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

6. 6

As silence reigned in the Council Lab, N'erak found his thoughts focusing on the question that had plagued him since his comm. link had first chirped. "Wait a minute, we're missing something here," the Knight stated, interrupting the unnatural stillness. "We are all tensed and we are all frightened, and yet we are all Jedi."

"What are you talking about?" Bant asked, as she dropped wearily unto one of the lab stools.

"Well, doesn't it seem odd to anyone else that we are Jedi, trained from birth to avoid fear and anger, and yet all four of us are experiencing such emotions?" N'erak asked, not waiting for a response before continuing. "It seems to me that we are all flirting awfully close to the Darkside, and yet none of us have made mention of it."

"What are you implying Knight N'erak?" Master Windu inquired, as he turned an impassive gaze on the younger Jedi.

"I am implying that perhaps the influence of the Sith is more widespread than we originally thought," N'erak stated bluntly. "I'm implying that the Sith have more power than we thought, and beyond that, I'm implying that we are all in danger here, not just Obi-Wan."

"I don't understand," Bant muttered. "Are you saying that we all have been infected with Narsicisis? Because if you are, I can assure you, Master Ravenna and I ran scans on ourselves and detected nothing."

"No, that's not what I mean," N'erak sighed, frustrated that he could not make his suspicions known. "I'm not sure how to explain it; it just seems like the Force itself has been altered or something. Every time I reach out for it, I get this odd feeling, as if something is so tragically wrong that I should sense it immediately, yet all appears to be normal. It's almost. it's sort of."

"Like a play," Ravenna finished. "All the characters are there, and all the props, yet it seems shallow and unreal. Almost as if someone else is directing us, telling us where to look, and what we should see."

"A distraction then," Bant supplied. "A deliberate attempt to deceive us, and hide the truth. but what is the truth?"

"And what is the distraction?" N'erak added. "Is Obi-Wan actually in danger, or are we looking in the wrong place?"

"Oh, I think it is certain that Knight Kenobi is in danger," Mace answered, "but I think we may be being mislead regarding the source of the threat. I think the Council is definitely a danger to him, but I think a darker threat looms on the horizon."

"The Sith," Bant huffed, "but we knew that already. It's obvious the Sith are trying to kill him."

"No, that's the deception," N'erak corrected, as the pieces began to fall into place. "The Sith aren't trying to kill Obi-Wan, they're trying to recruit him."

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

As the tears dried slowly onto his ash-streaked skin, Anakin felt the first stirrings of consciousness in his fallen companion. "Padme? Can you hear me?" the apprentice asked, laying a hand gently on her furrowed brow. "I need you to wake up now, Padme. Come on, open your eyes for me."

As her eyes slowly flickered open, and her confused gaze settled on the worried blue eyes above her, Padme moaned softly. "Ani? What happened? Where are we?" As the words passed her lips in the barest of croaks, Anakin's concerned expression faded.

"I'm not sure what happened," Anakin answered truthfully. "There was some kind of an explosion, centered in the hanger bay, and we were too close." Still lightly stroking her face, the Padawan continued. "Can you tell me where you are hurt? I know you probably have a concussion, but other than that, I can't tell."

"I'm. I'm not sure," Padme grimaced, trying to sort out the accumulated aches and pains. "I think I'm okay, other than a bad headache."

"That's good," Anakin sighed, his expression relieved. "Do you think you can try to move?"

"Move?" she questioned, her deep brown eyes still radiating confusion.

"Yes, I need you to try to slide out from under me," the Padawan explained. "I can't move off of you, but you might be able to squeeze out from under me."

"Are you hurt?" the Senator asked, her concern overriding her uncertainty.

"No," Anakin lied, "I'm just trapped under some wreckage. I think if you can get free, you might be able to help me."

"Okay," Padme agreed, as she tried to wiggle her way out from under the weight of the Jedi. Biting her lip in concentration, she failed to notice the glazed look in the Padawan's eyes as he fought off the pain her movements caused. Without his connection to the Force, he couldn't deaden the nerve endings, and had to rely on his own strength instead.

As the Senator finally paused in her struggles to regain her breath, she focused on the Padawan's shuttered expression. "Anakin?" she whispered, "Are you all right?"

"I will be," he answered through teeth clenched in pain, "just as soon as I can get this weight off of my back, and we can find some help."

Nodding her head, the determined Senator resumed her effort to free herself. Holding his breath in an attempt to keep in the groan that threatened to escape his pain-wracked body, the Padawan reached out again to the Force, trying desperately to ease some of his suffering. A connection surged briefly, but was lost before Anakin could act on it. Despite his frustration at losing the brief link, the Padawan found himself experiencing an unexpected joy, for he was certain that in that brief moment of clarity, he had felt his Master reach out to him.

Through the darkness and the pain, it shone like a beacon of light and love. Through the haze of agony and the pull of the Darkside, it beckoned to him, reminding him who he was and more importantly what he was. And through the rage and the hate it glittered, a priceless gem, worth more than anything.

With that brief and glimmering mind touch from Anakin, Obi-Wan found the strength to reach down and tap into a reserve he never even realized he had. His love for his apprentice spurring him on, Obi-Wan Kenobi embraced his destiny, and the power that came with it. And in a moment fostered solely by love, the Chosen One was born.

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

The Senators drew back, frightened, yet frozen at the sight before them. The young Jedi that had collapsed so bonelessly to the floor was glowing, and an effervescent power flowed off of him, calming and consoling all those it touched. Like a balm to the wounded soul, the light stretched and expanded, reaching out to all those within its shining radius.

Anger and hate were burned away before its absolute acceptance, and an unnatural silence fell upon the previously chaotic hallway. Where there had been invectives and curses, now rested a hallowed peace like nothing ever experienced within the Senate Chambers. The frantic Senators and their aides were spellbound by the awesome sight as the beleaguered Knight rose to his feet and made his way slowly but surely through the parting crowds.

With nary a whisper, nor sigh, the masses moved as one, parting as if before a great deity. And as the Jedi rounded the corner and disappeared from sight, the unnatural stillness continued.

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

Sidious drew back from the window with a hiss as the sudden swelling of the Lightside of the Force radiated through the transparasteel. As the Light touched him, it burned and agonized, trying valiantly to clear the anger, fear, hate and pure evil that thrived within the Sith Lord. As his pain threshold was met and crossed, Sidious collapsed to the floor, retaining only enough presence of mind to drag his failing body to the small closet that stood within his private offices.

As he pulled himself weakly over the threshold of the Force-nulled space, Sidious breathed a sigh of relief. Though he could not reach to the Darkside for regeneration, he also could not be affected by the surging of the Light.

Resting painfully within the small space, the Sith Lord found his thoughts turning with plans of vengeance. He would still claim the Chosen One, and Kenobi would fall to his bidding, but not before he had his revenge. \My suffering will be NOTHING compared to yours, Kenobi. you will beg me for death before I am through with you\

Finding comfort in his twisted thoughts, the Sith Lord huddled in the Darkness, waiting and watching for the Light to dim, and his chance to claim the Chosen One.

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

Padme knew Anakin was lying to her, but she didn't know what to do for him. It was obvious that the Jedi was in a great deal of pain, and that her attempts to free herself were only causing him further agony, but he insisted she continue. "It's the only way," he had urged, as her struggles had ceased in the face of his increasing pallor. "You must free yourself Padme, and then you can worry about me," he had added, a slight grin only adding to the gruesome mask of agony that twisted his features.

Several minutes had passed since he had fallen to silence, but his labored breathing told her he was still conscious, even if unresponsive. Bolstering her strength for one more effort, Padme whispered a warning to the young Jedi. "Ani, I'm going to try to slide out one more time. I'm sorry if I hurt you," she said, surprising even herself as she punctuated her last thought with a kiss to his pale cheek.

Pausing to gather her strength, and courage, Padme then pushed with everything she had, using her free arm to try to lever Anakin off of her. As she finally felt her body began to slide free, she almost sobbed with relief. It was only as the sticky warmth soaked through to her chilled skin that she realized what had provided the ease of her escape. As her gaze flickered between her blood soaked clothing and the trapped Jedi Apprentice, Padme fought to hold back her sobs of horror.

The work was tedious and painstaking, but lives depended on it. Even the slightest shift in the debris could bring death to one of the victims trapped beneath it. Luckily, the Jedi Knights had the Force to aid them in their endeavor.

"Once we get this lifted, I want you to try to crawl through the open space. I sense life signatures on the other side of this doorway," Master Carlasan called to her apprentice.

"Yes Master," Serrenia answered, her voice strained with the concentration it took to evenly lift the debris. Reaching out her hand shakily, she tried to counterbalance her Master's efforts, but the strain was becoming too much. She was barely able to hold on long enough to safely release the twisted beam before her concentration gave out.

"Serrenia, are you able to finish this?" Carlasan asked, noticing the Padawan's exhaustion.

"Yes Master," Serrenia replied dutifully before dropping to her hands and knees and beginning to work her way through the small opening they had cleared. The dimensions were small, and for once she was glad of her short stature and small frame. The rubble shifted ominously above her, but she knew that her Master was using the Force to keep her path safe and clear.

The Master and apprentice had only been teamed together for six months, but Serrenia had already learned to trust her Master implicitly. Carlasan had not wanted to take on a Padawan, but under the pressure of Master Yoda, she had agreed to meet the young initiate so skilled in the arts of Force levitation. The instant that Carlasan had entered the room where Serrenia waited, the initiate had realized that the Force was insistent on their pairing. It only took Master Carlasan a few extra minutes to come to the same conclsion, and after only a few short missions, the pair was inseparable.

\I guess it's good that I'm so experienced at Force levitation, since I am helping people here, but I almost wish I didn't have to see this.\ Serrenia had never been exposed to the level of pain and suffering that was present at the scene of the Senate bombing. Initiates at the Jedi Temple were shielded, and didn't learn of the brutality sentient beings could inflict on one another until they were experienced Padawans. At thirteen years old, Serrenia had never before seen such utter destruction.

\\Keep your focus on your task, Padawan\\ Carlasan admonished through the fledgling training link, causing Serrenia to blush. It had been an odd and somewhat revealing experience to have someone suddenly become privy to her private thoughts. There was much she thought about during the day that never would have registered in her conscious mind if it wasn't for her Master's commentary.

\\Yes Master\\ the Padawan replied, still feeling that slight rush at being able to call someone Master, even if it had been six months. \It's good to know I have someone who cares so deeply for me\ Before her Master could censure her for losing focus again, Serrenia saw a flickering of light ahead of her, and knew she was close to the end of the haphazard tunnel. \\I'm almost out Master\\ she sent, keeping Carlasan informed of her progress.

\\Just be careful Serrenia, the wreckage is still shifting, and some areas will be superheated from the explosion\\

Finally squeezing her way out of the tight crawlspace, the Padawan found her attention immediately drawn to a soft sound coming from beyond the twisted steel in front of her. "Hello?" she called. "My name is Padawan Serrenia, and I am here to help you."

"Please hurry!" a weak voice responded. "I'm not sure how much longer he can hold out."

The fear behind the choked tones drew the young Jedi inexorably forward. Such strong emotion was behind the frail plea, and Serrenia knew that someone was desperately in need of help. As she carefully crawled over the debris, she came face to face with a young woman crouched over a huddled form on the floor. The girl's dark brown hair lay in disarray, partially covering her liquid brown eyes and sooty skin.

"He stopped responding to me several minutes ago, and he's lost a lot of blood." The voice sounded slightly less desperate now that help had arrived, but was still full of trepidation.

"I'll do everything I can for him until my Master arrives with the Healers," Serrenia promised, as she sent out a mental call to Carlasan telling her of their current position. At the Padawan's assured tones, the young woman stepped away from her fallen companion, allowing Serrenia to take her place.

As the light from the glow rod suspended around her neck fell on the face of the victim, Serrenia gasped, automatically alerting her Master to her distress. "Anakin?!!"

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

His pace started slow, and he stumbled occasionally as his injuries spasmed and ached. But as he continued, the slow shuffle became a jog, then a run, and finally a Force-enhanced sprint as the tingling energy field renewed his injured body, replacing bruised and split skin with unmarred perfection.

His mind was slower to recover than his body, and he found himself responding on instinct alone - the tingling danger he felt hovering over his Padawan driving him. Racing through the strangely silent corridors, and only belatedly noticing the parting seas of Senators, Obi-Wan had only one thought flowing through his mind and out to the surrounding Force. \\Hold on Anakin.just hold on\\

Master Carlasan could feel her apprentice's fear at the precarious state of her friend, but it was an entirely different terror that coursed through the Twi'lek. \Anakin? As in Anakin Skywalker? If he's here.\ The young Master suddenly found her attempts to clear a larger passageway for herself becoming frantic. As she tossed aside the deformed metal struts and permacrete blocks with the power of the Force, she tried to calm her fears.

\We don't know with absolute certainty that Obi-Wan Kenobi fell to the Darkside, and even if he did, that doesn't necessarily mean he is here, nor that he will harm Serrenia\ The thoughts provided little in the way of solace and, if anything, made her more urgent to reach her young apprentice. She refused the urge to reach out through the training bond, as she knew her fear would be transmitted to her Padawan, and Serrenia had enough to do in dealing with the severely injured Anakin.

As she worked frantically to clear a passageway, Carlasan paused to release a directionless plea to the Force. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, if you're out there, please, please, don't hurt my Padawan."

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

"But that brings us back to the biggest question of them all," Bant sighed. "Who is the Sith Lord?"

"Until we know who he is, it does us little good to speculate on his motives and actions," N'erak agreed. "We know that Dooku is working with the Sith, but we don't know for sure if he is an apprentice. or maybe even the Master."

"We do know that he is trying to take Obi-Wan as his apprentice," Mace added after a pause.

"How do we know that?" Ravenna asked, as Master Windu's comment stopped her from revealing her discovery.

"Master Yoda was able to form a connection with Anakin while he was meditating. He saw through Skywalker's eyes as Dooku revealed his allegiance to the Darkside, and Obi-Wan submitted to him." the Councilor's voice trailed off, and was almost covered by the gasps from his companions before he continued. "Obi-Wan severed the training bond with Anakin, and that threw Yoda out of the Padawan's mind; so we have no idea what happened after that. The last information the Council has is of Kenobi submitting to the Darkside. He revealed nothing when he called the Temple to inform us of his return from Navira."

"So that's why the Council thinks he's turned," N'erak said, dumbfounded. "Don't they see that it is probably all a ruse, and that Obi was only trying to protect Anakin from Dooku?"

"No, they don't," Mace admitted. "I think I had them convinced to wait, but with your appearance before the Council, something must have changed their minds and convinced them that Obi-Wan is dangerous."

"And he might very well be dangerous," Ravenna suggested calmly, ignoring the incredulous look her former Padawan gave her. "If Dooku is still threatening Anakin in any way, Obi-Wan will go to extremes to protect him."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi will not turn!" Bant declared. "He would not go to the Darkside, even if it meant death to keep his allegiance with the Light!"

