watched Master Bant use, he entered his Council override.

Almost immediately a screen came up listing who had used the terminal in the past cycle and what they had accessed. Smiling slightly to himself, he clicked the interface beside Master Bant's name. As the information scrolled across the screen a pleased grin crossed the face of the dark- skinned Councilor. With only a few small clicks of the datascreen, the data was erased entirely.

As he stepped out from behind the desk and began the trek out of the Healer's ward, Master Mace Windu assumed the mask of placid serenity once more. \You're welcome Qui-Gon\

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

As the transport set down at the main Navirian base (which had previously been the main eastern encampment) the medics immediately swamped the vehicle. Almost before Cynth had had a chance to shut down the engines, both Obi-Wan and the Navirian guard who had been shot were on stretchers and on their way to the medical center. Anakin had tried to follow Obi-Wan but the medics had asked him to wait outside until they could make a complete assessment of his physical condition.

Grudgingly agreeing, Anakin remained with Narissa and Solo in the small waiting room. \At least this might give me a chance to talk to Narissa\ Anakin thought, as Solo excused himself to arrange for the dampener to be replaced on the Republic Transport. The pilot wanted his ship ready in case Obi-Wan needed to be transported back to Coruscant.

Pausing only long enough to resurrect his own shields, Anakin turned to Narissa to begin questioning her. He almost wanted to leave his shields down, as it made it easier to monitor Obi-Wan, but he did not want to risk his Master overhearing this conversation. It was time Anakin Skywalker discovered the truth, and nothing would stop his quest.

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

In a small ship just outside the outer atmosphere of Navira, Dooku stood engrossed in a comm. call. "My Master, I have news of Ellana. She is dead, killed before she had any opportunity to speak."

"Very good. And the Jedi?"

"He did not break, but his shields are still in tatters. I believe I may be able to influence him and possibly finish what Ellana started," Dooku said deferentially.

"Do so. If you cannot turn him, perhaps I will have an opportunity when he returns Coruscant," Sidious answered.

"My Master, he is not returning to Coruscant. The Navirian governor sent a message to the Jedi Council requesting that a Healer be sent here as well as another Knight to carry the Navirian request to the Senate."

"Perhaps this will work to our advantage," Sidious hissed, his gaze turning inward as he weighed the opportunity placed before him. "Carry out your plan, but keep watch for the other Jedi. I will see if I can arrange a little reunion."

With a bow, Dooku clicked off the comm. unit and turned his attention to the flickering Force essence he could feel down on the planet. "Yes, Obi- Wan Kenobi, you will soon be ours."

Bant had almost completed reading the post-mortem on Master Sifo-Dyas when her terminal chimed signaling the end of its search. Glancing up at the screen, Bant's attention was drawn to the upper corner where the readout listed other words and items closely associated to the search word. One word drew her attention, as it was the most oft associated: "Sith."

Sitting down her datapad, Bant immediately brought up the screen that detailed the connection between Narsicsis and the Sith. Scanning the material quickly, she came to a horrified conclusion. Only the Sith could manufacture Narsicsis, and only the Sith ever used it.

Leaning back in her chair, Bant stared up at the ceiling. \I need to get back into the records and find out who died on the day that report was filed. There is definitely something going on here, and I have a feeling it is connected to Obi-Wan somehow\

Glancing at a clock and realizing N'erak should be arriving at her office any minute now, Bant turned her attention once more to the report on Sifo- Dyas. She only had a few more paragraphs to read, and although she hadn't discovered anything yet, she wanted to have the entire report read by the time N'erak made an appearance.

As was typical with a Jedi who had died on Coruscant, no autopsy had been performed on the Master. A sample of blood had been taken however. And it was one small notation in the analysis that caught Bant's attention. "Other than the unexplained presence of Devronex in the sample, the results are consistent with circulatory failure caused by advanced age."

As the door to her office opened and N'erak entered, Bant could only say one thing, both a curse and identification: "Sith."

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

Obi-Wan was back on the dark plain, but this time he wasn't alone. He remembered talking to Anakin, but then everything went black. Instead of simply losing consciousness however, he was transported back to the vision from his meditation. He tried to call on the Force, but it was almost as if the entity he had devoted his life to was ignoring him. It was a painful experience for the already agonized Jedi.

"Where am I?" he asked the surrounding haze, not really expecting an answer.

"You, my friend, are at the place where all lies are uncovered, and all truths unshaded. This is where you will meet and embrace your destiny." The deep voice was slightly familiar to the confused Knight, but he could not place its owner.

"Who are you? Where is Anakin?" Obi-Wan pleaded, desperation beginning to enter his voice. He was so cold and tired and the pain was simply inexpressible; all he wanted was to wake up back at the Temple, safe.

"Little one, do you really think you were ever safe at the Jedi Temple?" the Voice asked, laughter coloring its tone.

When Obi-Wan chose not to respond, the Voice just laughed all the harder. "Alright, little one, I will answer your questions. But I believe a better question would be: 'Who is Anakin?'"

As the Voice finished speaking the landscape began to change from the gray haze. Obi-Wan found himself standing on a starship, overlooking a familiar green and blue planet. As he tried to use the Force to get a better sense of his surroundings, the Knight was interrupted by the approach of a black- clad figure. The man took no notice of him however, as he was busy with another figure dressed in some kind of military uniform and a young woman who was obviously a prisoner.

The three seemed to hold a conversation, with only bits and pieces being overheard by the ignored Jedi. "I grow tired of asking this. So it'll be the last time. Where is the Rebel base?" the man in the military uniform asked. The young woman made a reply, but Obi-Wan was distracted by the sudden feel of the Force coursing through him once more. Relieved to feel it responding to him again, the Jedi stretched out his senses.

Two things happened almost simultaneously; sending Obi-Wan to the ground, his hands tightly clutching his temples as tears ran unchecked down his face: the instantaneous death of billions on the planet Alderaan, and the discovery of the identity of the black-clad figure that resonated such evil. Curling into a ball and rocking gently, his words only barely audible, Obi-Wan sobbed, "Anakin, no. no Anakin.no, no, NO!"

Narissa had just finished recounting Obi-Wan's earlier exploits on the planet Navira when one of the medics came rushing into the waiting room.

"Padawan Skywalker, you must come immediately," she cried, grabbing Anakin's arm and dragging him to the exam room.

"What's wrong? Has something happened to Master Obi-Wan?" He asked, confused and somewhat frightened by the stress he detected in the medic's voice. Before the woman had a chance to answer, the Padawan saw for himself what had warranted such urgency.

In the middle of the stark white room, stretched on a med-bed lay Obi-Wan Kenobi. Even without his Force sense, Anakin could visibly see the power radiating off of him. The Master's eyes were open, and his entire body encased in a bluish glow. As Anakin tried to approach him, the medic stopped him.

"He's not awake. I don't think he is controlling whatever is happening either. One of our doctors tried to approach him and the shock when he came in contact threw him clear across the room."

Gesturing to the glass partition that separated Obi-Wan's room from the room where medics worked frantically over the injured doctor, the woman continued. "Nothing we've done has been able to rouse him, he just keeps staring and glowing. I'm not sure if you can do anything to help him, but don't try to touch him. Dr. Auce's heart stopped for over five minutes before we were able to revive him."

"I'll be careful," Anakin muttered distractedly, already having tuned out the frantic medic. Crossing the room to stand just outside of the field generated by Obi-Wan, Anakin spoke softly. "Master? You need to wake up now Master, everything is going to be fine."

The amount of energy radiating off of the Knight's body was enough to make even Anakin wary. He had never seen Obi-Wan channel so much power, and he had no idea how to stop it. All he knew was that he had to wake his Master quickly; otherwise the massive flow of energy would soon kill the older Jedi.

