Rusho100 – Thank you very much! :D And I'm glad you are still enjoying. I hope you like what I am doing. And you never know about double crossing. Well, maybe not, but twists are still to come, I think. I guess we'll find out together, eh? ;) Yes, there were a few good things to come out of the JA books. And I had always wanted to keep them in mind. Thanks again.

K-rock – Aww, shucks!! You're always so nice. I do try and give decent images with my stories, without being over the top. I think I mostly got the idea because I recently learned how to knit and crochet. That's the type of needle I was thinking about for that passage. Dull at the tip but sturdy, long and menacing. ]:) Well, hope you like this one. But it won't answer your question! :p

Emerald – Thanks for reviewing. I am trying to keep up with posting right now. Need to work off the last of my pending stories so I can concentrate better on others. ;)

Well folks, here's another chappie for you all. Hope you like it. Hopefully more soon. ;)

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Anakin stood staring out the viewport long after the small celestial body shrank into the backdrop of endless space. He had not been able to tear himself away from the spot, his mind racing with what to do next. He knew he would follow his Master's instructions and take MysAri to the Temple, but what to do then? Should he turn right around and come back? But what if they were gone when he got back? Where would he look then? And what of the Council? Would they allow him to wonder around alone in search of a Master who was most likely already gone? No, Master Obi-Wan is still alive. He quickly fortified his resolve. He would find his Master before the Force could claim him.

Sighing, he raised a hand to his aching head. He rubbed the bridge of his nose trying to ease the raging storm in his mind. Finally he managed to turn away from the portal. About to settle back in to the pilot's chair for the journey home, his gaze lighted upon the door to the small cabin. Anakin knew that if – when his Master returned he would want to know that he took care of MysAri to the best of his ability. Squaring his shoulders, he prepared himself to check on the woman that his Master risked everything to save. Despite his own trepidations, he would not disappoint his Master.

Anakin strode over to the door and opened it. As he stepped inside he noticed that the Knight was curled on her side facing the wall. At first he didn't know what to do and just stood there. In the stillness his mind wandered again. Why? Why does my Master always place himself in danger? Risk his life for the sake of others? Why couldn't it be someone else? Frustrated he was about to turn and leave, foregoing his previous thoughts, when he paused.

"You have asked those questions before." A quiet voice cut through the palpable silence.

He was startled by her words. He did not think she was even awake and even more amazed that his thoughts were so easily read. And for some reason the latter bothered him. "I don't know what you mean."

"He is Obi-Wan, always has been and always will be Obi-Wan."

Taking a few agitated steps forward, he asked, "And what is that supposed to mean?" She had still not turned to face him, and that annoyed him further.

"It means that he believes his life is insignificant to the greater good. And for those he cares about, there is nothing he would not willing give to protect them. But I have told you this before."

"Then why are you telling me again?"

"Because, you need to understand it now."

Anakin threw his hands up in exasperation, "It's like I'm talking to Master Yoda or Master Obi-Wan. You always talk in riddles and you find a lesson in everything!"

At this she turned to rebuke the impudent youth. "Life is a lesson, Anakin. You have to learn, so that you can confront what life has dealt you. You will never be able to understand every little detail. And it's even harder to get into someone's head."

"But we're Jedi, it shouldn't be as difficult for us."

"We may be Jedi, but we are not infallible. We may have an advantage, but overconfidence in our abilities can quickly lead to our downfall."

Wryly, he muttered, "Why wait for overconfidence when we so eagerly walk to the slaughter like herded nerfs?" He crossed his arms in front of him in a simple act of defiance and frustration.

Sighing, she was too tired to continue arguing. "You simply do not understand."

"Understand what? That being a Jedi means my life is forfeit? I am to be sacrificed for the greater good?"

"Jedi are servants to the galaxy. We are meant to help others at what ever the cost. If you do not understand this, than you do not belong with the Jedi."

"But I'm the Chosen One…" he protested but she cut him off abruptly.

"Tell me Anakin, why do you want to be a Jedi?"

"Master Qui-Gon said…"

"No!" Again she interrupted him, "I don't want to hear about what Master Qui-Gon said. I don't want to hear what anyone else has said, not even if it was Obi-Wan. Tell me why you want to be a Jedi."

"I want to help."

His slight hesitation in answering begged her to prompt, "Help whom?"

Anakin chose his words carefully, "Good people who are unjustly persecuted."

The brief silence between them was charged by their emotions. But the Knight's experience allowed her to weed through the powerful feelings and coy words to see the true meaning of his answer. "You mean slaves?"

"So what if I do?" He bristled at the clarity of which she was able to see into his heart.

"There is nothing wrong in wanting to help those who cannot do so themselves. The err is in the motivation." Closing her eyes and taking a calming breath, MysAri tried to rephrase what she wanted to convey. When she had her thoughts together, she opened her deep emerald eyes and stared at the youth. "You want to free your mother. And that is a good cause. But I think there is a hint of revenge there as well. For all those who have abused your mother and yourself, as well as those around you. Revenge is not a good cause to become a Jedi."

"Why not? Don't you want revenge on Zan Arbor and Nobis? They put you through pain just to get at Master Obi-Wan. And now they are going to torture him to death."

"I would be lying if I told you that I didn't want to see them get what they deserve. That is what justice is all about, wrongdoers getting the proper punishment. But I cannot allow my own desires to cloud my mind. As Jedi we have to accept and move past our emotions. Only then can we accomplish the goals we have set for ourselves. You want to save your Master?"

"Of course I do!" Anakin barked. It was all he wanted to do at the moment.

"Then you will have to be patient. When we get back, I will need your help."

"But I have to get back here as quickly as possible. If I have to continue to help you, he'll be lost forever."

Mys gave him a cynical glance, "Do you honestly believe he is still there?"

The question voiced aloud his own concerns yet he could not think of anything else to do. "I don't know. But I can't just do nothing."

"Then help me," she pleaded fervently, "and we will find him together."

"But that will take too long. You won't be better for some time." Anakin felt that with each passing moment the distance between him and his Master was getting wider. Fear griped his heart, would they be too late to save him?

She broke into his thoughts, trying to appease his worry as much as her own. "I have an idea, but you will have to wait. Besides, what else would you do? Fly aimlessly around the galaxy?"

Without direction, he knew that if he went in the wrong direction his Master's chances would dwindle away to nothing. And he doubted that the Council would let him go on alone anyway. Al last he resigned to her will, "And what do you suggest?" A hint of a grin crossed the woman's features and he knew instantly he wasn't going to like her response.

"You are going to read."

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Now, please don't forget to review! Oh, and I did start posting that original work I mentioned. For those interested, here's the link: www. fictionpress.com/ read.php?storyid=1391801 (there are spaces in there so that it was visible. Stupid formatting.) Well, have a good one! review!