"But would he allow Anakin to die for it?" N'erak questioned softly, as he formed his own conclusions to the inquiry.

The Healer hesitated, releasing a deep sigh before answering. "No. Obi-Wan would do anything for Anakin. even fall to the Darkside," Bant admitted, even though it hurt to do so.

Silence reigned in the small lab as each of the Jedi considered Bant's confession. Obi-Wan's devotion to his Padawan was well known to all four, and the fact that he would literally do anything for Anakin was unquestioned. The stillness was broken by the sound of the younger Healer's comm. link chirping. As she reached down to answer it, she noticed Mace and Ravenna reach for theirs as well, immediately receiving the frantic chirps of urgent messages as the units were powered back on.

Turning her back on the other three Jedi so that she could hear her caller, Bant was the first to receive the news of the Senate bombing. And as her pale pink skin faded to a sickly gray, she found herself reconsidering her confession. and wondering just how far Obi-Wan Kenobi would actually go for Anakin Skywalker.

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

As he neared the remains of what had once been the Senatorial Hanger Bay, Obi-Wan slowed from his Force-enhanced sprint and paused to take in the devastation. The walls of what had once been an elegant structure were bowed under the stress of the outward expanding force of the explosion, and the once lovely transparasteel ceiling lay in twisted pieces upon the sagging floor. Loose pieces of the permacrete supports and broken metal struts littered the landscape, turning the already dangerous field into a deadly obstacle course.

Among the debris, Obi-Wan could just make out the remains of the Senate aircraft that had been stored within the structure. As he stepped over a small piece of metallic webbing, Obi-Wan recognized it as one of the hydrospace foils from Dooku's ship. \Well I guess I won't have to worry about figuring out what to do with Dooku\

The Knight found his sarcasm returning with a vengeance, and with it came the final mental controls that had been lacking during his automatic flight to where he felt his Padawan. Reaching out with his mind, he searched for the familiar signature of his apprentice among the wreckage. As he felt the small tingle that was Anakin's fading life force, Obi-Wan went to work immediately clearing a path.

Igniting his azure lightsaber, he began to cut away at the obstacles in his path, using the Force to lift the debris out of the way and stabilize the shifting rubble. As he concentrated totally on his task, he failed to note as the emergency sensors finally flickered on, and it was only as the sprinkler system doused him and burned out his 'saber that he realized power had been restored to the crisis systems. "SITH!" he screamed as the blue beam flickered, hissed and finally faded as the crystals gave out.

"Isn't this just my perfect luck," he fumed, uncaring and unaware of whether or not he had an audience. Turning the hilt over in his hands, he cursed himself silently for failing to notice the sprinklers switch on. With only a small use of the Force, he would have been able to realign the crystals to withstand the dowsing. but instead he now held a useless lightsaber. Reaching down to reattach the 'saber to his belt, his hand brushed against the forgotten second lightsaber that dangled from his utility belt.

As his hand closed around the hilt of Dooku's weapon, Obi-Wan breathed a sigh of relief. With a deft use of the Force, the 'saber was soon reconfigured to safely withstand the drenching downpour, and he was soon working once again to reach his apprentice. And as the blade threw its crimson light upon his determined visage, Obi-Wan Kenobi remained unaware of his shocked and frightened observer.

Padme was absurdly grateful at the sound of the calm and confident voice that called out to her from the darkened wreckage. She was worried about Anakin, and knew that there was nothing she could do for him, as the debris that pinned him was too heavy for her to lift. When the Jedi called to her, she could barely contain her cry of joy at finally having the help Anakin so desperately needed.

But when the Padawan finally made it through the rubble and came face to face with Padme, the Senator could not keep her dismay from her expression. The young girl didn't look like she was a day over ten, and obviously would not be of much assistance when it came to lifting the heavy piece of permacrete that was slowly crushing Anakin. \Hopefully she can at least help me do something about the bleeding\ the Senator thought, as she told the Padawan of Anakin's condition. The young girl promised to help as much as possible until her Master arrived.

\And hopefully her Master arrives soon!\ Padme was not reassured when the young Jedi seemed to blanch at the site of her blood-soaked clothing. \What, she's never even been on a mission where someone has bled before?!?\ The Senator knew she could be grateful for any and all help she could get, but it seemed ridiculous to put such trust in one so young. \Then again, Anakin did save my planet when he was only nine.\ At the reminder of her companion, Padme's gaze fell to the blood-soaked young man who rested so deathly silent on the floor beside her.

Stepping aside to allow the young girl access to Anakin, even though she was certain the child could do nothing, Padme was surprised when the Jedi cried out in recognition. "Anakin?!!"

"You know him?" Padme asked, trying and failing to conceal her irrational spike of jealousy. \She's only a kid, Padme, relax. She probably knows Ani from class or something\ The Senator's thoughts tried to reassure her, but her emotions kept her off balance and distrustful.

"Yes," the girl answered calmly, not offering any other explanation as she immediately went to work using the Force to try and discover the extent of Anakin's injuries.

"Is he going to be all right.?" Padme questioned, allowing the inquiry to hang, in the hopes the young girl would provide her name.

"I don't know, and as I said before, I am Padawan Serrenia," the Jedi replied, her tone only slightly less calm than before. "He needs help that I cannot provide, but I might be able to slow the bleeding enough that he has a chance at survival."

"A chance?" Padme gasped.

"Yes, a chance. Anakin is seriously wounded, and his life force is very weak," Serrenia explained softly, as her gaze lingered on the pale face. "If the Healers don't arrive within the next few minutes, he isn't going to live."

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

Carlasan heard the unmistakable buzz of a working lightsaber even through her fatigue and fear-induced haze. She had immediately quit working on clearing a path through the debris and moved to intercept the other Jedi in their efforts. \They're probably having better luck anyway\ the Master mused. The crawlway she had cleared for her apprentice was much too small for her, and it had become increasingly apparent that enlarging the tiny space was not only foolhardy but also near impossible. It was only her stubborn nature that had kept her at her fruitless work, and it was only the reassurance that another Jedi was nearby that had taken her from it.

As she carefully crawled, hurdled, and leaped over the scattered wreckage, she heard the sound of the sprinkler system kicking in. "Well that should certainly make this more fun," she sighed wearily to herself as the cold drenching rain soaked through her tunics. "Why can't the Senate do anything right? The sprinklers are supposed to come on DURING the fire, not after!" Carlasan was still grumbling softly to herself when she heard the loud curse. Instantly becoming silent, she slowed her approach so that her presence would go unnoticed.

As she crawled carefully over the last piece of transparasteel that impeded her view, she had to stifle the gasp that came automatically to her lips. For there before her, bathed in the light of his Crimson Sith 'saber, stood Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The crunch of the broken debris against the sagging floor sounded like a shot, even amidst the buzz of his lightsaber and the steady splashing of the sprinklers. And with the unnatural grace and speed of a Jedi, he turned to regard the new threat, only to find himself face to 'saber with a fellow Master.

"Master Carlasan," Obi-Wan acknowledged, immediately lowering his lightsaber, but keeping it ignited. Until the other Master lowered her own weapon, he refused to leave himself totally unprotected. His dealings with Master Dooku, Garen, and Valone had taught him enough about the danger of facing another Jedi.

"Kenobi," she acknowledged, purposely leaving his title off. "I'll ask you to lower your weapon and come with me peacefully."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Obi-Wan stated cautiously, still frozen in his position of relaxed defense. "My Padawan is trapped behind that wall of rubble, and I need to get to him."

"My Padawan is with him, and Anakin will be just fine once I get him back to the Jedi Temple," Carlasan responded dryly. "The sooner you surrender, the sooner I can get him back to the Temple," she added when Obi-Wan made no response.

"As I told you, I am not leaving my apprentice." As he finished his statement, Master Carlasan tensed immediately, and Obi-Wan found himself reacting unconsciously in defense. It was only his years of 'saber training that enabled him to block the sudden and unexpected blow. As the two blades met and hissed, Obi-Wan made no attempt to go on the offensive. Instead he held his blade purely in defense, hoping his actions would speak to his motives.

When Master Carlasan showed no hesitation in continuing the attack, Obi-Wan tried again to reassure her, or to at least determine what was fueling the offense. "Master Carlasan, there is no need for this," he huffed, as he continued to block her furious strikes. "I am only trying to get to my apprentice."

"Lower your weapon and surrender and I will end this," Carlasan retorted, her emerald lightsaber a blur punctuated only by the staccato strikes. "I will not allow you to harm Serrenia, and I will not allow you to turn Anakin to the Darkside."

Flipping over a long piece of twisted metal that lay in his path, Obi-Wan used the momentary respite in the constant swordplay to try to dissuade the other Master in her attack. "I would not hurt your Padawan, and I am certainly not going to turn Anakin to the Darkside!" Obi-Wan shouted to the Master he could no longer see on the other side of the debris. "I am trying to prevent the rise of the Darkside, not aide in it!"

When no response was forthcoming, the young Knight turned his senses inward, reaching out to the Force to try to sense the presence of the other Master. And as he finally registered her approach to his left side, he allowed the Force to fully guide his actions as he deactivated his lightsaber and tossed the hilt to her. "I'm not your enemy. but you will become mine if you stand between me and my injured Padawan."

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

N'erak and Mace found themselves teaming together as Bant and Ravenna left for the medical ward to gather supplies. As the Council Member and the Knight swiftly made their way to the Senate exit level, both conserved their breath. It was only when they entered the turbolift that they found a rest long enough to offer the chance to speak.

"You think this has something to do with Obi-Wan, don't you?" N'erak asked softly as he leaned back against the turbolift wall and crossed his arms over his chest.

Hesitating slightly, Master Windu decided to be forthright with N'erak. His diplomatic and political skills were formidable, but now was not the time to make use of them. "I think it would be too much of a coincidence for it not to be. I think that the Sith is staging all of this in an attempt to both distract us, and attract Obi-Wan," he explained, as he laced his fingers behind his back and closed his eyes in deep thought. "And I also believe, even as I am uncertain as to who the Sith Master is, that it is apparent that he has some major influence over Chancellor Palpatine."

"Do you suppose it is one of his aides?" N'erak questioned, but was not given an answer as the lift softly chimed its destination. Instead, Mace merely stepped out of the lift, and made his way to the small exit and into the fading light of the Coruscant day.

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

Master Carlasan was preparing to subdue the Rogue Jedi when she was interrupted by a persistent tug on the training bond. Opening her shields only enough to receive the message her apprentice was so urgently trying to send, Carlasan never took her eyes or attention off the strangely silent fallen Jedi.

\\ Master?\\ Serrenia called, her mind voice controlled, despite the panic Carlasan could feel welling behind it.

\\ What is it Padawan?\\ Carlasan asked, her impatience clear. They may not have been teamed for long, but Serrenia knew better than to try to infiltrate her Master's shielding. Carlasan had explained that she would never raise it unless it was a situation of necessity.

\\ You have to hurry Master. Anakin is going to die if he doesn't receive medical attention immediately\\

Before Carlasan could reply, she found herself frozen in awe at the sight before her. Where Obi-Wan had stood, silently appraising her, there was now a bright tide of the Force. Within the blazing light and energy she could barely make out the form of the Jedi Knight, but what she could make out told her more than any words ever could. Obi-Wan Kenobi not only fully embraced the light. it fully embraced him.

As the former Master/Padawan pair stepped through the swinging doors and into the teeming hallways of the Healer's ward, the waves of agony and sorrow nearly overcame them. Every available space along the long, narrow passageway was filled with hover-stretchers, chairs, and the prone bodies of those who had arrived after all the chairs and stretchers were in use. The level of pain and terror was enough that both Healers had to raise their shielding to the highest-level possible simply to be able to function.

Sharing a glance, Ravenna and Bant made their way to opposite ends of the main hall and began to triage the patients. The Healers on duty were already treating most of the critical patients, but many in the hall were still in danger. With so many of the Healers and Healer-apprentices at the Senate building, the normal orderly flow of patient processing was non- existent in the face of such a disaster.

As she worked her way down the hall, slowly but steadily drawing closer to the likewise-occupied Bant, Ravenna was shocked and sickened at some of the injuries. \If there are injuries this bad out here, what kind of trauma victims are the Healers dealing with in the exam rooms?\ the dark-haired healer wondered as she kneeled before a young woman lying prone on the floor. Her chestnut hair was stained crimson, and plastered to her scalp with the drying accumulations of blood. The head-wound was not bad, in and of itself, but combined with the shock and other injuries, it proved too severe even for Force-aided treatment.

"Can you hear me?" Ravenna asked softly as the pain-filled hazel orbs flickered open and focused distantly on the overhead lighting. A low agonized moan was the only response before the pale lashes fell again and the girl returned to unconsciousness.

Reaching a gentle hand down to the Aide's forehead, the Master Healer sent a tendril of Force to the fading consciousness, encouraging it to remain buried under the hazy, painlessness of a coma. Knowing there was nothing more she could do for the massive head trauma, and realizing fully that the young girl would be dead before the days end, Ravenna climbed unsteadily to her feet and moved on to the next patient.

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

When the words played through his mind, he didn't even take the time to acknowledge their source before he was reacting to them. Reaching down deep, into a reservoir he only unconsciously knew existed, Obi-Wan pulled the Force to him, bending it to his will as he went after his apprentice. The energy field responded with alacrity he had never before known, and it proved unnecessary for him to harness it; as it seemed to read his desire and act on it, separate from his guidance.

As the heavy debris began to shift and lift, clearing a passageway to his dying apprentice, Obi-Wan was only slightly thrown off his guard when he felt another presence acting on the debris as well. His first fear was that it was working to prevent him from reaching Anakin, but as he reached out to the shining tendrils and traced them back to their originator, he came upon the determined, yet friendly visage of Master Carlasan.

Offering a gentle smile in thanks for her efforts, the Knight then dove back into the Force, urging its haste and efficiency. And as the ancient energy strove to carry out the task he demanded of it, he could still hear the echo of the voice in his mind. \\ .Anakin is going to die.\\

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

Bant had almost finished sealing the pressure wrap to the injured Senator's arm, when a spike of terror and fear incredibly powerful reached out to her. Whirling, she nearly knocked over the young boy that had run up behind her. He looked to be only three or four years old, but his dark brown eyes showed an intellect well beyond his years. His mahogany-colored hair curled endearingly around the cherubic face, coming to rest just above his collar.

"You ha'e to help my da'," the young boy whispered as he tugged at Bant's pale blue tunic.

"Where is he?" the Healer asked, automatically scanning the hallway for the one who belonged with such a young child. Instead of answering, the young boy grabbed hold of her hand and began tugging the Mon Calamarian after him. As he pulled her towards the doorway, Bant glanced back and tried to catch Ravenna's attention. She was almost through the swinging doors before the Master Healer looked up.

"Bant!" Ravenna called, effectively halting both the Healer and the young boy. "I need you over here now!"