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

As he lay curled on the floor, still suffering the aftereffects of his glimpse of the future, Obi-Wan could just barely hear a voice talking to him. "Master? .wake up now. be fine"

Huddling his knees up even farther to his chest, Obi-Wan continued to rock slowly, chanting the word "no" softly and repeatedly. He knew that he was in hell, and that the horrors he had already witnessed were only the beginning.

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

"You know, I've been called a lot of things in my life, but you are the first to call me a Sith," N'erak said.

"N'erak," Bant breathed, still trying to reconcile all that she had just discovered.

"Yes?" N'erak asked, amused yet concerned that something could make the usually talkative Healer speechless.

"It's the Sith," Bant tried again, still unable to completely believe what she had just read. She knew that Obi-Wan had killed a suspected Sith on Naboo four years ago, but other than that one occasion, the Sith were merely a bedtime story.

"What's the Sith?" N'erak asked, steering Bant back to her desk chair and then kneeling in front of her.

"Everything. They killed Sifo-Dyas and someone else and they've erased records here at the Temple. And." at the last Bant was too horrified to continue.

"And," N'erak prompted gently, using the same soothing tone he used to question witnesses to the violent crimes he had investigated as an undercover Knight.

"And it's the Sith that are after Obi-Wan!"

"Received a request we have. A Healer and a Knight we must send to Navira." Yoda stated, opening the Council meeting.

"Have we heard from Master Kenobi or Padawan Skywalker?" Depa asked.

"No, the request came directly from the governor of the planet. Apparently Obi-Wan has been injured and cannot be moved just yet," Mace answered, when it appeared that Yoda would not.

"Why are they requesting a Knight as well as a Healer?" Ki-Adi Mundi questioned, as he was already studying a list of available Knights and Healers.

"Navira has requested to join the Republic. They need a Jedi to carry the request to the Senate. With Obi-Wan injured, another Knight will have to act as a courier in his stead," Mace said, resigned to his position as Council-mouthpiece. Apparently Master Yoda had said all he was going to about the matter.

"Who do we have available?" Adi Gallia directed the question at Mundi, seeing the datapad in his hand.

Before Knight Mundi could answer however, Yoda chose to speak. "Decided already it is. Master Bant and Knight N'erak will be sent to Navira."

"Now wait a minute," Mace began, "this is a decision for the entire Jedi Council. It is not a decision just for you, Master Yoda," he finished vehemently.

The other ten members of the Jedi Council were too stunned to speak. Never before had Master Windu and Master Yoda been seen to disagree, let alone argue.

"Decided it is," Master Yoda said punctuating each word with a rap of his gimmer stick.

"Decided, it is NOT," Mace mocked. "We will take a vote and the entire Council will have a say in this matter."

Sighing heavily, Master Yoda fixed Mace Windu with a look he usually reserved for the litanii bugs that feasted on his prize orchids. "Decided it is, continue this discussion we will not. Received their orders they have. Specially suited to this mission they are."

"You have overstepped your bounds here," Master Windu threatened softly.

"ENOUGH!" Yoda cried, slamming his gimmer stick hard enough to put a dent in the tile flooring. "Continue this discussion in private we will Master Windu." Climbing down from his Council chair, Yoda hobbled to the door, confident that the other Master would follow right behind.

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

As Bant showed N'erak the information she had obtained both from the Healer's files and from Master Windu, the Knight became more and more concerned. It was obvious that there was much more to this conspiracy then even he had thought.

"If all of the files were erased under the name of Sifo-Dyas, and Sifo-Dyas was killed by Narsicsis, then obviously someone was impersonating him," N'erak spoke his train of thought aloud.

"And that someone impersonating him had to have been a Jedi to access the files, yet must also be a Sith to be able to manufacture and use the drug," Bant continued, glancing worriedly at N'erak.

"Do we know who the other victim was?" N'erak asked as he glanced at the datapad Master Windu had given Bant.

"No, the information isn't there. Maybe we can search the death records for that day and determine who it was that way," Bant suggested.

"I doubt that it will be listed," N'erak said thoughtfully, chewing on his lower lip. "Maybe we can enter the date as a search within the mission records. That might give us an idea of who it may have been."

"Is it really necessary that we find out who it was?" Bant asked. "We know that the person who erased the files is the same one that blocked off Anakin's transmission, or at least received a comm. from the person who cut Anakin off. That means that whatever is happening on Navira, the Sith are involved."

"But we don't know what is happening on Navira," N'erak sighed. "And I for one would like to find out before we have to go there."

"Go there?" Bant echoed.

"Haven't you checked your comm. unit yet? You and I have been dispatched to Navira for a courier/medical mission," N'erak said grimly.

"Well isn't that just convenient," Bant muttered, as she closed down her terminal. "Just when we were beginning to actually unravel this mystery, the Council ships us off."

"Exactly," N'erak said, watching Bant as she shut down the terminal and gathered up her datapads, "and that is what has me worried."

After quickly asking the other Council members to remain in session, Mace Windu left the Chambers in pursuit of Master Yoda. He followed the diminutive green Master to one of the smaller meditation chambers provided for Knights as they waited to appear before the Council.

As he followed Yoda into the smaller Chamber, Mace made note of the other figure standing in the hallway. Offering a quick nod, he entered the meditation room.

"Argue with me you should not," Yoda began without preamble. "For the good of the Jedi Order this is."

"Just like allowing Obi-Wan Kenobi to slowly kill himself was for the good of the Order. And all of our attempts to turn the Chosen One to the Darkside were for the good of the Order. And how about abandoning two of our own to face down a Sith - I bet that was for the good of the Order too," Mace argued.

"For the good of the Order it IS!" Yoda shouted, raising his gimmer stick to punctuate the point. Master Yoda was well known for using his stick as a "learning tool." Almost every Knight in the Temple had been at the receiving end of the gimmer stick, including Master Windu.

Although Mace was surprised, as it had been many years since the older Jedi had felt the need to reprimand him in such a manner, he was able to recover fast enough and use the Force to rip the stick from Yoda's clutches.

The 800-year-old Master was too incensed to notice the gimmer stick skitter out into the hall. Nor did he notice the figure that carefully picked it up, disappearing almost immediately into a lift.

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

Anakin slowly approached his unresponding Master, testing the flow of the Force around him and through him. He wanted to be able to touch Obi-Wan, since the physical contact would help him to assess what was happening, but he could not risk being injured by the contact. Until the Healer from the Temple arrived, he was the only one capable of helping his Master.

The Force wasn't offering any answers as to what had caused the massive power surge, but it did tell him it was safe to approach. Gently reaching a hand out, he rested his palm on Obi-Wan's forehead, dropping his own shields in the process.

As the physical contact came, Anakin found himself caught up in a whirlwind of power, pulling him deeply into the mind of his Master - and straight into hell.

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

"You and I have never been asked to serve on a mission together. And on top of that, I have never carried out a courier mission in the entire time I have served as a Jedi. This is more than coincidence; the Council is trying to get rid of us," N'erak said stopping Bant before she could move past him and through the door.

"Do you really think the Council would do something like that?" Bant asked. Despite all that she had discovered the past few days, she still found it hard to believe that the Council would resort to something so devious.

"No, I don't think the entire Council would condone such an action, at least not if they realized what was going on. But I think that there is someone on the Council that is either working for, or somehow influenced by, the Sith," N'erak stated grimly.

"Then what are we going to do? We need to find someone who can help us," Bant suggested.

"I agree. But who can we trust? Until we know who was behind this order, we can't trust anyone on the Council," N'erak sighed, as he perched on the edge of Bant's desk.

"I think. I know we can trust Master Windu," Bant said, after only a slight hesitation.

Glancing up from his perusal of the floor tiles, N'erak stared at her. "How do you know that?"