Responding to the urgency in her former Master's voice, Bant dropped the small hand that held hers and ran towards the Master Healer. Ravenna stood holding an analysis kit over a slumped figure on a hover-stretcher. The dark-haired Healer was working furiously to analyze the small sample of blood from the unconscious Bothan. "He's suffering from some kind of contact poisoning, but I can't determine the cause of it," Ravenna stated by way of explanation. "I think it might be a species-specific allergic reaction, but I can't figure out what is causing it."

Taking the offered scanner, Bant immediately began to review the results. It was only when she felt the insistent tug on her tunic once more that she remembered her other task. "Master Ravenna, this young boy." Bant hesitated waiting for the boy to respond with his name.

"Boba," the boy answered impatiently, even for one so young.

"Boba says that his father is injured severely and needs our attention. Apparently he isn't here in the ward," Bant explained, briefly raising her silver-colored eyes from the scanned results to make eye contact with the Master Healer.

"I'll take care of it," Ravenna answered. "See if you can figure out what is causing the reaction, and then administer whatever treatment you can. I've taken care of the others," she continued, waving a hand to gesture to the patients behind her. "I don't think any of them require immediate care, but if something happens, contact Master N'vea. He should be able to handle it until you can complete this analysis."

"Yes Master," Bant said with a nod as her attention went back to the mystery before her. With her acknowledged mastery of the chemical arts of healing, Bant knew that her talents were better spent here with this patient, allowing Ravenna to treat the boy's father. Nevertheless, as the Master Healer slipped through the swinging doors with the young boy leading her, Bant couldn't quite fight off a shiver of unease.

Serrenia felt the disturbance surge through the Force, but her attention was fully focused on the prone figure in front of her. Anakin lay still and silent, a pool of his own blood rapidly flowing around him. His signature within the Force was weak, and dimming more and more as each beat of his slowing heart released more of the precious fluid unto the debris-covered floor.

"Anakin. Anakin you have to hold on," Serrenia whispered as she knelt beside him, his blood quickly soaking through her crème-colored leggings. "Reach out to me Anakin, and show me how to heal you." She added just the slightest bit of Force-persuasion, hoping she could reach through the haze and access his consciousness. She knew that Anakin had the training to heal the wounds that were stealing his life away, but unless he had an outside source of strength to rely on, his knowledge would prove useless.

"Can't you help him?" Padmé asked, as she dropped to her knees on the other side of Anakin. "He's going to die if you don't do something."

"I don't know how to help him," Serrenia admitted, her sorrowful green eyes meeting Padmé's brown. "I haven't even started my Force-healing training yet, and I don't know what to do for him. If he can wake up enough to tell me what to do I can save him, but otherwise."

"There's nothing you can do," Padmé finished, bringing a shaking hand up to sooth the errant blond strands back from Anakin's clammy forehead.

"No," Serrenia sighed, watching as Padmé's tender caress flittered gently across Anakin's closed lids. She leaned forward with a gasp, however, when the lids flickered open and the icy blue gaze settled on her own.

"Find my Master," Anakin choked out, fighting to keep the slim hold on consciousness he had gained. "Tell him. the hole. bond." the Padawan's voice faded until not even Serrenia's Force-enhanced hearing could understand him.

"We'll find him Ani," Padmé assured, as his eyes rolled back into his head and he lost his struggle to stay awake.

"We'll find him, and we'll find a way to save you," Serrenia promised, as she reached out to the Force, calling her Master and apprising her of Anakin's brief spell of lucidity.

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

Ravenna followed silently behind as the young boy led her through the crowded halls of the Healer's ward and into the deserted passages of the Temple training areas. "Where is your Father at, Boba?" the Master Healer finally asked as he continued to lead her farther and farther away from where she could sense other life-signatures.

"In the gardens," Boba replied, as he urged the Healer on to a faster rate. "He's hurt bad."

"Why is he in the gardens?" Ravenna questioned, nevertheless increasing her pace at the boy's prompting.

"'Cause he's hurt," Boba answered in the logic only a young child could accept.

"Do you know how he is hurt?" the Master Healer tried again, hoping that maybe this time she would receive enough of an explanation to fathom why someone so injured would be in the Temple gardens.

When Boba offered no response and only increased the drag on her arm, urging her to yet a faster pace, Ravenna sighed and complied. If there was someone injured, it was her duty as a Healer to help, even if the Force was warning her that there was something dreadfully wrong.

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

With his strength in the Force suddenly thrown behind the task, the passageway to the fallen apprentice was cleared at a prodigious rate. The heavy beams of parasteel that he would have had to cut through with his 'saber were lifted and tossed aside as if they were only a small weight. The ruins themselves seemed to form and mold at his will, clearing a stable passage complete with reliable supports.

As he worked steadily, yet with a rising sense of urgency, Obi-Wan was grateful for the calming presence of Master Carlasan. She had soon realized that her Force power was unnecessary in his efforts and was better used in keeping him grounded. With such a large reservoir of power at his command, it was becoming increasingly difficult to rein it in. Carlasan was offering the anchor he needed to keep his presence in the "here and now" while his mind worked fervently to rescue his apprentice.

It was through their hastily forged connection that he felt Serrenia connect to her Master, inadvertently notifying them both of Anakin's brief surge of awareness.

It was also through Carlasan that he heard his apprentice's seemingly illogical ramblings rephrased. \Hole, bond? What is he talking about?\ Obi- Wan wondered as his attention split between the physical labor before him and the mental labor inside of him. \He wants me to reconnect the training bond?\

Before he could determine if that was what Anakin was asking him to do, the Knight's attention was drawn back fully to the task before him as the last of the wreckage was cleared away, allowing him access to the fallen Padawan. Immediately breaking into a sprint, he tore through the opening, ducking and dodging around the protruding debris.

As he ran he could just begin to see the flickering of the glow-rod he knew Serrenia was wearing. As the light grew brighter and brighter, calling him forward, he focused on his apprentice's signature, and was shocked and frightened to feel it grow dimmer and dimmer, before finally fading altogether.

As they entered the Senate building, Mace and N'erak expected to feel the residue of terror and pain, but the lingering animosity was a curiosity neither was prepared for. It seemed almost as if it was directed at the Jedi themselves, but both knew that that was unlikely.

"What do you think is causing such anger?" N'erak asked sotto voice as he followed Master Windu through the undamaged South entrance of the building.

Placing his hand gently on the Knight's shoulder, the Master opened a temporary mind-link much like the one he had used with Master Ravenna during his last visit to the Senate. \\I am not sure what has caused it, but I sense it is directed at us. We must be wary\\

Nodding his acknowledgement, N'erak deftly stepped out from under the Councilor's hand and continued on towards where he could feel the Force- signatures of the other Jedi. The few Senators and support personnel that still milled about in the hallways cleared a wide path for the Jedi, seemingly moving as far away as possible from any chance contact. Ignoring the odd behavior, the pair moved with the dignity and grace their training provided. It was only when they had turned a corner into a more deserted hallway, that Mace made contact again, this time allowing N'erak to begin.

\\That was decidedly odd. It was almost as if they are fearful of us\\ N'erak commented, slowing to keep pace with Master Windu so the physical contact necessary to facilitate the communication would not be lost.

\\It seems that much has happened here we were unaware of. I suggest we meet up with the others as quickly as possible. and that we not separate, or allow others to go off on their own\\ Switching to verbal communication as they approached the first wrecked hallway and had to separate to pass through the rubble, Mace finished. "Something tells me that this fear could prove more than troublesome for a lone Jedi."

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

Stepping through the ornate gates separating the shielded gardens from the rest of the Temple, Ravenna flinched as her connection to the Force was severed. It was a natural reaction all Jedi felt upon entering the Solitaire Gardens, as the natural Force-blocking agents came into affect. The garden was used for training mostly, but was also used by some of the elder Masters who found themselves in need of a retreat from their increasing powers in the Unifying Force. It was not easy, even for a Jedi, to simply accept visions of the future, and with the grim visions that had been reported as of late, more and more Masters sought the brief respite the gardens could provide.

As Ravenna hesitated briefly at the entryway, trying to find her balance without her Force-sense, Boba tugged impatiently at her. "You ha'e to hurry." the boy urged, pulling at her outstretched hand.

"Why is your Father here Boba?" Ravenna tried again, every instinct she had, even without her Force ability, telling her not to step any farther into the gardens.

"Because it's a lot easier to kill a Jedi when they don't have the Force," came a voice from deep within the foliage to her right. "And because I never turn down a challenge," the armored figure continued, as he lowered the slim metal blaster he had been holding.

Ravenna reached for her lightsaber that hung at her hip, but found she was unable to move her arm. It was only as she looked down at her chest in a mixture of shock and fear that she heard the sound of the blaster report, and realized that she was too late. And as Master Healer Ravenna slumped to the ground, her life force already having left the mortal remains, Boba Fett flashed a wide grin at his Father.

"Good job Da'!" The young boy cheered, stepping over the Healer and reaching out to his Father.

Scooping his son up, Jango's voice carried his own enthusiasm. "That's one down, only three to go."

Even though she was not Force-sensitive, Padmé knew the moment Anakin Skywalker died. And in that moment, something inside of her gave way, and a sorrow like none she had ever known rose to consume her. For she knew that the life she had been meant to lead- a life full of love- could never come to pass.

Drawing her hand back from his suddenly slack features, the Senator felt the sobs bubbling up, and did nothing to contain them. But it was not her cry of outrage and pain that echoed in the destroyed chamber, and it was not her voice that rang with such utter grief. It was a voice she had heard once before, in a security video that had become a guarded secret. It was wail of despair, rage and an all-consuming anguish; and it was undeniably the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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

Though she had gone to work immediately on determining the cause of her Bothan patient's distress, Bant found herself increasingly distracted by the strange ripples through the Force. Though the contact was a vague ambiguity at best, it was enough to cause the Healer unease. With all of the other Healers and apprentices busy in the exam rooms, the Mon Calamarian was the only Force-Sensitive in the crowded hallway, and could not share her observations. Without the input of another, she could not condone leaving such a critically ill patient due to only a faint feeling of apprehension. Resolving to keep her mind focused on her task, the Healer pushed the sensation away, resolving to study it further when another's life did not rest in her hands.

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

Every Jedi in the Senate building had felt the massive flair as the Lightside of the Force had suddenly surged. It had been a powerful and exhilarating rush as the Light overcame the Darkness that had fallen on the besieged building. For those few moments, each of the Jedi working on rescue and recovery had felt hope, and knew that the Darkness would not win the day.

The Jedi increased their efforts, drawing on the extra power surge and using it to lift the wreckage and clear the way to those trapped beneath. The Healers used it to treat the injuries that would have proven fatal if not for the sudden influx of power. All of the Jedi basked in the glow of the Light, though none knew the source of such bright intoxication.

It was only when the shade of the Darkside slammed down, and the Force returned to its dim reassurances that the Jedi realized all they could have had. and all they had lost.

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

Even in the Force-nulled field of the specially adapted closet, Sidious could sense when the Light was doused, and the Darkside prevailed. It beckoned to him, calling him to its seductive allure, promising the power and authority he had sought his whole life.

And as the Dark Lord rose from the hidden chamber, a new element surged through the Force, tipping it even farther to the influence of the Sith. Drinking in the blackened essence, and allowing it to fill him and restore his energies, Sidious felt his powers returning a hundred-fold. Gone was the need for deception, and the tenants of caution - for the Darkside had risen, and the Light would soon fall.

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

He left a world of pain and darkness rising and entered a realm of pure light and love. The Force sang to him and it was paradise. but it was a paradise that was not to be his. For even as he felt the embrace of the Living Force as it cradled his immortal soul, Anakin Skywalker knew that his job was not yet finished.

Master Carlasan had entered the cleared passageway only seconds behind Obi- Wan, but was quickly outpaced by the driven Knight. While Carlasan shared the same urgency and apprehension, she could not draw on the Force to ease her passage with the same skill and single-mindedness Obi-Wan had. Though her connection to the Light had been enhanced by his presence, his power still overwhelmed her own, and allowed him to disappear into the tunnel almost before she had registered its completion.

Running as quickly as she dared through the dangerous passageway, Carlasan could easily track Obi-Wan's progress through the maze, as he still radiated a blinding light - a manifestation of the incredible power resources he was drawing on. Although the light had dimmed somewhat when he had completed clearing the wreckage from the tunnel, it still shone brightly from the determined Knight, and it was an astonishing sight to behold.

Carlasan's attention was riveted by the power sheering off from the Light- blessed Jedi, and she found herself focusing her Force-senses on Obi-Wan. Even without the additional Force-acuity, the corona around the Knight was visibly beautiful; but with the Force enhancing her view, it was simply overwhelming. A thin outline of brilliant azure coated the Jedi's form, shining and flowing sinuously with Obi-Wan's movements. The edges of the azure blended into a dazzling gold, which sparked and rippled with suppressed energy throughout, before fading delicately into invisibility. It was an awesome sight, both breath-taking and compelling in its simple magnificence; and Carlasan could not draw her focus from it, even as she felt the powerful waves of distress from her Padawan.

It was the passage of Anakin Skywalker into the Force that finally broke the hold Obi-Wan inadvertently held over her and allowed Serrenia to reach her through the bond.

\\Master! I couldn't save him. I couldn't do it\\ the Padawan cried out, the psychic sobs almost more powerful than the ones that actually wracked the young girl's body. \\Anakin is dead, Master, and it's my fault. I should've taken the first aid classes sooner, or something. anything\\

\\Padawan, you did everything you could. It was the will of the Force that Anakin leave us\\ Carlasan consoled as she tried futilely to increase her pace. \\I know you felt Anakin enter the Force, and I know that you realize how happy he will be there\\

When no response was forthcoming from the grief-stricken Padawan, Carlasan forestalled any other attempt at solace, knowing that there was nothing she could say that would ease Serrenia's pain. It was a hard lesson for her young apprentice, watching a friend die, and it was a lesson Carlasan had hoped to delay as long as possible. The Force, however, had chosen this day to take Anakin Skywalker, and all the young Master could do was offer condolences and assurances to her young apprentice - and to the Knight she could no longer see in front of her.

The opening to the tunnel was just ahead, and she could make out the dim flickering of the glow rod around Serrenia's neck, but she no longer saw the radiance that illuminated Obi-Wan Kenobi. \Where did he go?\ Carlasan wondered, as she finally cleared the passage through the debris. She could not make out the form of the Knight anywhere in the small "room" created by the wreckage, but as the tunnel was the only opening large enough for anyone but her young apprentice, she knew he had to be there.

A sudden cry of pure desolation, so heart-wrenching that it tore at her very soul, drew Carlasan's focus to the kneeling form she could just barely make out among the ruins. The light that had gilded the Knight was absent, and in its place was an aura so dark it seemed to suck in the small illumination the glow rod provided. Taking a hesitant step towards the now- silent figure, Carlasan was suddenly halted as a pure wave of Darkside energy formed a wall in front of her, penning her in.

"Do not attempt to stop me," Obi-Wan hissed, his voice low and ragged.

"Obi-Wan?" Carlasan questioned, not understanding what it was he thought she would try to prevent. It was only as the tendrils of dark energy reached out for the fallen apprentice, wrapping around the still form, that she realized what he intended. "Don't do this Obi-Wan! Anakin is dead; he has joined with the Force. You cannot save him!" She shouted, trying to divert the Knight from his dangerous task.

As the blue-green eyes suddenly locked with her own gaze, Carlasan shuddered. For within the stormy orbs, she could clearly see the desolation and despair that had claimed the once-pure spirit, forging it into a fit and willing vessel for the powers of the Darkside.

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

The light could never and would never abandon its "Chosen One," but the Chosen One could, and did, abandon the light. For even as the Lightside of the Force was a powerful ally, and capable of aiding in amazing feats, it could not breathe life into the wan figure collapsed in a pool of his own blood. The Force called to its own, and the Light could never be used in such a way as to deny those who had become one with the all-encompassing field of radiance and love.

The Darkside, with its chains of soul-destructing service, had no such restrictions. It was an ultimate power; and did not refuse those who wielded it any ability - even the power to grant life itself. And so it was, in another decision fostered solely by love, that the Chosen One made his choice - and darkness fell.

Even though she had felt his spirit enter the Force, Serrenia could not and would not give up on Anakin. She had shared many classes with him during his four years at the Temple, and if there was one thing she had learned about the supposed "Chosen One," it was that he never gave up. She had seen Anakin take a beating during 'saber training, only to get up at the end of the match and ask his opponent for another round. Maybe it was because he had been a slave, and had had to develop resiliency, or maybe it was just a facet of his personality, as ingrained as the common flashes of petulance and anger; but regardless of the cause, Serrenia knew that Anakin was a fighter, and that he would not give up easily - even to death.

"Anakin Skywalker, I know you can hear me, and I know that even though I've failed you, you won't give up like this. Don't go out without a fight!" Serrenia whispered, as she leaned over Anakin and began to work to resuscitate him. She may not have had the course in first aid, but every Jedi, from initiate and up, knew CPR. "Hear me Anakin. and come back to us," she choked out between the breaths of air she forced down to his unresponding lungs.

When there was no sign of life from the still Padawan, Serrenia reached out to her Master in a desperate plea for advice. It took several attempts before she was able to reach her Master, and even then, Carlasan had no guidance to offer. The young apprentice had hoped her Master could tell her what to do, but it seemed as if Carlasan was distracted by something else and was not fully listening to her Padawan.

Deciding to give up on any help from her Master, Serrenia didn't even bother to respond when Carlasan sent vague assurances and condolences over the bond. Even as the tears of grief and sorrow streamed down her face, and sobs wracked her small frame, Serrenia was not about to give up hope. Anakin Skywalker was a fighter, and he would survive this.

Forcibly calming her sobs, Serrenia drew another heaving breath, then forced the life-giving air into her friend's lungs. Though she held a shred of hope that Anakin would live, Serrenia was not at all prepared when the Padawan suddenly drew in a shallow breath on his own. Pausing in her efforts long enough to be assured that it was a voluntary action on Anakin's part, and not a post-mortem response, Serrenia gently laid her head upon his chest, listening for the beat she hoped beyond all hope was there.

And when the steady, if weak, sound of Anakin's heart beating resounded assuredly in the warming chest, Serrenia immediately began sobbing again - only this time, she sobbed in pure joy.

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

The days of no sleep and little food had worn on Bant, and they almost cost her patient his life. Had she been fully awake and aware, she would have caught the slight irregularity sooner, but as it was, she barely noticed it in time to save the Bothan's life. The chemical analyses had all come back negative, and the Healer had been temporarily stymied. Standing a gentle vigil over her patient, and reaching out to the Force for guidance, Bant had only been able to feel the slight tremor in her patient's form in her own unnatural stillness.

The faint trembling had led her to the suspicion that perhaps the Bothan's distress was not chemically-induced, but instead caused by a neurological trauma. Trading her chemical scanner for one that could complete a physiological test, the Healer soon found the concussive damage to the patient's brain. The shockwave of the explosion had not caused any obvious physical damage, and without the in-depth scan, it would have been impossible to detect the swelling within the patient's brain cavity.

Quickly calling on the Force to relieve the pressure, and dampen the swelling until the neurosurgeon could be consulted, Bant breathed a sigh of relief as the Bothan's vitals immediately began climbing again. Once they were back within a "safe range," the Healer was comfortable leaving her patient in the hands of the more than competent Padawan that had arrived to assist her. With the Bothan no longer in danger, and the arrival of three Padawans from where they had been detained in the training rooms by the Temple security systems, Bant soon found herself with nothing to do but monitor the victims in the hallway until the exam rooms cleared out.

Settling down next to one of the more grievously wounded to monitor her progress, Bant allowed herself a short, but very much needed break. Reaching out to the Force to help replenish her dwindling energy, the Mon Calamarian soon felt the strange resonance within the energy field again. Delving into the Force and trying to determine the cause of the disturbance, the Healer was suddenly and unexpectedly pulled deeply into a trance state. Unable to resist the siren call of the Force, Bant relaxed and allowed it to guide her. And so it was, when she opened her "mind's eyes," that she found herself standing within a verdant green landscape, with rolling hills and cerulean skies as far as she could see.

Turning in a brief scan of her surroundings, the Healer immediately noticed the two figures that stood patiently behind her, as if awaiting her acknowledgement. And as the tremulous recognition came to her lips, Bant fell to her knees in shock. "Master Qui-Gon? Master Ravenna? What are you doing here?"

The rush of power was completely intoxicating. Where the power of the Lightside of the Force was controlled and organized, the Darkside was chaotic and completely uninhibited. The danger of the Darkside did not come from choosing to serve it over the Light, but rather from falling to its charms and seductions, and becoming a servant of its evil machinations. As he drew the tainted energy into his mind, allowing it to anchor itself and mold his consciousness to fit it, Obi-Wan tried valiantly to hold onto his morality. He knew that reaching for the Darkness would forever destroy him, but he did not want it to harm anyone else. He would gladly be consumed by its wrath to save Anakin, but he could not allow any others to suffer.

As the Dark energy swirled and burned in absolute frigidity throughout his mind, Obi-Wan drew one corner of his self into the strongest shields he could manufacture. Inside his "stronghold" he stored his love for Anakin, and his sense of duty and justice. Whatever remained outside the impenetrable walls of his mind's fortress would be forever forfeit, and a willing aide to the Dark; but inside the shields a piece of what had been Obi-Wan Kenobi would survive, and hopefully it would be enough to prevent him from truly becoming a Sith.

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

Carlasan looked on in horror as the Darkness flowed and ebbed around the Knight, forcibly extinguishing the Light and destroying all good within him. The Jedi that she had followed through the debris tunnel was gone, and in his place was a being she knew she was required to destroy. As a Jedi Master, she could not allow Obi-Wan to live in Darkness; not only for the Order's sake, but for his own.

"Obi-Wan, I hope you can forgive me for this," Carlasan whispered softly as she ignited her emerald 'saber and concentrated on the wall of Dark energy that had her pinned. As the wall fluctuated and then crumbled under her assault, the Jedi Master charged forward, intent on carrying out her duty.

As the Dark Force warned the fallen Jedi of her approach, Obi-Wan's eyes snapped open and he raised a hand in warning. When she did not halt or even slow her approach, he summoned the Force to him, and sent a wave of it crashing into the younger Master. With his conversion to the Darkside not complete, the power of the blow was easily deflected, and Carlasan was soon only a few meters from Obi-Wan.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, as you have forsaken your bond to the Light and the Jedi Order, you are condemned to death," the female Master intoned, as she came to a stop. "Do you agree to stand and face your punishment before the High Council or will I be forced to carry out your sentence now?"

"Stand down, Carlasan," Obi-Wan hissed, lowering his hand back to his side and rising unsteadily to his feet. "I do not want to fight you, but if you get in my way, I will kill you."

"Your choice is made," she finished, the slight tremor in her voice the only indication of her response to the ritual words of condemnation. Raising her 'saber up in a last salute, she then advanced on the Knight. With his own lightsaber still inactive from the earlier deluge, and Dooku's in Carlasan's grasp, Obi-Wan had no weapon with which to defend himself.

Backing up steadily from the approaching Master, Obi-Wan's gaze searched the "room," before coming to rest on the three figures huddled in the far corner. He thought he recognized Senator Amidala among them, but he did not take the time to be certain. Carlasan's Padawan knelt over Anakin, and none of the three seemed aware of what was happening on the other side of the room.

Concentrating, and trying to draw on the Force, Obi-Wan found himself breaking out in a sweat even though he was only trying to complete a simple levitation. Gritting his teeth and using his slight remaining connection to the Light to enhance the Darkside energy, he was finally successful in calling the female Padawan's lightsaber to him.

Immediately igniting the purple blade, he raised it just in time to block a strike from Carlasan, who had not been expecting the move. The emerald blade sparked and hissed as it came in contact with Serrenia's 'saber, and the shock that played over Carlasan's features was enough that Obi-Wan let out a small laugh.

Almost immediately, his mirth was replaced with a grim determination as he drew on both the Light and the Dark to fight. Master Carlasan was younger than he was, and normally not as skilled with the 'saber, but with his dual connections so out of balance, and fluctuating so rapidly, she was a dangerous combatant. The Darkside and the Lightside fought within him, even as both guided him in the physical fight, and Obi-Wan found both his powers and his perceptions wildly vacillating. At times the two would cancel each other out, and he would be left to defend with his physical prowess alone. At other times, it was almost as if the two blended, and he felt a power within stronger than any he had ever encountered.

As the light and the dark continued their waged war, and the two Masters persisted in their conflict, neither Obi-Wan nor Carlasan noticed the slight surge in the Lightside of the Force as Anakin awoke.

Master Jinn offered a greeting, but it was Master Healer Ravenna who held Bant's attention. Her former Master had always been a striking woman, but as she now appeared, she had an almost ethereal beauty. Her raven-hair shone blue/black and her creamy skin shone with the incandescence of the Force. It was the wisdom and love that now shone in her eyes, though, that struck the Mon Calamarian.

"Master Ravenna?" Bant questioned, her voice trembling with emotion.

Ravenna merely inclined her head gently in response, allowing Qui-Gon to answer the implied question.

"Ravenna has not been here long enough to be able to communicate with you yet," Master Jinn explained, as he laid a consoling hand on the silent Master Healer's shoulder. "She is able to appear with me only, and even that is a great feat."

"'Here' long enough?" the Mon Calamarian asked, even though she suspected the answer already.

"She is one with the Force now," Qui-Gon said gently, watching sadly as Bant tried to touch her former Master but was unable to make contact. "She wanted the opportunity to say goodbye, and as I intimately understand how hard it is to not be able to say farewell to those you love, I agreed to help her. She cannot touch you, or speak to you, but she can hear whatever you have to say to her."

Offering a tremulous smile to the older Master, Bant tried to adjust to the sudden onslaught of emotions with her characteristic humor. "So it wasn't enough to just defy the Council, you had to defy the Force as well?" she asked Qui-Gon softly, though her eyes never left Ravenna's face.

"It is not the will of the Force to keep loved ones apart," Master Jinn answered with a sympathetic smile. "But there are some things that even the Force cannot do alone," he finished before stepping away to allow the two a modicum of privacy.

Once the elder Master had moved a few meters away, Bant tried to think of something to say to Ravenna. She knew intellectually that this would probably be her last opportunity to speak to her former Master, but emotionally she could not accept it. She hadn't even realized anything had happened to the Master Healer, let alone that she had passed into the Force.

"I'm sorry," Bant finally managed, her voice coming out in a choked whisper. "I don't know what has happened, but I'm sorry I wasn't there with you to protect you. or. to h.help you."

At the Mon Calamarian's apology, Ravenna stepped closer to her former Padawan and unconsciously tried to reach out to her. When her hand passed through Bant's salmon-colored skin, the Master Healer drew back in disappointment and a fair amount of disgust. Unable to verbalize her thoughts, and unable to offer physical comfort, Ravenna could only try to communicate her feelings through her loving gaze. Unhappy with such a poor connection, the Master Healer tried desperately to reach out to Bant through the remains of their Master/Padawan bond.

\\It was the will of the Force, my Padawan. There is nothing you could have done. Know this though, you have made me so proud, and I will be watching over you always\\

Bant heard only the barest whisper in her mind, more emotion than words, but it was enough to convey Ravenna's love and unconditional forgiveness. Opening her silvery eyes from where they had fallen closed in response to the mental communication, Bant was startled to see Ravenna's form begin to waver and fade. With a last soft smile, the Master Healer disappeared.

Seeing the Mon Calamarian's distress, Qui-Gon quickly returned from where he had been quietly standing off and observing. "It takes a great deal of energy to manifest oneself," he explained softly, as he came to stand beside the younger Healer. "Ravenna would not normally have been able to do so, but the fluctuations in the Force have made what was once impossible, possible."

"I wasn't ready for her to leave yet," Bant whispered, as she turned to face the other Master. "There was so much I wanted to tell her, so many things that needed said."

"She knows," Qui-Gon consoled, as he wrapped the shivering Healer in a warm embrace. "Believe me, Master Ravenna knows how much you love her, and even if she couldn't tell you directly, I am certain that you know how much she loves you, and how proud she is of you."

"I know," Bant sighed, after allowing a few moments to pass in comfort and silence. Gently stepping back from Master Jinn, she took a deep breath, slowly releasing it and her churning emotions before attempting to speak again.

"As much as I appreciate what you have done for Master Ravenna and I, I sense there is more to this," the Healer stated, giving Qui-Gon a shrewd look. "You mentioned something about fluctuations in the Force?"

"I would not deny Ravenna the chance to say goodbye, " the Master admitted, his blue eyes meeting and holding her own gaze, "but there is also something you must do." Releasing a deep sigh, Qui-Gon allowed his gaze to fall to the green field beneath him. "It will not be easy, and I would not ask you to do this if it were not absolutely necessary."

"What must I do?" Bant asked evenly, as she kept her gaze fixated on Master Jinn.

"Bring balance to the Force," he answered so quietly that Bant nearly took a step closer to hear him, before his next statement sent her reeling back in shock. "You must bring balance to the Force. by destroying the Chosen One."

It was barely a whisper in the Force, but its effect was instantaneous. The 'saber battle that had been waged so fiercely across the damaged floor ended abruptly as one of the combatants simply failed to block a strike. The emerald blade was quickly retracted, but not before the damage had been done. The distinctive odor of charred flesh wafted through the destroyed passageway, but the injured party paid it no heed.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked, the Force whisper just barely tickling at his senses. Reaching out with his combined powers, he felt the trickle of life soon become a flow, and the flow a tide, washing over him and almost carrying him away with the pure joy it evoked. Ignoring the purple 'saber he had dropped in his astonishment, the Knight attempted to go to his fallen apprentice. The hissing green blade soon stopped him however.

"Knight Kenobi, you are under arrest under the strictures of the Jedi Code," Carlasan stated. "As you have apparently acceded to appear before the Council, I need not take your life now."