"Because if it wasn't for Master Windu, I wouldn't have known about Narsicsis. I think he gave me this datapad on purpose and that he knew what you and I had discovered," Bant answered, moving to stand just in front of N'erak.

"I'm not sure about that," N'erak said, his unease clearly present in his tone of voice. "How do we know that Master Windu isn't the one who sent us on this mission? You just said that you think he knew what we were researching, that gives him motive to send us away if he is working with the Sith."

"But why would he give me the datapad? Why would he provide the one clue that connected all of this to the Sith if he was the one working with them? It makes no sense!" Bant turned and began pacing. "I think we can trust Master Windu, and more than that, I believe we should trust him."

"I don't know. But if you trust Master Windu, then I guess he is the one we should approach. I still think this is a bad idea, but we do need help; and Master Windu certainly has the power and connections to assist us," N'erak said standing and moving towards the door. "Let's go find him."

Anakin was lost in a swirling gray fog. He could faintly hear sounds and voices echoing throughout the miasma, but everything was diffuse, making it impossible to get his bearings. Even the light, little that there was, seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

Reaching out to the Force, Anakin could just barely feel the presence of his Master somewhere ahead of him and to the right. Fighting his way through the suddenly cloying fog, he called out.

"Master! Master! Answer me, I've come to help you!" Normally a Padawan would not demand anything of his Master, but these were far from normal circumstances, and Anakin was far from an ordinary Padawan.

The only response to his cries was a slight lighting of the fog, just enough for him to see the figure of Obi-Wan in front of him. Rushing to his Master's side, Anakin knelt down beside the withdrawn figure, reaching out a hand to brush Obi-Wan's arm. Even with Jedi reflexes he was completely unprepared for the Master's response.

With the speed of one of Tatooine's sand vipers, Obi-Wan latched onto the hand, using it as leverage to flip Anakin. "I won't let you do this," Obi- Wan hissed, jumping to his feet and backpedaling quickly from the still- prone Padawan.

"Master?" Anakin asked, daring only to sit up. He did not understand what was happening, but he was not eager to be tossed again.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Obi-Wan spat, pacing frantically as he wrapped his arms across his chest. Anakin was unsure if the gesture was for warmth or protection.

"You have no right to call me that. I will not let you pervert my memories of my apprentice. I don't care what you say he will become, I don't care what atrocities you say he will commit, and I don't CARE if you say it is my fault!" Obi-Wan's tone was that of a broken man; and Anakin was shocked to see the tears pouring down his face.

"Mas. Obi-Wan? Where are we? What's happening?" Anakin asked, trying to keep the tremor from his voice.

Before Obi-Wan could answer, the fog around them began to lighten even more. A parched desert shimmered into view, a burning sun suddenly present overhead. The scene was vaguely similar to where Anakin had grown up on Tatooine, but the sands were green-tinged with copper- a metal not present on Anakin's homeworld.

As the scene became clearer and clearer, Obi-Wan began to moan softly. Anakin tried to enhance his hearing, but the Force wasn't responding to him. Daring to stand, Anakin moved slightly closer to the Master, who now appeared oblivious to his presence. As he closed the distance between them, Anakin could just barely make out Obi-Wan's words.

"Please, please just make it stop. please."

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

As Yoda continued to glare furiously, Master Windu was already moving to the door. "I am not sure what is wrong with you, Master Yoda, but I would suggest you meditate until you can get your feelings under control. Anger is one of the paths to the Darkside, is it not?"

Closing the soundproofed door behind him, Mace released his pent-up breath. \It's not every day that one gets to reprimand a head Councilor with his own lecture.\

Taking a moment to collect himself, and release his own anger into the Force, Master Windu then headed to the turbo-lift. \Hopefully the test results are already back\

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

As Bant and N'erak made their way to the Council spire, neither felt the need to talk. They had found everything they could on their own; now it was time to ask for help.

\I hope I did not make a mistake in suggesting we talk to Master Windu\ Bant thought. She was sure that the Councilor had given her the datapad for a reason, and that he was trying to help. \If I'm so sure about it, then why am I so nervous? I feel like I'm getting ready to face down a firing squad!\

Beside her, N'erak was wrapped in his own thoughts. \Why would Master Windu give that datapad to Bant? Is he trying to help us? Or is he just leading us on a wild goose chase, distracting us from what is really going on?\ N'erak had spent the majority of his apprenticeship and Knighthood on undercover missions.

Suspicion was as much a part of his nature as generosity and caring were a part of Bant's. Unknowingly echoing the thoughts of his partner, he leaned back against the turbo-lift wall with a sigh. \I hope I didn't make a mistake in agreeing to talk to Master Windu.\

As the turbo-lift reached the top of the Council Spire, Bant and N'erak prepared to disembark. Neither was eager for the meeting with Master Windu, but procrastination might lead to further danger for Obi-Wan, and that was something neither wanted to do.

As the turbo-lift doors swished open, Bant was surprised to see the object of their foray right in front of her. "Master Windu," she exclaimed, surprise coloring her tones.

"Healer Bant, Knight N'erak," Mace greeted them. "Have you had a chance to look over the blood analysis I gave you?" Master Windu asked, as he stepped aside to allow the two to exit the turbo-lift. When neither stepped off, a look of confusion crossed his face.

"Actually, we both have," N'erak spoke up. "And we were hoping we could talk to you about it."

Bant expected a reprimand from the Councilor for showing such highly classified material to an unauthorized viewer. The pleased grin that crossed his face caught her totally by surprise.

"I would be glad to talk to you. But first there is another matter I must check on. Perhaps you would care to join me?" Stepping into the lift with the Healer and the Knight, Mace signaled for it to stop at the Healer's ward. "I think it just might interest you."

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

Desperate to intervene, but held by some unseen force, Anakin could only watch as the scene before him played out. It had started with an empty and desolate desert, but the sandy field had not remained unoccupied for long. As soon as the environment had fully formed, two figures materialized in the middle of it, locked in mortal combat.

Anakin watched with a sense of awe as a doppelganger of Obi-Wan Kenobi locked 'sabers with a figure dressed in a black jumpsuit. The other figure was unfamiliar to the Padawan, and the duplicate Obi-Wan looked different from the Master he knew so well. The other Obi-Wan looked more like the Padawan Anakin had met on Queen Amidala's transport four years ago, with his hair cut short, and his face clean-shaven.

The lightsaber technique, however, was undoubtedly that of Anakin's Master. Obi-Wan's trademark acrobatic style had already appeared in the fierce and obviously deadly battle. Both parties seemed to share an equal level of skill, but Obi-Wan appeared to be nursing an injured left leg.

As Anakin watched, spellbound, the black-clad figure broke through one of Obi-Wan's blocks, scoring a hit to the Knight's left arm. The wound was bad enough that the Master had to release his 'saber with that arm, fighting only with his right. The fight continued to escalate, despite Obi-Wan's injuries, until both competitors sported multiple burns and scorches.

Although his attention was almost captured completely by the battle, Anakin was peripherally aware of HIS Obi-Wan, who stood statute-still enraptured by the scene before him. He could see his Master mouthing something, but he could not hear him over the clash of the 'sabers. He wanted to go to his Master, to try to comfort him, or at least to listen to what Obi-Wan was trying to say, but he remained frozen.

Although Anakin could not move, the scenery before him did, allowing the combatants an open field without the obstacle the two frozen figures would provide. The black-clad man was forcing Obi-Wan further and further back, and just as they would have crashed into the apprentice, the scenery shifted so that Anakin was standing beside the duplicate Obi-Wan. The close- up allowed him to get a better look at the wound to the Knight's arm. The 'saber had cauterized as it cut, but the wound was still horrific.

\How is he still fighting so well with a wound like that?\ Anakin wondered. Almost before the thought was completed, the black-clad figure took a mighty swing, and Obi-Wan was not able to block it with only one arm. The Jedi's lightsaber was wrenched from his grip, and he collapsed to the ground, defenseless.

"And now you die," the dark figure hissed, pulling his 'saber back and preparing to decapitate the Knight. "I think not," the duplicate Obi-Wan growled back, dodging the swipe and using the Force to call his 'saber to hand and propel him off of the ground. Tucking into a flip, he soared over the other's head. Before the black-clad man could turn, Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber, removing the man's head with one fell swoop.

As the scene began to fade, the duplicate Obi-Wan dropped to his knees by the other. Reaching out with a trembling hand, he gently placed his palm on the man's shoulder, turning the body onto its back. As the desert faded away, leaving only the two figures, the bonds holding Anakin released.

Taking a tentative step forward, he halted his movement as his Master's grief-stricken voice suddenly became crystal clear. "I am so sorry Garen, so very, very sorry."

The turbo-lift ride to the Healer's ward was made in silence, with Bant and N'erak standing side by side behind the unreadable Master Windu. Mace's shields were absolutely impenetrable, and neither of the younger Jedi knew what to make of the situation. It was apparent that Master Windu had something he wanted to show them, but he had not revealed where they were going or why.

As the lift slowed and the door swished open at the Healer's floor, Mace stepped out and began to make his way down the hall. Sharing a confused glance, N'erak and Bant quickly followed. Trailing the Master through hallways and rooms that even Master Healer Bant had been unaware of, they finally arrived at a small sealed doorway.

Entering a Council override into the palm-pad, Mace then stepped to one side, motioning for Bant and N'erak to enter the room. Shooting another confused glance at N'erak, Bant stepped through the light shield that concealed the contents of the room from view, even with the outer door open.

As Bant disappeared through the doorway, N'erak prepared to follow. He was uncomfortable with the entire situation, and would have preferred to know the layout of the room before entering, but the startled gasp that escaped the Healer was incentive enough for him to throw aside any of his objections. Quickly following Bant through the portal, N'erak was hard pressed to hold back his own gasp of astonishment as he took in the contents of the room.

Entering unnoticed behind them, Master Windu smiled at the matching looks of shocked wonderment. "Welcome to Laboratory 001, the room that officially doesn't exist."

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

As the figures of the duplicate Obi-Wan and Garen faded back into the swirling gray mists, the Master expected the image of Anakin Skywalker to fade as well. When it didn't, Obi-Wan realized that the Voice would not let him off so easily. It wasn't enough to show him the worst moments from his past, and the coming horrors of his future. No, the Voice wanted to torment him in the present as well.

Resolving to ignore the apparition of his Padawan, the Knight steeled himself for whatever would come next. He would face it, he would accept it, and he would get through this. If not for himself, than for his Padawan. Anakin needed him, and he would not let his apprentice down.

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

While the fog had thickened once more, Anakin remained motionless, simply watching his Master. Obi-Wan had dropped to his knees, seemingly entering a meditative state. Anakin could tell, through his slight grasp of the Force, that his Master could not even achieve the most basic level of mediation despite what his pose suggested.

Deciding to remain as an observer, at least until he had a better idea of what was happening, Anakin dropped into his own meditative position. Closing his eyes, he reached for his center. He almost wished for more time to actually enter a meditative state so that he could better analyze what was happening, but he knew that the more time he spent here, the more energy Obi-Wan was expending. Time was just one of the many things he could not spare to waste.

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

Taking in the state-of-the-art equipment and supplies, some of which hadn't even been officially released from the testing stages, Bant couldn't contain her curiosity. "What is all this?"

"This is the classified lab of the Jedi High Council." A familiar voice called out from the far corner of the room. Whirling to face the undetected occupant, both N'erak and Bant were surprised to see Master Ravenna seated at a terminal, reviewing a stream of data. Ignoring the inquisitive look on her former Padawan's face and the skeptical look on Knight N'erak's, Ravenna turned her full attention to Master Windu.

"I've completed the scans, and it was exactly what we expected. In a small enough concentration to prevent any damage, but significant enough to allow for influence," she said, her shuttered expression revealing nothing.

"Can it be counteracted?" Mace asked, stepping around the two Jedi and approaching Ravenna. Without any real conscious decision, both Bant and N'erak found themselves trailing the Master yet again.

"Can what be counteracted?" N'erak asked, interrupting Ravenna's answer. "Maybe you could explain just what exactly is going on here."

"Narsicsis," Ravenna sighed, turning back to the terminal screen. "And I don't know if it can be counteracted. Perhaps if the source of exposure was permanently removed, but it would probably take some time for the chemical to work its way out of his system."

"Narsicsis?" Bant asked, her gaze traveling from Ravenna to Master Windu, searching for answers. Before she could turn her attention back to the Master Healer, an object sitting on a nearby table caught her attention. As N'erak followed her intent gaze, he too came to a sudden realization.

Sitting on the laboratory table, carefully arranged under the sensors and analysis probes sat a small bundle. The outer wraps concealed most of the object, but the visible portion was easily identifiable. There wasn't a single Jedi in the Temple who had not come into close proximity of it at one time or another.

Spotlighted under the many analysis beams sat Master Yoda's gimmer stick, carefully wrapped in cloth. If the situation hadn't been so serious, Ravenna might have laughed at the dual exhalations from both N'erak and Bant. "Oh SITH!"

As more and more time passed, Obi-Wan began to think that maybe, just maybe his trek through Hell had come to an end. Just as his hope truly began to soar, the Voice spoke again.

"Well, little one. Wasn't that an interesting memory?" The Voice came from everywhere and nowhere at once, and there was nothing Obi-Wan could do to block it out.

Opening his eyes from his aborted attempt at meditation, the Knight focused on the swirling mists in front of him. "Actually, I found it an enjoyable little stroll down memory lane," he answered, his sarcasm barely covering the tremor in his tones.

"What sacrilege you speak young one, did you truly care so little for your childhood friend?" the Voice mocked him.

"THAT was not my childhood friend. The boy I grew up with died the day he chose to walk the Dark path. I loved Garen like a brother, and I know that if any part of him remained in that monstrosity, he would have thanked me for freeing him from such a dark prison," Obi-Wan answered, his voice becoming stronger and stronger. He had long ago forgiven himself for killing Garen; knowing that it had been the only way.

"Such a Jedi, always seeing things in terms of black and white. But how would your friend Bant feel if she knew you killed young Garen?"

Although he tried to suppress it, Obi-Wan flinched visibly. He could not bear the thought of Bant knowing what had become of their friend. He wasn't worried about how the Healer would respond to his own actions; he just didn't want her to know what Garen had become. \Or at least, that's what you've always told yourself.\

"Ahh yes. that is what you have told yourself. But the truth, the truth is that you are ashamed of your actions. You know that had you not been in such a rush to return to your precious little Padawan, you could have saved Garen. You didn't have to kill him, you CHOSE to kill him." The Voice, though its words were harsh, spoke in a soft consoling tone.

"No, no." Obi-Wan began, but stopped when images and memories began to assail him. Swimming with Bant and Garen at the Temple pool, sparring with Garen and Reeft until all three were covered with scorch marks, late night talks in the crèche with Garen as they both woke from nightmares. All the hopes and dreams they had spoken of in those long early morning hours came back to haunt him. He could hear Garen's voice as his friend spoke of his dream of becoming a Jedi Knight and racing about the Galaxy, fighting all evildoers. His friend had had such big hopes and dreams, and Obi-Wan had ended them all with one stroke of his 'saber.

"And all for your apprentice. who will turn on you the first chance he gets." the Voice offered, still speaking in the consoling tones.

"Garen had fallen to the Dark Side! He wasn't the friend I knew anymore; he was evil. There was no way to save him." Obi-Wan had started vehemently, but his voice had faded until it was barely more than a whisper.