"I have 'acceded' to nothing," Obi-Wan sighed, refusing to turn his gaze from where it was fixated on Anakin. "And I do not intend to appear before the Council as a prisoner," he finished, deftly stepping around the startled Master and moving again towards the trio in the corner.

"You are under arrest," Carlasan ordered, once again stepping into his path. "You will appear before the Jedi Council, and they will determine whether or not you can be turned back from your path to the Darkside. Until they make their ruling you are to be incarcerated."

Gazing impassively at the emerald 'saber that blocked his path, the Knight's face twisted in a sardonic grin. "I believe we have had this discussion," he said, as reached out with his bare hand and gripped the glowing blade, pushing it out of his way. "And I believe I told you not to get in my way."

As Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped around her frozen form and moved to kneel by Anakin, Carlasan could only stare in open-mouthed shock. \There is no way he just did that! Lightsabers can cut through metal easily; it is impossible that he just touched one with his bare hand and pushed it out of his way as if it was nothing\

"Apparently it isn't impossible, considering I just did it," Obi-Wan commented from where he knelt on the debris-covered floor. "And now, if you are finished staring at me, perhaps you would consider coming over here and helping?"

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

"You want me to what?!" Bant exclaimed as she fixed Qui-Gon with a look that told him exactly what she thought of his request.

"I do not believe I need to repeat myself," Master Jinn answered as he folded his hands inside his robe sleeves. "The 'Chosen One' will bring balance to the Force, but only through destruction and mass genocide. It is an outcome that is to be avoided at all costs."

"You want me to kill Obi-Wan," the Healer clarified.

"If that is what is necessary, than yes," Qui-Gon answered calmly. "But I believe there are other alternatives that should be tried first."

"Like what? Force-blinding him? That's no alternative!" Bant argued. "I don't know who you think you are, Master Jinn, or what kind of influence you think you have, but I want you to know something," the Healer growled, taking a step forward until she stood just in front of Qui-Gon. "Four years ago, you destroyed my best friend. You cast him aside for your "Chosen One," tossing him out as if he meant nothing to you. Then, in your last moments alive, instead of telling him how much he meant to you, you condemned him to servitude and sacrifice. I was the one that stood by him, trying to help him create a life out of the shambles you left him. I was the one that sat with him during the long nights when he either couldn't sleep, or cried until he was too exhausted to do anything but sleep."

When Qui-Gon made as if to interrupt, the Mon Calamarian silenced him with a glare before continuing her diatribe. "I have watched as the young man I knew that loved swimming and being with his friends grew into an old man who spends his "downtime" recuperating from the latest suicide mission from which the Jedi Council swore he wouldn't return." Planting her palm squarely in the middle of the startled Master's chest, Bant finished. "You have already destroyed the boy I loved Master Jinn, and there is nothing in this universe that could convince me to harm him any further."

"Do you honestly think I would ask you to do this if it wasn't necessary?" Qui-Gon asked, his voice softened by the pain that was evident in it. "Do you think that I wanted to hurt Obi-Wan? Don't you know that I would have done anything I could have to spare him this pain?"

"You cast him aside like he was nothing and nobody!" Bant exclaimed. "If that is love, I'd hate to see what you would do to your enemies!"

Qui-Gon closed his eyes, and the Healer could feel the Force gathering around him. He called to it effortlessly, and it swirled around the two figures, welcoming both into its embrace. The plain they stood on morphed and changed into a simple gray field, with the ebb and flow of the Force clearly visible. The Unifying Force stretched out before them, with all the possible futures mapped and marked. Bant watched the changing scenery warily until the icy blue eyes opened again, and Master Jinn spoke.

"You believe that I hurt Obi-Wan, and I admit it," Qui-Gon stated firmly. "What you don't know is what would have happened had he not been forced into training Anakin. His suffering now is nothing compared to what could have happened, not only to him, but to the galaxy as a whole. If you will not agree to help me, than you have condemned the entire universe."

When Mace and N'erak arrived at the Rescue-staging area, they found it deserted. "Where did everyone go?" the younger Knight asked, not even bothering to reinitiate the telepathic communication.

"I'm not sure," Mace answered truthfully as he reached out to the Force for answers. "I know that there was a large convergence of Force-users here recently, but I can feel no trace of them now. It's almost as if there is a null space nearby."

Confirming the Master's hypothesis with his own scan, N'erak nodded. "There is some kind of a Force-inhibiting field nearby, but I don't think that it is concealing all of the signatures we felt before. Instead, I think it is merely preventing us from taking an accurate gauge of the Force."

"If it isn't concealing the signatures of the other Jedi, than where are they?" Master Windu asked with a trace of the impatience he felt in his tone.

"I'm not sure," the Knight stated. "But I think we're about to find out," he added as the sound of a rapidly approaching crowd filtered down the wrecked passageway.

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

Padmé didn't know whether to be relieved or worried when Obi-Wan dropped to his knees beside Anakin. She knew that the Padawan had wanted his Master there, but after looking on as the Knight battled another Jedi for seemingly no reason, she was uncertain of his motives.

"Master Kenobi?" she questioned uncertainly, all the while trying to maneuver herself into a position where she could defend Anakin if necessary. \Although my chances against a Jedi are right up there with a Bantha's chances on Hoth.\

Ignoring her soft entreaty, Obi-Wan instead turned and addressed the other Jedi, asking for her assistance. "If you are finished staring at me, perhaps you would consider coming over here and helping?"

"Of course," the female Jedi answered, though she sounded as if she wanted to say something else but wasn't able to. Padmé had not been witness to the entire 'saber duel, as her attention had been on Anakin's return to life, but she had seen and heard enough to know that something peculiar had happened.

"Master Kenobi?" the Senator tried again, this time raising her voice up high enough that she was certain he would hear her.

"Senator Amidala," Obi-Wan replied distractedly, "I understand that you are confused and uncertain, but right now I need to focus on my Padawan."

"Of course," Padmé stated, unconsciously parroting the other Jedi Master in her discomfiture.

Ignoring both older women, Obi-Wan turned instead to Serrenia, who had remained silent. "Has he regained consciousness yet?"

"No," the Padawan sighed, "but his breathing has become more steady, and his heartbeat is growing stronger. I think those are both good signs."

"Indeed, they are," Master Carlasan agreed, as she knelt beside her Padawan and took one of Anakin's limp hands in her own. Closing her eyes and focusing the Living Force into the pale appendage, she was able to take an in-depth scan of his condition. "He's still going to need to see a Healer right away, but I think if we can get this debris off of him, he'll be okay," she stated as the results filtered back to her.

"I'll take care of that," Obi-Wan declared, already putting words into action as he lifted the heavy chunk of permacrete gently before tossing it unceremoniously aside. Once the weight was lifted off of the Padawan's back, the Knight spoke again. "Can we move him now, or should we contact the Healers and have them come to us?"

"I think we would be better off waiting for the Healer to come here," Carlasan began, before being interrupted by Serrenia.

"No, we need to leave," the Padawan exclaimed urgently. "Now," she added when both the Masters and the Senator simply stared at her.

"Padawan." Carlasan warned, but was interrupted yet again, this time by Obi- Wan.

"She's right," he declared, after hesitating long enough to discover what had caused Serrenia to breach protocol so pointedly. "She has been holding up a good part of the wreckage for the past few minutes while we were otherwise occupied," he explained to the other Master, gesturing to the creaking beams above them. "As gifted as your Padawan is in Force levitation, I don't think it will be enough to stop this entire wing of the Senate Complex from collapsing on us," he finished wryly.

Studying the failing structure, Carlasan immediately nodded her agreement. "We should be able to create a cushion around Anakin that will prevent further injury when we move him," she suggested.

"Can you levitate him while I create the cushioning?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"That might work, or." the other Master began to outline her plan when the Senator interrupted.

"What about the others?" Padmé asked softly, her voice barely carrying over Carlasan and Obi-Wan's planning.

"What others?" Master Carlasan questioned, turning to face the Senator.

"The other members of my guard, Lieutenant Typho, the hanger attendants." Padmé trailed off as the consoling expressions of the Jedi answered her query.

"I'm sorry Senator Amidala," Obi-Wan said softly, laying a hand gently on her shoulder. "I'm certain that if Anakin could've extended the Force barrier any farther, he would have."

"The other Jedi may have succeeded in rescuing others from the hanger bay," Carlasan added, when the Senator made no response. "There are many teams of Knights and Padawans working diligently throughout the Senate, and I'm sure that they have succeeded in rescuing many today."

"And yet, how many have died because of me?" Padmé sighed, as she brought a bloody hand up to push back the loose strands of her hair.

"What do you mean, 'because of you'?" Obi-Wan asked, his attention focused solely on Padmé.

"Don't you understand?" the Senator growled, growing frustrated not only at the unrepentant hair but also at her uncomprehending audience. "The bomb wasn't meant to destroy the Senate Hanger bay, it was meant to kill me."

The beginning sequence of events was familiar enough, even if she hadn't actually experienced them. The replay was comprised of the moments of Obi- Wan Kenobi's life - from when she had first known him in the crèche through his apprenticeship to Master Qui-Gon Jinn. The big moments of his life were highlighted, but all of the smaller events, that made Obi-Wan the man that he was, were also presented.

It was only when the replay had reached the time of the ill-fated mission to Naboo that the events began to differ from what Bant knew had actually occurred. It began the same, with the young Obi-Wan and his Master going to the small Republic planet to initiate trade talks, but the events took a different turn upon the duo's return to Naboo from Coruscant.

Bant had not been present to experience the actual events of the Trade Federation invasion and the battle with the Sith, but after listening to Obi-Wan recount the events again and again, looking for places where he might have changed the outcome, she was familiar with it. The 'saber battle between the Sith and the two Jedi seemed to occur much the way Obi-Wan had experienced it, with the apprentice being trapped behind the energy wall while Master Jinn was struck down. The wall extinguished, and Obi-Wan engaged the Sith, using anger and rage to fuel his attack. The Darksider used the energy against the Jedi apprentice, knocking him off into the reactor pit. It was only through his acrobatic skill that Obi-Wan was able to vanquish the Sith, ending the battle just in time to be at his Master's side as Qui-Gon drew his last breath.

And it was with Qui-Gon's last words that the reality Bant knew disintegrated, and a darkness settled over the Galactic Republic. Instead of making his apprentice swear to train Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon used his final moments to tell Obi-Wan how proud he was of him, and how much he wished he could have stood at his side at the Knighting Ceremony. But it was the Master's final statement that sealed the darker fate, even as it was a revelation made with the best intent.

You should know. you deserve to know. Anakin is not the Chosen One.you.are.

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

The sounds of the approaching crowd grew louder and louder, and as the mob drew nearer, the Force rang with warning. Drawing his lightsaber, but not igniting it, Mace whispered urgently to N'erak. "Take a position where you can watch without being seen. Don't draw attention to yourself, and if something happens, remain hidden until you can seek out reinforcements."

"I am not going to hide like some initiate," N'erak muttered back indignantly. "If anyone should remain unseen, it should be you. I'm just another nameless Knight, you're Master Windu of the High Council."

"Which is why I should be the one to talk to these people," Mace answered exasperatedly. "We don't have time for this, just do as I say."

"No," N'erak argued. "You have a better chance of getting help if we need it. No one is going to listen to me, but you have the authority to deploy other Knights and Masters. Don't be arrogant. I am right and you know it."

Sighing, but acquiescing to N'erak's logic, Master Windu drew back into one of the corners created by the field of wreckage. Drawing the Force around him to conceal himself even further, Mace settled into watch and wait for the mob to arrive. He didn't have a long wait.

Almost before he had finished erecting the Force barrier, the flicker of glow rods could be seen in the unnatural shadows of the destroyed hallway. The faces of the approaching crowd could barely be made out in the distorted light, but a few recognizable figures were present. Mas Amedda seemed to be leading the gathering, and it was he who addressed N'erak.

"You are a Jedi?" the Vice-Chancellor of the Galactic Republic asked, even though the unignited lightsaber and robes of the Jedi Order made the question inane.

"Yes," N'erak answered in the same formal tone of voice.

"Then you are under arrest," Amedda declared, motioning for the guards that accompanied him to restrain the Knight.

"May I ask what for?" N'erak questioned, making no move to lower his lightsaber, or back off from his defensive stance.

"For the assassination of Senator Amidala and for terroristic actions against the Galactic Senate," Amedda stated. "The reign of the Jedi Order is no more, and all of its "members" are to be restrained and incarcerated pending an investigation."

"And if I refuse to submit to your mockery of justice?" the Knight queried, as he took a few steps back from the approaching guards and moved into a better defensible position.

"If you resist arrest," Amedda smirked, as he motioned the guards to attack, "you will be killed."

"Senator, I understand that you are upset by all that has happened, but we really don't have time for this," Obi-Wan said after a brief pause. "There is much guilt to go around, but I do not think you have much, if any, of a share in it."

"You don't understand," Padmé argued as she rose swiftly to her feet. "I am not engaged is some kind of self-pity. I am trying to tell you that someone is trying to have me killed, and that it wasn't supposed to happen like this."

"Senator, we really don't have time for this now," Master Carlasan reiterated, as she also rose to her feet and began to work at gathering enough of the Force to move Anakin.

"I understand that, but I think that this is important," Padmé explained. "I think that Chancellor Palpatine was behind the assassination attempts, and I think that trying to kill me is only the beginning of his misdeeds."

"Do you have any proof?" Carlasan asked as both Obi-Wan and Serrenia refrained from commenting.

"Nothing concrete," the Senator admitted, "but I am certain enough to know that we need to be careful around him and the other Senators. There is something going on here, and I don't think it is safe to trust anyone."

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

The shock that rocked Obi-Wan after Qui-Gon's final utterance was passed on to Bant, even though she had known that he was the Chosen One. His absolute incredulity at his Master's lie was coupled with his sorrow and depression at Qui-Gon's death, creating a mixture of emotion uncontrollable and dangerous. The heartrending cry that the apprentice had made as the Sith's blade slipped through his Master's defenses was nothing compared to the soul-shattering bellow he made as his entire world fell apart around him. Everything he had known, and everyone he had trusted, had been false.

"Why did you lie to me? What else didn't you tell me?" Obi-Wan sobbed as he held and rocked his Master's cooling body. Unable to do anything but observe, Bant could do nothing to comfort her distressed friend, or to warn him as the darkness rose up around him. She could only watch and worry as Obi-Wan fell farther into the all-consuming seduction of the Darkside, aided by a shadowy figure that soon became a prominent influence in his life.

Though something prevented her from making an identification, Bant was present for each of the "meetings" between the alternate-reality Obi-Wan and the Sith. Though the Darksider never came out and actively recruited the Knight, he was always there to highlight the Jedi Council's arrogance and abuse of authority, and the corruption that eroded the Galactic Senate. The Sith made sure to feed Obi-Wan's growing sense of injustice, fostering it not only through words of encouragement, but also through the Darksider's connection and influence over Master Yoda.

With the Head Council member under the control of the Sith, Obi-Wan was sent on more and more dangerous missions, with less and less downtime in- between. The missions were not unlike the "Kenobi Specials" that the Obi- Wan of Bant's reality had undertaken, but unlike in her reality, there was no Anakin Skywalker to bolster the Knight up between assignments. Instead, Obi-Wan returned to an empty apartment, and an unappreciative and demanding Council.

Obi-Wan did not even have the consolation of his friendships in this reality, as the Sith had made certain to remove all whom held any tie to the Knight. Garen had once again turned to the Darkside, and N'erak and Bant had each been killed on missions. Ravenna was serving the Jedi on the Outer Rim, and Master Windu held little but contempt for the Knight. With no one to rely on but the "friendship" of the Sith, Obi-Wan was an easy victim for the Darkside.

Even with his innate "goodness" intact, there was only so much Obi-Wan Kenobi could take before his anger overtook him. It had been a part of him since his early days as an initiate of the Jedi Order, and it didn't take much for the Sith to enhance it in the dark reality the Knight faced day by day. Bant could even sympathize with Obi-Wan's choices, though she knew that they led to a path of darkness. With such a dismal existence, and an arrogant and aloof Council, it was almost understandable when he embraced the Darkside, and took his place in as second-in-command of a Galaxy wide regime that wiped out the Galactic Senate and Jedi Order, replacing them with an Empire the likes of which had never before been seen.

And as the vestiges of the Republic fell one by one before the might of the Empire, Bant could only watch in saddened detachment as her friend fell farther and farther into the grips of the Darkside. And though he never turned his back fully on the Light, Obi-Wan Kenobi was at the forefront of the wave of darkness that descended over the Galaxy, sweeping away everything and everyone Bant had ever known.

The Senate guards approached slowly, wary of engaging a Jedi Knight, even as they had already arrested several. None of the other Jedi, however, had resisted. Using stun blasters only, the five guards converged on the lone Knight, forming a semi-circle around his position.

"We don't want to have to hurt you," the Captain of the team announced. "Lower your weapon and surrender and no harm will come to you."

"Now why would I want do a thing like that?" N'erak asked sarcastically, just barely finishing his sentence before the guards began to fire. Instantly igniting his 'saber, he easily deflected the blasts toward the wrecked walls and ceiling. After he had parried all of the shots, and the guards began to realize they were at a stalemate, he spoke again.

"You can see that I have no intention of going with you," he stated calmly, adding just a twinge of Force compulsion. "I suggest you return to your duties and release the other Jedi you have taken prisoner. We are not responsible for this catastrophe, and by imprisoning us, you are taking away your greatest source of assistance."

The guards had lowered their blasters and began to back off under the force of the compulsion, but Mas Amedda was not affected. "What are you doing?" the enraged politician yelled at the security force. "I told you what the orders were if any of the Jedi resisted."

"Sir?" the Captain asked, his mind still fogged by N'erak's suggestion.

His words a vehement hiss, Amedda again gave the order. "Kill him."

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

"Senator, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is a well known fact that politicians are never to be trusted," Obi-Wan sighed, after Padme finished. "Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the concept?"

Bristling under the sarcastic implication, the Senator merely huffed and turned to the other Jedi Master. "All I am saying is that it is not wise to trust Chancellor Palpatine. I think he is much more dangerous than he seems."

"We will take it under advisement," Carlasan answered, before Obi-Wan could make another cynical retort. "But for now, the greater danger comes from remaining in this area any longer than is necessary. We really must move Anakin to a safer location."

"Of course," Padme agreed, stepping back so that the two Jedi Masters could carefully lift Anakin and begin the arduous task of moving him. Turning her attention to the Jedi Padawan, she watched as Serrenia reached out and used the Force to call her lightsaber gently back to her hand from where Obi-Wan had dropped it.

Motioning to the 'saber hilt, the Senator whispered to the Padawan. "Why did Master Kenobi have your lightsaber?"

"I'm not sure," Serrenia answered, in just as soft of tones. "I don't really know why he and my Master were fighting in the first place. It looks like whatever was wrong between them is settled now though."

"It would appear so," Padme agreed as she watched the two Jedi work in tandem to gently float Anakin's limp form toward the "tunnel" opening. "Though I am curious to know what would cause a Jedi Master to draw her weapon on another Master. Isn't that a grave offense?"

Pausing before answering and gauging whether or not her Master was paying attention to the conversation, Serrenia finally answered so softly that the Senator barely heard it. "Yes it is a major offense. And I've never heard of it happening unless one of the Jedi had turned to the Darkside."

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

The Senate Captain hesitated before issuing the order to switch from the stun blasters to the more conventional weapons, and it was during his brief moment of indecision that N'erak made his escape. Using the skills acquired in his many undercover missions for the Jedi Council, the Knight called the Force to him, using it to blanket his presence and project a false image of himself fleeing back down the ruined hallway. The phantom image drew the attention, and the blaster fire, of the guards, enabling him the time he needed to fully conceal himself. By the time the guards realized that they had been firing at a mere projection, N'erak had completely disappeared from their view.

"Find him!" Amedda ordered, as he turned and began to stalk back in the direction from which he had come.

"And what do you want us to do with him when we find him, Sir? Should we imprison him with the rest?" the Captain questioned.

"No, he lost his chance to live," the Vice-Chancellor called over his shoulder. "When you find him, destroy him."

"Yes sir," the Captain saluted.

"And gentlemen?" Amedda said, pausing in his departure to turn a dark glare on the guards. "Don't fail again. You know who your orders come from, and you know the price failure brings. Imagine what he will do if he finds out you have failed him not once, but twice."

"Yes sir!" all five guards declared, before swiftly deploying to track the errant Knight. Each had witnessed the "price" of failing their leader, and none wished to experience it first hand.

After the vision ended, Bant took several moments to regain her composure before attempting to speak to Master Jinn. Even if it had been a vision that would never come to pass, the atrocities she had watched her best friend commit were disturbing. That Obi-Wan could commit such acts, even in such an alternate reality, was something the Mon Calamarian would have never considered possible.

"Do you understand now why Obi-Wan had to train Anakin?" Qui-Gon asked after allowing the few moments for the shock to wear off.

"Honestly, no," Bant responded. "I don't understand what I just saw. Is that what would have happened had he not trained Anakin? And if so, how is that supposed to convince me to destroy him?"

"Oftentimes we do not realize the repercussions of our actions until it is too late," Qui-Gon began, "but in this case I was 'privileged' to know exactly what harm I could have caused."

"You saw this vision before you were killed," the Healer surmised.

Master Jinn nodded. "It was during the transport from Coruscant to Naboo. I didn't realize entirely what it meant, but I realized enough to know that I would die, and that Obi-Wan would fall if I didn't do something."

"Did you know he was the Chosen One before then?" Bant asked, wanting to understand why Qui-Gon would have kept the information from his Padawan for so long.

"No, I did not. The Council knew, or at least I think they did, since they responded so oddly to my revelation that Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One, but I did not know of it until the Force graced me with that vision."

"But in the vision, you tell Obi-Wan that he is the Chosen One. How could you do that if you didn't know?" Bant questioned as she found herself becoming more confused by Master Jinn's explanation.

"As Master Yoda says 'The Future is always in motion,'" the Master quoted. "Perhaps something would have happened between the time on the transport and the time of the battle with the Sith that would have notified me that he was the real child of Prophecy. Or maybe it was something that I always suspected, and would have finally accepted at the moment of my death. I honestly don't know," Qui-Gon admitted. "All I know is that, though I was able to prevent that dark future from occurring, I was not able to totally prevent the chance of Obi-Wan falling to the Darkside."

"So you want me to 'destroy' him, simply because he could turn to the Darkside?" the Healer queried incredulously. "Perhaps I am mistaken, but isn't that something that all Jedi face; that any of us could one day fall?"

Sighing and releasing his clasped hands, Qui-Gon brought one up to massage the bridge of his nose, before responding. "Yes every Jedi has the potential to fall to the Darkside, but no other Jedi has the power that Obi- Wan does."

"If Obi-Wan is so powerful, couldn't he use it to further the Lightside of the Force?" Bant interrupted. "Why do you automatically assume that he will use his power for evil?"

"Because no Jedi should ever have so much power," the Master stated. "The Prophecy of the Chosen One is incomplete at best. Jedi historians have spent centuries trying to find the rest of the information, but it appears to have simply disappeared, if it ever existed at all. It is entirely possible that the rest of the Prophecy explains why the Chosen One is so dangerous."

"You are making a lot of assumptions," the Healer chastised. "You assume that Obi-Wan will fall, you assume that the missing parts of the Prophecy would speak of the need to destroy the Chosen One, and most of all, you assume that I will believe you. And that, Master Jinn, is your greatest misassumption."

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

Mas Amedda left the group of Senate Guards to capture the final Jedi, and made his way up to his superior's office. He knew that the Chancellor should be in his offices, and needed to report to him about the imprisonment of the many Masters, Knights and Padawans that the guards had already captured. Amedda had not actually been told to round up the Jedi, but he had also not been told about the explosion. When he had tried to contact Chancellor Palpatine, the comm. link had not gone through, leaving him to make the immediate decisions on his own until he could make his way to Palpatine's private offices.

\Let's just hope I made the right decision\ the Vice-Chancellor worried as he entered through the outer office door. \If I didn't, Chancellor Palpatine is not going to be happy\ Shuddering slightly at the thought of what an unhappy Palpatine could and would do, Amedda hesitated before chiming the inner office door. Before he could gather his courage to ring the bell, the door slid open to reveal the dark cloaked figure of his leader. Bowing slightly, Mas Amedda was quickly admitted into the private offices. And as the doorway slid shut again, he began to give his report on the beginning of the fall of the Jedi Order to the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.

Obi-Wan would have preferred to move Anakin by himself, but he found that his grasp of the Force was not steady enough to do so. While he seemed to have an overabundance of power, he couldn't direct it in the manner he was used to, and it seemed to be controlling him more than the other way around. \I just hope I don't accidentally do something to hurt Anakin or Carlasan.\ the Knight worried as he felt the power ebbing and surging within him. It was both intoxicating and frightening in its sheer strength, and it was something he would have liked to have more time to investigate before relying on it to safely move his apprentice. \At least Carlasan seems willing to help. now that she isn't trying to kill me\

Turning to regard the focus of his thoughts, Obi-Wan wasn't surprised to see the other Master keeping a wary eye on him. "Did the Jedi deploy Healers here or are we going to have to transport Anakin to the Temple?" he asked, trying to keep her attention focused on the task at hand and away from the previous incident.

"There should be Healers here," Carlasan answered curtly, watching as her apprentice called her 'saber to her hand. "We shouldn't have far to go."

"Well then, shall we get started?" Obi-Wan questioned, trying to keep his tone as light as possible. He wasn't entirely sure what had transpired during the past several moments, and judging by Carlasan's appraisal of him, it was probably something he was better off not remembering. It was almost as if the Force had taken control of his body as he felt Anakin's life force slipping. He remembered making the decision to do whatever it took to save his Padawan's life, but he didn't recall what exactly he might have done. Even Senator Amidala seemed to be somewhat afraid of him, and fear was an emotion he had rarely, if ever, detected from the young leader.

\Maybe I'm better off not knowing what I might have done to save Anakin. He's alive now, and that is just going to have to be enough for me\ Shaking off the disconcerting feeling that the strange new power engendered in him, Obi-Wan accepted Carlasan's affirmative acknowledgement and immediately went to work at the task of levitating Anakin out of the make-shift tunnel. \There is no ignorance. but somehow I think this is one situation where knowledge is not necessarily something I want\

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

Sidious watched with barely concealed glee as Mas Amedda slunk into his office. He had felt the man's apprehension and fear through the Force several minutes before the Vice-Chancellor had even entered his outer office, and he had not hesitated in opening the inner door of his private chambers at the politician's arrival. It was obvious that Amedda had something to do with the surging of the Darkside, and Sidious was determined to discover what the politician had done.

"Chancellor Palpatine," Amedda said, the slight quiver in his voice belying his extreme fear.

"What have you done?" Palpatine asked, allowing just a trace of "Sidious" in his tone.

"I could not reach you." the Vice-Chancellor began, before a quelling glance from Palpatine hastened his explanation. "I ordered that the Jedi be apprehended and taken to the Chamber."

"And you did this under what authority?" the Chancellor hissed.

"I. I. thought it was what you wanted," Amedda shivered, dropping his gaze to the dark crimson carpeting of the inner office.

Allowing himself a few more moments to delight in the man's unabashed fear, Sidious made no comment, and instead watched the slim control Amedda held over his panic dissolve before his very eyes. Only when the Vice-Chancellor was completely and utterly terrified, did Palpatine speak. "You have done well."

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

Neither Mace nor N'erak dared make a sound or movement until the Senate Guards had moved well beyond the hallway they were concealed in. It was only when they were certain that the guards had moved on, that N'erak lowered his Force-shield and moved to stand next to the still concealed Master Windu. Positioning himself so he was also behind the Master's wall of Force illusion, the Knight concentrated his energy on creating the necessary bridge between them for mental communication.

\\We need to contact the Council, and let them know what is going on here\\ Mace said once the telepathic link was open.

\\We can't just abandon the other Jedi that are here\\ N'erak argued. \\It is obvious that they are in danger from whomever Amedda is answering to\\

\\You believe he was speaking of the Sith\\ Master Windu stated rather than asked.

\\I do\\ N'erak admitted. \\It is obvious that the guards are afraid of their leader. Even the Vice-Chancellor seems to be unwilling to upset his "boss."\\

\\I don't think we should split up\\ Mace sighed, obviously torn between the need to notify the Council and N'erak's belief that their fellow Jedi were in danger.

\\We don't have a choice. I'll find out where the other Jedi are being held and try to free them. If I can't do it without help, I will simply gather as much information as I can before contacting you again\\ the Knight declared, already moving to put his plan into action. Just before he stepped outside of the wall of Force illusion, N'erak heard a soft whisper from the still-concealed Master.

"May the Force be with you, Knight N'erak."

Mace waited until N'erak had disappeared down the destroyed hallway before lowering his Force-cloak and moving out into the cloying darkness. The layers of fear and anger that lingered over the remains of the Senate wing were oppressive and clinging. A shudder ran through the dark-skinned Master as he moved down the empty hallways, carefully avoiding the fallen beams and permacrete chunks from the explosion. The Darkside was prevalent in the ruins, and it lent the air an unpalatable tang.

Quickening his pace until he was moving at a swift jog, Master Windu hastened to the nearest communications console. He knew that it was a risk to use a public port, but it was safer than trying to use his comm. link. With all of communications traffic from the rescue crew, it was too dangerous to attempt to make such an important call on an open frequency. The links were shielded, but with all of the static, nothing was guaranteed.

Noticing a seemingly undamaged port nestled into a section of the crumbling wall, Mace uttered a quick plea to the Force that it was functional. Switching on the power source from where it had automatically disconnected during the brief outage, the Councilor breathed a sigh of relief when the terminal screen flickered on and immediately asked him for the call destination. Patching the call through to the Jedi Temple using one of the secure Council codes, Mace waited for the Padawan on duty to answer. Keeping his senses alert for any approaching Guards, the Councilor leaned back against the ruined wall and took a moment to catch his breath.