"But you will never know, will you? Because you didn't try to save him, you sacrificed Garen for your apprentice and for your high and mighty Jedi Council. And how is such a high price repaid? By betrayal. They have all betrayed you young one, and they will continue to do so until you have nothing left to sacrifice. They have nearly taken your life little one, will you give them your soul too?"

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

"That's Master Yoda's gimmer stick, isn't it?" Bant asked softly, almost hoping she was wrong.

"Yes, it is," Mace answered just as softly.

"And you were talking about Narsicsis, and someone being infected with just enough to be influenced." Bant continued.

"Yes, we were," Ravenna said, as stood from her chair and moved to stand beside Master Windu.

"Please tell me that the Head of the Jedi Council is not the person you were speaking of," N'erak spoke for the first time, as Bant seemed unable to continue.

"Unfortunately, I cannot tell you that without lying to you," Mace sighed heavily.

"So you mean to tell me that Master Yoda is infected with Narsicsis, and he is under the influence of some other entity," N'erak insisted. He wanted to hear the actual words from either the Master Healer or the Councilor. This was not something that he could afford to be mistaken about.

At a nod from both the Healer and the Councilor, N'erak continued. "And this entity.?"

"We suspect it is a Sith," Ravenna stated bluntly.

"You suspect, or you know?" Bant asked, needing to know just how bad the situation really was.

After a short, knowing glance, Mace and Ravenna answered together. "We know."

As he listened to the formless Voice torment his Master, Anakin Skywalker decided he had had enough. He may have only been a thirteen-year old Jedi Padawan, but he was also the Chosen One, and that had to count for something. If not, it didn't matter, because he was not going to let Obi- Wan suffer any longer.

Drawing the Force to him, as a magnet would call metal shavings, Anakin prepared to reach out to Obi-Wan through the bond. He wasn't sure what he could do, but the Force was urging him to make the connection.

Maybe if he could convince his Master that he was real, it would give Obi- Wan something to use as an anchor. It was apparent that the Master was drifting, believing himself to be abandoned.

Reaching out along the bond that had connected him to the Jedi Knight for the past four years, Anakin sent a message. \\I am here Master, you are not alone\\

Expecting his Master to be comforted by the message, Anakin could not have been more surprised when Obi-Wan suddenly began convulsing.

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

"And how do you know that it is a Sith controlling Master Yoda? How do you know that Master Yoda is being controlled at all? Perhaps the Narsicsis is not what you think it is. Have you scanned the stick thoroughly enough to know it is Narsicsis and not Devronex?" N'erak asked.

"Believe me, I have ran every scan there is on this stick multiple times. I don't want to be mistaken about this anymore than you do," Ravenna assured.

"But that doesn't answer my question about how you know that Master Yoda is being controlled?" N'erak persisted.

"Perhaps it would be easiest if I started at the beginning," Mace offered. He knew that they were running out of time, but he needed N'erak and Bant to trust him. And he knew better than to expect the suspicious Knight to trust him without reason.

"Four years ago, the Jedi Council made a decision that was completely without precedent. In the thousands of years since the Order was first founded, nothing like it had ever been done. And I hope nothing like it will ever happen again," Mace began, leaning back on the table as if the weight of his memories was pressing down on him.

"Now that I think back on it, I should have suspected something was wrong with Master Yoda then. But it never occurred to me. For almost eight hundred years now, Yoda has been a pillar of the Jedi community. It is only with his more drastic reactions of late that I could begin to accept that there was something wrong with him."

"Mace, we've all been blind," Ravenna offered, as Master Windu trailed off. She knew that he had been carrying a rather substantial amount of guilt around with him lately.

"Yes, we have. And it is because of our blindness that Obi-Wan Kenobi has been made to suffer. And to think, Obi-Wan does it all for the sake of 'the Chosen One,'" Mace snorted, almost forgetting he had an audience. "Qui-Gon was never so blind as he was on that fateful day. Turning aside Obi-Wan in favor of Anakin, claiming that the Chosen One needed to be trained. Little did he know, he had just tossed aside the real child of prophecy."

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

Anakin pulled back so quickly from the bond that he was thrown completely out of contact with Obi-Wan. When he opened his eyes, he found himself on the floor of the medical center, with Narissa standing over him.

"Anakin, what happened?" Narissa asked, helping the Padawan to stand.

"I'm not sure," Anakin responded truthfully, as he tried to shake off the lingering confusion he felt from being thrown so rapidly back to reality. "I was with Obi-Wan, I think in his mind. Only it wasn't really his mind, or at least he wasn't controlling it. There was something else there, and it was forcing my Master to relive memories and answer its questions. But the voice was almost familiar. I think I've heard it before."

The Padawan suddenly realized he was rambling as Narissa and the female medic exchanged concerned glances. "I need to get to a comm. unit," Anakin said, before either Narissa or the medic could speak.

"Anakin, I think maybe you should rest for a minute. We are going to need you to help Obi-Wan, and it's obvious that you could use a break," Narissa said softly, using a tone of voice one would use with a skittish animal.

"I'm fine," Anakin stated flatly. "I need to talk to Master Bant though. I need to know what it was that I just saw in my Master's mind. If I can understand what was going on, I can help him."

Sharing another glance with the medic, Narissa finally nodded. "Ok, Anakin. But I am going with you."

If Obi-Wan didn't know better, he would've sworn that the Voice was just as surprised and upset by the sudden convulsions as he was. The Knight had come to expect the mental torture, but he had hoped to avoid the physical. The sudden onslaught of pain and the total loss of control of his body had told him his hopes were in vain. The confusion on the part of the Voice was unexpected however.

As he slowly came back to himself, panting and trying desperately to focus, Obi-Wan could just barely hear the Voice. "Come on little one, come back now. We aren't done yet, and you are not going to get out of this that easily." The soft chanting continued until he was well enough to sit upright once more.

"An interesting stunt young one, but I wouldn't suggest trying it again. We still have much to discuss."

Obi-Wan almost questioned the Voice as to why it thought he had caused the convulsions, but at the last minute he decided to keep the knowledge to himself. Apparently the Voice thought the seizure was an attempt to save himself; and although Obi-Wan knew he had not initiated it, it was entirely possible that someone else had. \Maybe I am not alone.\

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

"Qui-Gon made many errors during the last few days of his life, but none was so great as the promise he exacted from Obi-Wan," Mace continued, ignoring the curious expression on both Bant's and N'erak's faces. "Qui wouldn't have done it if he knew, I am sure, but with that one little demand he just about destroyed Obi-Wan."

"What do you mean?" Bant asked, unable to contain her impatience at Master Windu's slight pause.

Looking up from where his gaze had fallen to peruse the floor tiling, Mace smiled sadly. "Have you ever known Obi-Wan Kenobi to break a promise?" he asked.

"Of course not, Obi-Wan would never do something like that," Bant answered indignantly.

"Oh no." N'erak interrupted. "That's what this has all been about isn't it? All those dangerous missions, missions even I wouldn't consider, missions that he barely came back from. You did this to him, didn't you? You and the rest of the Jedi Council?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Master Windu sighed. "We refused to allow Obi-Wan to take Anakin on as a Padawan, but he wouldn't hear of it. He actually threatened to leave the Jedi and train Anakin as a rogue Knight," Mace smiled at the memory of the usually proper and deferential Padawan suddenly appearing before the Council as an argumentative new Knight.

"The Council discussed it for hours, longer even than the sessions we held about the reemergence of the Sith. The discussion only came to an end with a suggestion from Master Yoda. He had been so vehement about Anakin being too old, but then suddenly he just changed his mind. We should have realized something was going on, but the session had gone on so long, and many of us were still feeling the effect of Qui-Gon's passing. It's not an acceptable excuse, as nothing could excuse what we did, but it's the truth. When Master Yoda spoke, everyone listened, and the suggestion seemed like such a good idea. We didn't think Obi-Wan would actually accept it; actually I'm not sure we really thought at all." Mace's gaze had fallen back to the floor beneath him. Never before had he found it so difficult to meet another's eyes.