\I am getting too old for this\ Mace thought wryly as his breath slowly came in less and less of heaving gasps. \Or maybe I need to spend a bit more time in the field\ he amended as his mind automatically chided him with Yoda's famous lecture on age. His respiration had finally returned to normal when the console chimed, and the familiar voice of one of the Temple pages came through the slightly damaged speakers.

"Jedi Temple, how may I direct your call?" the Page asked.

Immediately putting a name and face to the familiar voice, despite the lack of a visual display Mace spoke. "Padawan Elei, this is Master Windu," he began. "I need to speak to the Council immediately."

"I'm sorry Master Windu, but they are currently indisposed. Can I take a message and have them contact you at a later time?" Elei questioned, seemingly unperturbed to be telling a member of the Council that the rest of the Council didn't have the time to speak to him.

"I need to speak to them immediately," Master Windu reiterated. "This is an emergency."

"I'm sorry sir, but the Council is unable to be disturbed at the present time," the Page insisted. "They are currently involved in aiding the rescue effort at the Senate complex and cannot be interrupted."

"The Jedi Council was at the Senate Complex?" Mace questioned, dread filling his tones.

"No Master Windu," Elei assured. "They are assisting from the Temple."

"If they are at the Temple, then they can take this phone call," the Master argued. "As a member of the Jedi Council, I order you, Padawan Elei, to disrupt the Council session and connect me to them immediately."

"Sir, I can't." the Padawan began only to be cut off by Master Windu.

"You can and you will." Mace demanded. When she seemed to hesitate yet again, he amended his order. "Now Padawan," he growled.

"One moment please," she acquiesced before the familiar chime of a transferring connection replaced her soft tones.

Waiting somewhat less than patiently for the final connection to go through, Mace rubbed a hand across his creased forehead. \As painful as that was. it almost seemed too easy\

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

Serrenia and Padmé followed silently behind as Masters Obi-Wan and Carlasan levered Anakin gently through the last bend in the seemingly endless tunnel. It had been a constant challenge to keep the Padawan afloat, and out of contact with any of the superheated debris. Though the Force was able to cradle Anakin and prevent further injury, neither Master was willing to inadvertently inflict more harm.

"Just a few more steps Master," Serrenia urged gently as she sensed Carlasan beginning to tire. The Padawan would have offered her own strength to her Master, but Serrenia could sense that a lack of power was not what was plaguing the other two Jedi. Instead it seemed almost as if both Obi- Wan and Carlasan were becoming exhausted by battling for control of the great surges she could feel echoing off of the trio. "It's only a few more meters and then you will be able to rest," she continued.

With her concentration on the two Knights, and the two Knights' concentration on Anakin, none of the Jedi noticed the slight noise until Padmé commented. "Do you hear that?" the Senator whispered, wary of disturbing the Masters, but knowing that she needed to mention the odd scuffling sounds she could hear just ahead of them.

Pausing simultaneously and allowing Anakin to merely hover in place, Obi- Wan, Carlasan and Serrenia all turned their Force senses towards the slight noise that Padmé had overheard. With his heightened senses, Obi-Wan was the first to decipher the cause of the slight shuffling sounds. Taking a deep breath and running a shaking hand through his ginger hair, the Knight swore softly. "Blast! Is there ANYTHING else that could possibly go wrong today?"

"I don't think you really want an answer to that," Carlasan whispered back. "But if you are really curious to know what else could go wrong, I suggest you remain here while the rest of us find somewhere to hide," she continued, gesturing towards the origin of the rapidly increasing noise. "Because unless I'm mistaken, that is the sound of several "wrong" things heading this way."

"I can see why you and Obi-Wan are such good friends," Qui-Gon sighed, after only a brief hesitation at Bant's declaration.

"What?" the Healer asked, confused at the wry smile that covered his usually solemn features.

"Neither one of you is willing to simply accept the Will of the Force. You are both too caught up in physical conventions and the dictates of the Jedi Council to allow yourselves the freedom and beauty of total emersion in the Force." The tone the Master used when describing the Council spoke most eloquently of his feelings on the matter.

"And how do you know that what you feel is the Will of the Force, and not just your own convictions and presumptions?" Bant questioned. "Who are you to say what the Will of the Force is or is not?"

"It is not a matter of what I believe, or what I want," Qui-Gon explained. "If it was, I assure you, I would not ask such a thing of you. I love Obi- Wan as if he were my son, and I don't ever want to see any harm come to him. If I had my way, Obi-Wan would be free to spend his life how he wished, instead of spending it fighting for the way of the Light. Unfortunately, though, that is not the path the Force has chosen for him."

"Instead it decided that Obi-Wan needs to die!" the Mon Calamarian exclaimed. "That makes no sense. Why would the Force want that?"

"Obi-Wan was given a power, a great and terrible power, in order to bring balance to the Force. He is an instrument of the Force, nothing more and nothing less. He may be gifted with such a direct communion, but he is also plagued by a destiny we can do nothing to combat." Pausing to make sure he had the Healer's full attention, and fixing his icy blue gaze directly on her, Qui-Gon continued. "Obi-Wan will fall, whether or not he consciously chooses to. It is his destiny, and it is not something he can escape."

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

"W. well?" Mas Amedda stuttered, his gaze never leaving the carpeting below the Supreme Chancellor's feet. "I have done what you would have wished done, sir?"

"You have done well," Palpatine confirmed again. "But there is still much for you to do. The Senate is still at risk from the corrupting influences of both the Jedi Order and those who support it. There are Senators amongst us who would do anything to allow their precious "guardians" to continue, and they must be dealt with. We cannot allow the Galactic Republic to falter under such an insidious corruption."

"But Senator Amidala is dead," the Vice-Chancellor argued. "With her death, the Order has lost one of its greatest supporters."

"It is not certain that Amidala is dead," Palpatine declared. "She was not on her ship at the time of the explosion, and it is entirely possible that she was able to survive. Do not forget that Amidala has managed to survive, and even thrive through other adverse situations. Do not count her out so quickly."

"I don't understand how the bomb failed," Amedda complained, his dark gaze meeting Palpatine's. "It was set-up perfectly that the transport should have been in hyperspace at the time of the explosion. Why was it still in the Hanger bay?"

"Obviously you failed in some way," the Chancellor hissed softly, immediately causing the other politician to lower his head once again to peruse the carpeting. A dark smile stretched across Palpatine's features at the show of deference, and he took a moment to bask in his power before continuing. "We must make sure that the Senator is not discovered alive. If she is, she will be able to continue her scheming and plotting to disrupt the Republic. We must make certain that the threat she poses is removed."

"I will make certain she does not survive this day," Amedda vowed, though the slight tremor in his voice detracted from his assurances. When the Chancellor offered no response other than a nod, the Vice-Chancellor moved to exit the offices. Just as he came to the doorway separating the private office from the main anteroom, Palpatine spoke.

"And Amedda," the Chancellor said, waiting until the politician turned to face him, "if you fail me again, I will have to give serious consideration to where your loyalties lie. and what I might have to do to address any conflicts."

Peering over Obi-Wan's shoulder from where she stood sheltered behind him, Padmé tried to understand what the two Knights were discussing. "Why would we hide from the Senate guards?" she asked, as she noticed the familiar flickering lights of the ignited glow rods. "Aren't they here to help us?"

"No, they are not," Obi-Wan said simply as he quickly turned and began guiding the three women into one of the small cavities caused by the wreckage. "I think we should leave Anakin where he is," he added, as he followed behind. "It will be better to simply create a concealing field around him."

"Are you sure we can maintain the camouflage?" Carlasan whispered worriedly. "If it flickers even for a moment."

"We will maintain it," Obi-Wan assured. "I have already failed my Padawan enough for one day, I will not fail him in this."

"This was not your fault," the Senator began, only to be interrupted by a dark look from the Knight. Undeterred, Padmé tried again. "If anyone is at fault here, it is the person that planted that bomb. NOT YOU."

"I thank you for your concern, Senator, but it is misplaced," Obi-Wan stated formally. "And now is not the time to have a discussion. We need to remain silent until the guards leave," he finished, immediately ushering in a silence as the sounds of the approaching guards grew.

Though she could not feel the Force, Padmé could easily see the concentration and effort both of the Masters were exerting to conceal them and Anakin. A thin sheen of sweat covered Obi-Wan's brow, and Carlasan was visibly trembling. Serrenia's eyes were closed, and her hand was laid gently on her Master's shoulder, offering her own strength to aid the two Knights. Feeling out of place, Padmé turned her attention to the approaching guards.

Although she could clearly see the guards, it appeared that the members of the Senate security force had not noticed the hidden survivors. Trying to calm her breathing, lest she give away their hiding place inadvertently, the Senator focused her attention on the hovering form of Anakin. He hung suspended in the air several meters above the tallest guard's head. His hands hung limply at his sides, and his Padawan braid trailed below him, almost as if he were floating in a sea of water. Even from a distance, she was comforted by the steady rise and fall of his chest. \Hold on Ani. we will survive this. I won't let you go now that I have found you again. Please don't leave me\ Padmé pleaded silently.

Almost as if he had heard the silent communiqué, Obi-Wan turned his stormy gaze on her and offered an almost shy smile. The Senator had to stifle the gasp that came to her lips when the cultured voice whispered silently in her mind. \\Thank you\\

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

With the ease and grace of years of experience, N'erak moved swiftly and silently through the dead Senate corridors, drawing unerringly nearer to where he could feel the Force-dampening field. Master Windu and he had originally discounted the null-field as the location of the missing Jedi, but with the information Amedda had provided, he now knew his fellow Knights and Masters were being held captive. What he didn't know was whether or not he would be able to free them without drawing undue attention from the other Senate guards or their "leader."

As he drew closer to the null-space, N'erak began to slow down, drawing on the Force to conceal the slight sounds his boots made on the debris-covered floor. He could see that the field was raised around a small chamber that seemed to be made of some sort of metallic walls. Moving stealthily closer, the Knight found a vantage point where he could case the area without being detected. Tucking into the small niche, he settled back to watch the movements of the patrolling guards.

Almost immediately he noticed that the door was never left unguarded, but the surrounding walls were not patrolled. Acting on a hunch, N'erak stretched out his Force senses to take a reading of the metallurgy of the wall. As the results of the scan filtered back, the Knight stifled a curse. \This should certainly make things interesting.\

The gathering of Masters was just beginning to break up when Padawan Elei broke into the Council Chambers breathlessly. "Masters, there is an important comm. call for you from Master Windu at the Senate Building," the young page reported as she came to a skidding stop just over the great seal.

"Padawan, you were told not to disturb this session," Plo Koon admonished. "The Council does not have time to take personal comm. calls right now."

"I'm sorry Master," Elei apologized, "but Master Windu insisted that it was important. He is calling from the Senate Complex."

"Take the call we will," Master Yoda interjected before Master Koon could speak again. "Send it through to the Chamber immediately, you should."

"Yes Master," the Page agreed, before bowing and backing out through the massive doors. Once the Padawan had returned to the anteroom desk, followed quickly by the non-Council members, the remaining eleven Masters moved to their designated seats to take the incoming call.

"Master Windu should know better than to interrupt a Council Meeting," Master Koon huffed. "Especially when he deigns not to show up."

"I am sure that Mace had good reason not to be here," Adi Gallia corrected. "He is not one to shirk his responsibilities."

Before any of the other Councilors could form a reply, the comm. unit embedded in the far wall crackled to life. Each of the Masters leaned forward, expecting to see the figure of Master Mace Windu appear on the holo-pad. Instead, they were surprised to only hear the voice recognition software activate. Exchanging curious glances, Depa Bilaba and Adi Gallia took on the responsibility of speaking for the Council.

"Master Windu?" Depa asked in her soft dulcet tones.

"I do not have much time. You must call all Jedi back from the Senate Complex and seal the Temple," the harried voice of Mace Windu responded.

"You want us to secure the Jedi Temple?" Adi questioned, her disbelief clear in her voice. "The Temple has not been fully sealed since the time of the Sith Wars."

"Call back the Jedi and seal the campus immediately!" Mace exclaimed, before his voice was cut off by the sound of blaster fire. Just before the comm. link went dead the eleven Masters were privy to the distinctive sound of a lightsaber activating. and just as quickly extinguishing.

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

Sidious watched, amused, as Mas Amedda slunk out of his office. Once the Vice-Chancellor had cleared the outer office doors, the Sith Lord resealed his inner office doorway and reactivated the Force seal. Moving over to the opaque office windows, the Dark Lord surveyed what would soon be just one small part of his Galactic Empire. "Soon. soon you will all bow to me," he hissed softly as he watched the scurrying mass of sentience that huddled around the still smoking destruction of the Senate hanger bay.

Sidious had not intended for the bomb to explode within the Senate Complex, but he knew that he could turn the unexpected circumstances to his advantage. The device should have exploded when the Senator's Cruiser was well within Hyperspace, leaving no trace of the former Queen. Since Amidala was already reported as dead, no investigation would have occurred, and the overly-earnest Senator from Palpatine's home planet would have been no more. Instead, Amidala still lived, and the threat she posed to his fledgling empire was still very real.

Stretching out with his dark senses, Sidious tried to locate the Senator's life-signature among the many who swarmed around the complex. The Sith had become rather familiar with the young woman's unique essence over the course of her term in the Senate. He could almost always detect at least a trace of her influence on every one of his failed bills. Amidala had been quite busy during her short term as Naboo's senator. In only two years she had succeeded in amending or completely defeating fifteen of his "personally-sponsored" legislative bills.

"Yes, Senator, you have definitely outlived your usefulness," the dark Lord cackled, as the bright flare of life that was Padmé Amidala lit up his senses. "And it is time for you to. retire. from the political arena."

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

The glimmering drop was almost beautiful as the flickering lights reflected off of the deep crimson. It hung suspended in the air for what seemed an eternity, before beginning its gravity-demanded plunge. With their attention focused on the Force-cloak and levitation of the injured Padawan, none of the Jedi noticed the solitary drop of blood in time to stop its descent. It was only as it landed squarely on the forearm of the Captain of the guard, drawing his attention to the seemingly empty air above him, that any of the four crowded within the concealed cavity became aware of the drop.

Turning panic-filled brown eyes to where she knew Anakin hovered, Padmé could only watch as the Force-cloak flickered and then fell under the intense scrutiny of all fifteen of the guardsmen. The limp form of the pale Padawan was soon visible to the Senate Guard, and the Captain took no time in deducing that there must be other Jedi in the vicinity.

"Find them!" the Captain ordered, watching as his men quickly dispersed before raising his own blaster and leveling it at the unconscious Anakin. "And I suggest, Jedi, that you make your presence known unless you want your friend here to die."