"No matter how many times I may ask, I don't think I will ever receive forgiveness for the part I played in offering such a Force-forsaken bargain. And the worst part of it is, I didn't even realize what we had done until recently." Raising his head once more, Mace looked directly at Bant, giving her the uncomfortable feeling that he was somehow searching her soul.

"I may not have the chance to offer this to the person truly deserving of it. I hope that I will be given that opportunity, but I fear I may be too late." To the astonishment of all three Jedi, Master Windu dropped to his knees in front of the Mon Calamarian Healer. Pressing his forehead to the floor in the traditional pose of atonement, he spoke once more.

"I have no right to ask your forgiveness, or that of Obi-Wan's, but I offer my sincerest apologies for what has transpired. I can never pay enough of a penance for my part in this, but I want you, as Obi-Wan's best friend, to know the truth. The Jedi Council should never have allowed Obi-Wan Kenobi to trade his life in exchange for the apprenticeship of Anakin Skywalker."

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

Narissa offered to use her special code again to reach the Jedi Temple, but Anakin refused. He insisted that this call be made as anonymously as possible. After briefly consulting the Force, Anakin strode out of the medical center, Narissa hot on his heels.

"Where are we going?" she asked. "There are several comm. units in the medical center; there's no need for us to leave Obi-Wan like this."

"I need to be sure that this call gets through, and that only one person receives it. We can't afford to have this message intercepted," Anakin said, not even slowing his stride.

Confused, Narissa merely followed behind as the Padawan led the way to the Republic Transport he and his Master had arrived on. "I thought you said you wanted the message to be secure?" Narissa asked.

"I do," Anakin answered, favoring her with a sly grin. "And who would be more likely to have a secure comm. unit than a former smuggler?"

Solo had just replaced the damaged dampener when he heard the ramp descend. Stepping out of the maintenance bay, he went in search of his visitor. He knew it had to be one of the Jedi, as only they had the ability to open the hatch without his consent.

\Yup, learned that lesson the hard way\ he reminisced as he made his way through the ship. \Who'd have thought that a Jedi would get so upset just 'cause I locked him out?\

Still smiling, he greeted Anakin and Narissa. "How is Obi-Wan doing?" he asked, his expression reflecting the sobering change to his thoughts.

"Not well," Anakin answered shortly. "He needs help, but I don't know what to do. I need to talk to someone who can tell me what needs to be done, but I can't risk the comm. link being detected or intercepted."

"Well, I have an older comm. unit that should do the trick for you," Solo offered, surprising himself with the suggestion. The comm. unit rested on the slightest edge of legality, and was not something one would normally offer to the Galaxy's keepers of justice.

"I was hoping you might have something that would work." Anakin offered up a slight smile as he followed the pilot to one of the passenger cabins.

"It always pays to be prepared," Solo remarked as he pulled out the comm. unit from where it was hidden in the seemingly plain wall. Even with the Force, Anakin would have been hard-pressed to find it.

"Thank you," the Padawan said sincerely, as he entered in the coordinates for the call.

After a pointed glance from Narissa, Solo shrugged. "No problem. I'll be in the maintenance bay if you need me."

"I'll be out in the hall," Narissa said, as she stepped out into the passageway, closing the door behind her.

Grateful for the privacy, Anakin watched as the unit made the connection to Coruscant. \Now, let's just hope she can answer my questions.\

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

The small hologram flickered several times before finally coming into focus. The hooded visage of the Sith Lord stared at his apprentice, displeasure clearly written in his features.

"You have failed me," Sidious hissed.

"Master?" Dooku questioned, uncertainty and a twinge of fear in his tone.

"The Jedi have discovered the influence we have exerted on Yoda. It will not be long until they trace it to you, my apprentice."

Stunned, Dooku had no way of answering the Sith Lord that would not anger him further.

"Bring me young Kenobi. You have outlived your usefulness, but if you succeed in this mission, I will spare your life," Sidious continued. "If you fail, you will die."

"Yes my Master," Dooku answered, after only a brief hesitation during which he found he had no breath to speak. "I will not fail you."

"See that you don't." With a final flicker, the hologram disappeared.

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

Finding that she could not offer the ritual words of forgiveness, Bant remained silent until the Councilor stood once more.

"I understand," Mace said softly, bowing his head slightly to the still silent Healer. "I find it impossible to forgive myself."

Before Bant could offer any kind of response, her comm. link chirped. "If you'll excuse me a moment," Bant said, grateful for the interruption. She had no idea what to say to Master Windu, finding the thought of offering any kind of forgiveness abhorrent. It was not her's to offer after all.

"Bant here," She spoke rapidly into the small comm. link.

"Master Bant?" came the tinny voice of Anakin Skywalker. "I really need to talk to you."

As Sidious switched off the comm. unit, he chuckled wickedly. "Yes my apprentice, use your fear. Let it grow within you. It will only make you stronger and of more use to me."

As he turned from the unit and pushed his hood back it was almost as if he became another person. The layer of Force deception faded away, and where once had stood Sidious - Dark Lord of the Sith, stood Palpatine - Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.

The dark smile of the Sith was replaced with the pleasant grin of the politician. \It's just too easy\ he thought as he prepared to leave his Senate apartment. Stepping out into the main foyer, his assistant stood immediately from his desk.

"Chancellor," the assistant greeted deferentially. "Do you need me to call for a transport?" he asked, immediately moving to assist Palpatine as he slid on his outer robe. Once the ponderous garment was in place, Palpatine released a small sigh and smiled at the assistant.

"No, I am going out on personal business. I have received word that Master Yoda is ill, and thought I might pay him a visit. I would prefer to travel in a less conspicuous manner," the Chancellor said, already moving to leave the office. "Please tell all my callers that I have taken the afternoon for personal business."

"Yes sir," the assistant answered promptly, holding the door as the Chancellor exited the lavish office. Shaking his head at the odd practices of politicians, the assistant returned to the pile of paperwork on his desk. \I swear they get odder every election.\

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

Upon hearing the voice of Anakin Skywalker, Mace, N'erak and Ravenna all crowded around where Bant stood. Motioning for them all to remain quiet, lest Anakin become overwhelmed, Mace spoke.

"Padawan Skywalker, we've been trying to contact you," he said in his more formal Council tones.

"Uhh, Master Windu?" Anakin asked, uncertainty present even in the static transmission.

"I'm here too, Anakin," Bant reassured immediately. "Master Windu is helping me on a special project. You can talk in front of him." At the last, Bant shot Mace an apologetic glance. It was an awkward position for the Healer, trying to reassure the Padawan that he need not fear speaking in front of the Council Member.

After a brief hesitation, during which Bant could almost hear Anakin reaching out to the Force for reassurance, the Padawan spoke again. "I need you to send me the records from Master Obi-Wan's last few missions, and a copy of his files from the Healer's wards."

"Anakin, you know I can't send those to you," Bant responded, surprised that he would even ask. "All of that information is confidential."

"You have to Bant," Anakin pressured, momentarily forgetting there were others listening in. "If you don't, I can't help my Master. And if I don't help him, he will die."

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

The Voice had left him to recover after warning him again not to try another stunt. Grateful for the reprieve, however short it may be, Obi-Wan took the time to try to meditate. As before, he could not reach out to the Force; not even enough to enter a shallow state of meditation.

Sighing in frustration, the Master settled on simply taking the time to rest. He could not meditate without his connection to the Force, but the broken contact did not prevent him from being able to think on his own. \So I don't have the guidance of the Force, but I still have all of the lessons and experience of a fourth year Knight. Qui-Gon would tell me that I need to use what I have, and not whine about what I don't\

Allowing his eyes to fall closed, Obi-Wan focused on what he knew, using that knowledge to form a broader understanding of what was going on. \Ok, I know that I am somewhere that I can't reach the Force. I know that if I try to reach the Force, it eludes me and no amount of effort on my part seems to help\

Repressing the urge to sigh at the already depressing litany of information, Obi-Wan continued to evaluate his knowledge. \I know that there is someone else here, and that that someone else has access to my memories, and also apparently to the future. The Voice seems to have control of the playback of these memories, as well as the ability to project apparitions of people from my life.\

With a start, Obi-Wan's eyes snapped open in realization. Carefully studying his surroundings, he realized that the image of Anakin was gone. \But when did he disappear?\

Cursing the disjointed images he held from the moments just prior to his seizure, Obi-Wan concentrated on the vision of his apprentice. \He appeared right before the memory of the Maryega mission, and disappeared.RIGHT AFTER THE SEIZURES STARTED\

Smiling for the first time in what seemed like hours, Obi-Wan settled into a more comfortable position on the "floor." \Anakin WAS here, and he did try to help me. I am not alone.\

Before Bant could formulate a response to Anakin's plea, Master Windu spoke. "I will have the files sent to you immediately Padawan Skywalker. Are you on a secured link?"

"As secure as I could get," Anakin answered, for the first time in his life pleased to talk to a Council Member.

"Good. Bant will go to the Healer's ward now to copy her files, and I will go get the mission reports. In the meantime, can you fill Knight N'erak and Master Healer Ravenna in on what is happening on Navira?" Mace asked, already moving toward the sealed door.

"I can, but please hurry. I am not sure that we have much time, and I don't like leaving my Master alone like this. He isn't in control of his Force ability, and he has already injured one of the medics trying to help him. I need to get back to my Master as soon as possible," Anakin said, the urgency and his impatience apparent.

"We'll get the files as quickly as possible," Bant assured as she followed Master Windu out of the hidden laboratory. "You have my word."

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

When almost an hour had passed and the Voice had still not made contact, Obi-Wan found his calm center returning to him. In the emotional storm of the past several hours, the Knight had not even realized he had lost it. \So much for paying attention to the here and now.\

As he found his emotions once more in check, Obi-Wan found that his capacity to analyze his situation was vastly increased. It was almost as if the simple act of knowing he wasn't alone had managed to save him from the despair he had slowly been sinking into.

\Another thing I have Anakin to thank for\ he thought as he contemplated the appearance and disappearance of his apprentice. \It's obvious that Anakin had some control over this environment that I don't. It's also apparent that this isn't an actual plain of reality, but rather someplace in my own mind\

Realizing, for the first time, that he was well and truly trapped in his own mind, Obi-Wan didn't bother to suppress his urge to curse. It was a bad habit that both he, as a new Master, and Qui-Gon, as Master of such an unruly apprentice, had tried to rid him of. "Sometimes it's necessary to blow off some steam." He remembered the lame excuse he had tried on his Master, and the grueling hours of meditation that had followed.

Chuckling softly, the young Master found that with the release of that last bit of tension, he was now fully in control once more. Reaching out to the Force, he was overjoyed to feel it responding to his command. \Now I just need to figure a way out of here.\

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

As the auto droid brought his ship in for a landing, Dooku remained immersed in the Force. It took a great deal of energy to cloud the minds of the many that would otherwise have served witness to his landing. The droid could block the sensors, but only he could affect sentient minds.

\Lucky for me I have an outside source to draw upon\ Dooku thought, as he siphoned energy through the temporary mind link. The output of Force energy was incredible, but the actual expenditure by the Sith was minimal. Unbeknownst to the young Jedi, the Chosen One was actually supplying the power.

As he felt the ship touch down, Dooku waited for the droid to engage the distortion field before releasing his grip on the minds around him. \That was almost easy\ he thought gleefully, briefly forgetting the magnitude of his mission in the adrenaline rush. \To think, he commands so much power, never even realizing it\

Sighing with something akin to regret, Dooku quickly exited his ship. The distortion field would keep it from being detected, allowing him to conserve his energy and attention for a certain Jedi Master. \I will have you, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and together we will defeat Sidious\

As Bant stood at the Healer's terminal downloading files for the second time in as many days, she sighed heavily. \If I'm not careful, this cloak and dagger stuff is going to grow on me\ Suppressing the urge to giggle at such a silly thought, she turned her attention to the datapad uplinked to the main computer. It was already the second datachip of information from Obi-Wan's file. \Only Obi-Wan Kenobi would require more than one datachip to copy his medical files\

Watching the datapad download the extraordinarily large amount of data, Bant found her mind wandering. She had not slept in the past few days, nor had she found the time to meditate. It was only her dedication to her friend that kept her going.

When the datapad chimed, signaling the need for yet another chip, Bant laughed out loud. \I hope Anakin knows what he is looking for in these files, otherwise he could spend the rest of his life searching this tome of Obi-Wan's injuries\

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

Taking the turbo-lift back up to the Council level, Mace took the few minutes of the trip to release his careening emotions into the Force. He had managed to suppress his reactions up until this point, but now that he had to face the Council, he was uncertain of his ability to continue to shield such chaotic thoughts.

\If you can hear me Qui, I could really use your help now\ Master Mace Windu may have shared a close friendship with Qui-Gon Jinn, but he did not share his friend's 'talent' for defying the council. Where Qui-Gon bordered on being a Rogue, Mace was nothing but the consummate, protocol-following senior Council Member. And, unfortunately, this situation called for the skills Mace didn't have.

When the lift reached the Council room, Mace had only partially succeeded in releasing his emotions to the Force. As for his plea to his old friend, he almost felt as if Qui-Gon was with him. Right before the lift doors had opened, he had felt a slight shimmer in the Force simultaneously with what he swore felt like a hand on his shoulder.

Taking the incident as a sign that his friend was, and always would be, with him, Mace straightened his shoulders and strode through the Council doors. He had something to "discuss" with his fellow Councilors.

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

Once Anakin finished giving his report on Navira to N'erak and Ravenna, he asked to be excused from the comm. link long enough to check on Obi-Wan. Both Ravenna and N'erak insisted that he not leave the transport, but he had been able to convince them to allow him to use the other comm. unit to check in with the Medical center. Neither the ever-vigilant Knight, nor the cautious Master Healer could find a reason to deny his request.

Reaching out with the Force, Anakin opened the hallway door, and called out to Narissa. It only took the governor a few seconds to respond to the summons, as she had been waiting just outside in the passageway. "Did you get through?" Narissa asked, coming to stand behind where Anakin still sat.

"Yes, I did. But unfortunately, I need to go use the other comm. unit and I can't leave this one unattended. As old as it is, if I don't keep the connect button pressed down, the link begins to break. Can you hold it down for me for a few minutes while I make another call?" Anakin asked, already moving aside to allow Narissa to take his place.

"Of course Anakin. Can I ask who I am talking to though?" With the age of the comm. unit, and the fact that the Padawan had decided to reach Bant through her audio-only comm. link, Narissa did not have an image before her to tell her who she was connected with.

"This is Master Healer Ravenna, and Knight N'erak," N'erak answered, allowing Anakin to continue on to his other task. "We are both close friends of Obi-Wan and are quite grateful for your assistance."

"I am sorry I cannot do more," Narissa sighed, truly regretful. "Navira does not yet have the medical facilities necessary to assist Obi-Wan, but we are doing everything we can."

"And for that, we are most thankful," Ravenna assured. "Actually, I am not sure that we even have the facilities necessary here at the Temple. I have never encountered a Jedi suffering from something that so inhibited his lack of control."