Bant simply stared at Master Jinn, unable to form a response to his proclamation. Even in the privacy of her own personal thoughts the Healer couldn't decide what she should do. \If Obi-Wan is going to fall. wouldn't it be better for HIM if someone stopped him now? But how do I know for sure that he will fall, or that if he does, he won't somehow turn back?\

As if sensing the inner conflict, Qui-Gon stood by silently, allowing the Mon Calamarian to digest all of the information he had so casually thrust upon her. He knew that he was asking Bant to complete a task that would in essence destroy both Obi-Wan and her, but he knew no way to avoid it. He, himself, had not had much time to accept the dark destiny that awaited the man he considered closer than a son, and it was the same disbelief and denial that had characterized his reaction.

"I don't think I can do this," Bant admitted after several moments of silence had passed. "Even if it is necessary, I can't kill my best friend."

"I know it will not be easy, and I wish there was another way," Qui-Gon sighed, "but there isn't. And I know that you don't want to see Obi-Wan condemned to an existence of the Darkside."

"I don't understand," the Healer continued. "Why now? Why does everything have to be decided now?"

Shifting his weight and crossing his arms over his chest, Master Jinn gave a small sick-looking smile. "It does seem rather rushed, doesn't it?" he commented off-handedly.

"Yes, it does," Bant agreed calmly. "Something this important shouldn't be handled so quickly. We should take the time to look for other options instead of just determining that Obi has to die."

"Unfortunately, time is not something we have," Qui-Gon said, as he shifted his weight yet again. "When we did have the time to change things, we were unaware of the danger. And now. now the Sith have made their move and there is only time enough to end the threat, once and for all."

As Master Jinn finished, the Healer gasped softly. "It's because of what happened on Navira, isn't it? That device or whatever that Sith Witch used on him, that's what has triggered this?"

Meeting Bant's distressed silver eyes with his own calm blue gaze, Qui-Gon nodded. "Somehow the Sith know of the prophecy of the Chosen One. They knew that Obi-Wan was the One before even I did, but didn't act on it until just recently. Maybe they were waiting for a certain sign, or maybe now was the first time they had opportunity; I'm not sure. Regardless, the Sith were prepared, whereas we were not," Master Jinn explained softly, his accent deepening as the tale progressed. "They had a chamber prepared, that would force the power of the Chosen One to surface, instead of allowing it to develop naturally as it was intended to. With that much power suddenly available, the Chosen One would not be able to control it, and the Darkside would have the opportunity to manifest itself through the uncontrolled surges in the Force."

"And that is the chamber that Obi-Wan was exposed to on Navira," Bant surmised. "So he really doesn't have control of his own power."

"No, he doesn't," the Master admitted. "And with that much power, he is a danger to the galaxy."

"But if the power had been allowed to come naturally, wouldn't he have been able to control it?" the Healer asked, still searching for another way to save her friend.

"If the power of the Chosen One had come as it was supposed to, Obi-Wan would have complete control over it, instead of it controlling him," Qui- Gon said, nodding gently. "Actually, Obi-Wan may never have had reason to call on the power at his command if the Sith hadn't been involved. He might have gone his entire life never realizing his own abilities."

"Isn't there a way to make the powers become dormant again? Can't we destroy his "Chosen-ness" without destroying him?" Bant questioned as she worked to assimilate all of the information she had been inundated with in the past few days. Drawing on her analytical skills honed as a Healer, the Mon Calamarian closed her eyes and searched for a way to save her best friend. "If the Sith could force his power to the surface, why can't we just reverse the process?"

When Master Jinn made no comment, Bant continued. "If Obi-Wan were to choose between the Light and the Dark, he would obviously choose the Light, right?" At the Master's agreement, she resumed her speculation. "So all we need to do is find a way to allow Obi-Wan to choose for himself."

"That might be easier said than done," Qui-Gon commented softly, "but your suggestion has merit."

"Then all we need to do is figure out how to give him a choice," Bant finished. "And Obi-Wan won't have to die."

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

Sinking back farther until he was once again completely concealed in the small crevice, N'erak began to form a plan. Drawing the Force to him once more, he used it to create yet another illusion, this time superimposing the image over his own. Once he was certain that the illusion was stable, he took a deep breath and stepped away from the wall. Switching to the shorter, noisier strides he had observed previously, he approached the guards standing sentry over the closed door.

"Step aside," he ordered, changing the pitch and timbre of his voice to match that of his illusion.

"Yes sir," the lead guard answered, immediately moving to the side of the closed door.

"Open the door you fool," N'erak continued, hoping that his charade would hold up long enough.

"Yes sir," the Sergeant answered yet again, motioning to his subordinate to open the sealed doorway. "Do you want us to accompany you sir?"

"No," N'erak growled, "as a matter of fact, it is useless for you to remain here as guards when there is no possible way for the Jedi to escape. You should be out on patrol rounding up the rest of the traitors." Adding a slight Force-compulsion to his last statement, the Knight held his breath as the guards seemed to share a look. He released the breath in slight sigh when the Sergeant called to his unit and began ordering them to move out.

Moving forward to enter the now-opened doorway, the Knight was halted as the sentry stretched a hand across his chest, blocking access. Turning what he hoped was an imperious gaze to the guard, N'erak huffed loudly. "Is there something else, Corporal? " he asked, purposely calling the guard by a lower rank.

"No sir, but you might want this," the Sergeant said briskly, offering a blaster to the disguised Knight. "There is no telling what those Jedi could do."

"Thank you, Sergeant," N'erak stated, reaching out to accept the offered weapon. "Now make sure that you find the rest of those traitors, and bring them here. I don't want them wandering around causing anymore trouble."

Offering a quick salute, the Sergeant turned and began to move down the hallway, leading his men behind him. Once all of the guards had cleared the corridor, N'erak allowed the Force-illusion to fade. When the image had totally flickered away, the Knight moved to the open doorway and stepped inside.

\\Can you keep up the Force concealment of the three of you?\\

As the words echoed in her head, Carlasan had to bite back a gasp. She hadn't expected Obi-Wan to create the telepathic bridge, but in retrospect it made perfect sense.

\\With Serrenia's help, it shouldn't be a problem\\ the younger Master conceded.

\\Good, do it. And whatever you do, don't make a sound no matter what happens\\ Almost before he had finished the order, Obi-Wan was drawing the Force-concealment bubble tighter and tighter around the two Jedi and the Senator, as he surreptitiously freed himself from its embrace. Just as he reached the edge of the illusion barrier, he released his hold on it, allowing it to reveal his solitary form as it snapped back around the three women.

"My Padawan is injured and needs treatment," the Knight began softly and calmly, as he made and kept eye contact with the Captain of the guard. "I am trying to get him to the Jedi Temple."

Not even a waver appeared in the guard's hand as he held the blaster firmly pointed at Anakin. "You are a traitor to the Republic, as is your Padawan. You are to be incarcerated pending investigation into your involvement with this attack on the Senate." The Captain's words came with a snarl, almost as if he was daring the Jedi to attempt escape.

"Neither Anakin nor I had anything to do with any attack on the Senate building, nor did any other Jedi," Obi-Wan said, a trace of impatience in his tone.

"Anakin?" the guard asked, the vehemence gone from his tone and replaced with unbridled curiosity.

"Yes, Anakin Skywalker, my Padawan," the Knight clarified, daring to take a small step closer to his hovering apprentice.

"Then you are." the Captain questioned.

"Master Obi-Wan Kenobi," the Jedi stated, halting his forward motion when the Captain's hand tightened around the blaster briefly before dropping it to his side. Expecting the churlish guard to once again recite the warrant for his arrest, Obi-Wan was shocked when instead the Captain's expression took on the unmistakable mask of fear as he called to his fellow guards.

"Get a litter in here immediately," the suddenly efficient leader barked to his subordinates. "And make sure that the Chancellor knows we found him."

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

The mood in the small room was unsurprisingly calm, despite the fact that all of its occupants were prisoners. N'erak took a moment to visually scan the assembled Jedi for any injuries before he addressed the room. Two of the Knights near the front of the group had what looked to be slight blaster burns, but other than that there didn't appear to be any other wounds. Relieved that none of his fellow Jedi were severely injured, as it would've made his planned escape much more difficult, N'erak waited until he was sure he had everyone's attention before speaking.

"We need to leave here as quickly and silently as possible," the young Knight began without preamble, ignoring the surprised looks some of the older Knight's gave at his audacity. "I have sent the Guards away for the time being, but it won't be long before another patrol arrives. We need to be out of here before that happens."

"We should not leave here; we are under the Senate's jurisdiction," a silver-haired Jedi stated as he climbed unsteadily to his feet. It was only as he reached his full height that N'erak realized he had underestimated the number of wounded in the room. It appeared that several had been severely injured, but were being protected and shielded by their brethren against any possible threat from the only doorway.

"The Senate has declared that all Jedi are to be treated as traitors of the Republic," N'erak declared, his voice barely carrying over the gasps of shock as he continued. "If you remain here, it is very likely that you will be executed as an enemy of the Galactic Republic before we can stage another rescue attempt."

"You are operating under the auspices of the Jedi Council?" The query came from a younger female Mon Calamarian who stood near the back of the room, leaning heavily against her shorter-statured apprentice.

"Yes," he replied calmly, inwardly wincing at his blatant dishonesty. \Well I am working under the command of Master Windu. well, sort of.\

"Then we will follow you," the silver-haired Knight answered, apparently speaking for all of the captured Jedi. Stepping closer to the front of the assemblage he continued in a lower voice pitched only for N'erak's hearing. "This will not be easy however, with all of our wounded."

"No one is to be left behind," N'erak growled, as he stepped forward to hook an arm around the waist of the slightly swaying Jedi. "Everyone will have to simply lend a hand to those unable to make the escape on their own. This is our only chance, and we must use it to our best advantage."

Nodding his head in a grudging approval the more seasoned Jedi assented. "Then lead on, young Knight. It appears that you have everything well in hand."

Accepting the small motion of respect, N'erak addressed the larger group again. "If you are able, assist the injured as much as possible. We are going to have to move swiftly and as quietly as possible until we are outside of the Senate complex, so make sure that if you need assistance, you secure it now." Waiting until he was certain that all of the Jedi were ready to move out, the Knight offered a quick plea to the Force that his good luck would continue before issuing the order to evacuate the small prison.

The eleven Council Members sat in a shocked silence for several moments after the comm. link ended before Ki-Adi Mundi finally spoke. "I suggest we take Master Windu's advice and lock down the Temple. It is obvious that he has information that suggests the Temple is at risk."

"We should send a team to the Senate as well," Plo Koon interjected, "it's apparent that Master Windu is in need of assistance."

"Did you not listen to that transmission?" Master Bilaba asked hotly. "Mace made it apparent that we should pull the Jedi from the complex, not send more in!"

"You want to just leave him there like that?" Adi Gallia questioned, her eyebrows rising with her incredulity. "It sounded like he could use some help."

"He explicitly stated that he wanted us to 'secure the Temple and call back the Jedi from the Senate,'" Depa argued. "It is obvious that something is happening with the Senate, and that our Knights and Masters are not welcome."

"But we can't just ignore his predicament," Master Koon declared. "We should." he continued, before allowing his argument to fade as he noticed all of the other Councilors had turned their attention to Master Yoda. The diminutive green Master had risen to his feet from where he sat in his Council chair and was making his way slowly toward the sealed doorway.

"Master Yoda?" Master Gallia queried, when no other Councilor made motion to speak.

"Sit here and argue while the fate of the galaxy is being decided I will not," Yoda sighed, not slowing or turning in his exit from the chambers. "To the Senate I am going, to help if I can, or prevent harm if I cannot."

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

"The Chancellor is looking for me?" Obi-Wan asked quickly, trying to keep the Captain's focus on him and not on the small niche he had just stepped away from. Master Carlasan and Padawan Serrenia were upholding the concealment field, but he knew that he needed to prevent the guards from making any close inspection of the area.

"Yes," the Captain answered succinctly, overseeing his men as they arrived with a hoverstretcher. "We were told to keep an eye out for you, Master Kenobi."

"And when exactly was this?" the Knight questioned, as he focused on slowly lowering Anakin onto the proffered litter. "I was under the impression that the Chancellor would have been evacuated from the complex after such an 'attack,'" he finished, stressing the final word with a slight sarcastic twist that completely escaped the earnest guardsman.

"The orders came prior to the attack," the Captain elaborated, before turning to his men to finish delivering the orders for the evacuation of the injured Padawan.

"We need to return to the Temple," Obi-Wan interrupted as he listened to the outlined plan. "Anakin needs treatment only Jedi Healers can provide."

"Padawan Skywalker can be removed to the Temple after the Chancellor has changed his orders. Until then, he and you will need to remain under our protection."

Biting back his retort about the great "protection" the guards had provided so far, the Knight merely nodded and motioned for the Captain to lead on. Hanging back so that he was near the end of the small entourage, Obi-Wan risked a quick glance towards the still concealed trio, hoping that they had understood enough of his conversation to realize they needed to get to the Temple and notify the Council of his detainment. When he felt just the slightest trickle of a Force tendril reach out to him, he knew his message had been received.

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

"It's time for you to return to your reality," Qui-Gon sighed after several moments had passed and neither he nor the young Healer had arrived at a conclusion. "There is nothing more for you to do here, and anything you do to help Obi-Wan can't be done unless you are on the same plain he is."

"But we haven't determined what to do. How am I supposed to give him choices when I don't even have a clue what to offer?" Bant exclaimed irritably. "First you tell me to kill him, now you are telling me to save him, but I notice that throughout this whole drama you haven't once offered to help."

Giving a short laugh as much in surprise at Bant's audacity as at her unintended humor, Qui-Gon took a moment to collect himself and avoid the glare she was shooting at him before speaking. "Young Bant, perhaps you have forgotten, but I'm one with the Force now," he explained, with his voice still lightened by his humor. "I can't exactly 'offer to help' from here, now can I?"

"Well you did a good enough job of pulling me here to tell me what to do!" the Healer huffed. "Why can't you just pull Obi-Wan here and tell him what to do? You certainly spent enough of his apprenticeship ordering him around without offering explanations."

"The only reason I was able to appear to you is because of the imbalance Obi-Wan has created in the Force. I can't appear to him because he is the source of it," Master Jinn began, holding up a hand when it appeared that the Healer was going to interrupt him. "And as for 'ordering Obi-Wan around during his apprenticeship' of course I did, that is what a Master does after all. It was my job to guide and train him to reach the best of his ability, and I did that - maybe not as well as I could have, but as well as I knew how," Qui-Gon sighed. "But we are not here to debate how or why I trained Obi-Wan as I did. It is inconsequential to the problem we face now. It doesn't matter whether I trained him or Yoda trained him, or even if your Master had trained him, what matters is who he is today and what we can do to convince him to stay with the light."

"You're absolutely right," Bant admitted after only a slight hesitation. "This isn't anymore your fault than it is my." the Healer abruptly stopped talking and her mouth dropped open in shock. Startled, Master Jinn took a step towards the suddenly silent Mon Calamarian, trying to determine what had disturbed her so. He had just reached out a hand to touch her shoulder when she blinked and turned her silvery eyes to regard him.

"Master Jinn, you are a genius. I know what we can do to save Obi now."