With a note of alarm, Narissa interrupted before Ravenna could finish. "You do not think you can help Obi-Wan?"

Not willing to offer anything but the truth, Master Ravenna answered the only way she could. "No, I don't think I can help him. There is only one person I can think of that could help, but he is currently. unavailable."

Although orbiting stations controlled Coruscant's weather, Jessia was convinced the powers that be had it in for her. Every single time she had to go to the Market, it rained. It didn't matter if she went in the morning, noon, or night; her own personal rain cloud seemed to always be there.

\I hate RAIN\ she thought grimly, as she sloshed through the numerous puddles. Jessia normally loved the outdoors, but there was something about the oppressive nature of a stormy day that got to the Alderaanian dancer. \It's so rare for me to have a night off, and EVERY time I do, it rains!\

Quickening her pace, hoping to get to the relative cover of the open-air marketplace, Jessia didn't even notice the cloaked figure until he knocked her down. When the figure didn't even offer an apology, or a helping hand up, Jessia's temper finally snapped.

"Well that was rude!" She screeched. "What, weren't you taught any manners in the cave you were raised in?"

"Actually, no, I wasn't." Reaching out with his dark powers, Sidious slowly crushed the life out of the woman now cowering before him. Smiling evilly, the Sith Lord took an unholy satisfaction from the fear radiating off of the dying dancer. "And yes, the powers that be really are out to get you."

The last thing Jessia saw before her world faded to black was the hooded figure of the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.

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

With his center reestablished, Obi-Wan found that he was able to manipulate his environment to some extent. He still had not found a way to escape the prison of his own mind, but he could at least exert some control.

With a concentrated effort, he removed the swirling mists, and replaced the scenery with a more comforting and familiar atmosphere. The effort seemed to tax him more than he would have expected, but the results were worth it. The verdant green pastures and the azure blue sky were a balm to his wounded soul and the figure standing amidst it was almost enough to make him forget his captive status.

"Now, now my Padawan. What have I told you about keeping your focus on the here and now," Qui-Gon Jinn admonished, smiling fondly at his former apprentice.

Smiling widely in return, Obi-Wan rose from his seated position. "Master, I have missed you so much."

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

Dooku was almost to the Medical center, when the link he shared with the Chosen One shuddered. Stopping, and stepping into a shadowed alleyway in case his shielding should fluctuate as well, Dooku reached out and accessed the link. Blinking in disbelief at what he found, Dooku didn't bother to cover his slight chuckle. "Little one, you are simply full of surprises."

Keeping his end of the link open enough to monitor the situation, Dooku left the alleyway and continued on to the Navirian Medical center. Entering the building, the Sith apprentice went straight to the main information desk. Greeting the clerk with a disarming smile, he spoke. "I am Jedi Knight N'erak and I am here to retrieve one of your patients: Obi-Wan Kenobi."

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

Running as quickly as he could, the young Padawan tore through the streets of Coruscant. His Master had sent him to the Market to retrieve some supplies that were currently out of stock at the Jedi Temple. Assured that it would be a simple trip, without the risk of danger, the apprentice had readily accepted the chance to escape the confines of the Temple.

Now he was silently cursing himself, his Master and the Jedi suppliers for putting him in such a terrible situation. He was a Jedi, but he was also only eight-years old. This was only his third time outside the walls of the Jedi Temple, and the first time he was outside alone.

\Master is never going to believe me when I tell her what I just saw. I don't even believe me! But I know that no matter what just happened, I need to let Master and the others know right away\

Suppressing the shudder that rose as the unbidden images of the dying Alderaanian woman played through his mind, the young Padawan increased his pace once more. \That poor woman, she probably doesn't even know that she died protecting the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. It's a good thing the Darkside user wasn't more accurate in his attack!\

Once the last datachip had chimed, Bant gathered up the small stack of chips and clutched them in the palm of her hand. She had one more stop to make before returning to N'erak and Ravenna.

As she made her way through the halls of the Temple, Bant found herself unconsciously tightening her hand around the cache of information. \To think, all of the suffering Obi-Wan has been through can be condensed down to something so small it fits in the palm of my hand\ Although she was still amazed that it had taken five datachips to download his file, she was no longer amused. Before she had cut the link, Bant had quickly reviewed the chips just to make sure the data had transferred. What she had seen had sickened her.

\How is it possible for one man to live through so much?\ As she offered a quick thanks to the Force for keeping her friend alive, Bant reached her destination. Using her Healer's code as an override, she entered the empty apartment. After a brief search, she found what she had come looking for, and was exiting once more into the halls of the Temple.

\When Obi-Wan finds out what I just did, he is going to kill me\

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

"I had hoped you would actually come to me at some point, but I guess this isn't too bad of a substitute," Obi-Wan remarked, his absolute joy at seeing his Master taking away the sting of the remark.

"And what makes you think I am not actually here?" Qui-Gon asked, still playing the part of the Master, even if his apprentice was now a Master himself.

"I know you aren't here because I imagined you. You are a vision from my memories - a more pleasant one then I have seen so far, but a vision nonetheless."

"Oh Padawan, has life truly treated you so badly these past four years? I remember my apprentice being a sarcastic impudent brat at times, but cynicism was never a trait I would have attributed to you." With a heavy sigh, Qui-Gon settled almost wearily to his knees.

A cold shudder passed down Obi-Wan's spine as he remembered the last time he had seen his Master in such a position. Of course, that time Qui-Gon had not settled wearily, so much as collapsed bonelessly, shock and pain evident on his face. With a Herculaneum effort, the younger Jedi was able to relegate the image to where it remained hidden in his mind. He would never forget that fateful day, but he had no desire to ever relive it.

"No Master, my life has been that of a Jedi, nothing more and nothing less. And it is not cynicism, it is the truth; but I do not wish to spend this time arguing. You may only be an apparition of my own mind, but it still brings me great joy to see you. Can't we just enjoy whatever time we may have?" At the end, Obi-Wan had taken on an almost desperate pleading manner, the frustrations and pain of the past four years eking through.

"Oh my Padawan, my Obi-Wan. As much as I would love to sit here and just talk with you, there is much work to be done. We don't have the time to waste," Qui-Gon answered regretfully.

"No." Obi-Wan stated clearly, his dead gaze rising from where it had fallen to the field beneath his boots.

"Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon questioned carefully. He no longer shared a link to his Padawan and he could not sense anything from his apprentice in the Force. The only gauge of Obi-Wan's emotions he had was the look in the young Knight's eyes. Nothing had ever frightened the Jedi Master more, not even the Sith's lightsaber burning through his chest, than the desolation apparent in the stormy gray eyes.

"No. I have dedicated my life, my energy, my very SOUL to carrying out your dying wish, you will grant me this one request." The vehemence in Obi-Wan's tone startled Qui-Gon. It barely concealed the welling rage and despair he could now see in his Padawan.

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

"I'm sorry Padawan Skywalker, but you just missed him. Knight N'erak already went up to retrieve Master Kenobi and transport him to his shuttle. Do you want me to take a message in case he passes by here on his way out?" the receptionist asked, unfailingly polite.

Her only answer was the click of the closing comm. link.

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

The Council was still convened, just as Master Windu had asked of them. Entering the Chambers, he moved to the center of the floor, rather than his more customary seated position. "I come before you, not as a member of this Council, but as a Jedi with a serious accusation. I cannot make these claims while sitting amongst you, so I appear before you not as Council Member Mace Windu, but as Knight Windu - a Master of the Jedi Order."

As feelings ranging from shock to amazement to a slight twinge of anger were released to the Force by the ten Councilors, Mace continued. "I have information regarding a most serious matter. I have evidence here that proves Master Yoda is and has been for the past four years, under the direct influence of the Sith Lord."