Chapter 7

One week later

Obi-Wan moved slowly and quietly through the halls of the old palace, a lurking shadow, nothing more. His lightsaber was no longer clipped to his belt and hanging at his side. It was ignited and glowing its brilliant sapphire blue, a deadly weapon in its creator's hands. His face glowed blue in the blackness.

As Obi-Wan and the team of Jedi and clone soldiers moved toward the jail block, Obi-Wan's thoughts were pulled to the target of their mission: his Padawan. According to inside intelligence, Anakin had been in a confined cell with only a Force field keeping him contained, but Dooku had apparently found a way to render Anakin Forceless. There was no accounting for what kind of damage Dooku could have done to Anakin given the opportunity. Even with his Force capabilities, a Jedi was still mortal. As they finally reached the cellblock without any security, Obi-Wan's stomach began to churn with fear of what they would find.

Obi-Wan moved across the hallway to the right side of the door, and Mace Windu took the left. Ki-Adi-Mundai and Adi Gallia followed behind them. The clone soldiers lined the hallways on both sides of the door, opposite and adjacent to it. Obi-Wan glanced at Mace and noticed a tiny bead of swear run down the man's face.

I'll hit the release button, Obi-Wan mentally said to the dark skinned Jedi. Then you and I go in first followed by Master Mundai and Adi, agreed?

Mace nodded. Agreed, Obi-Wan. The two Jedi relayed the message to the other two, then Obi-Wan motioned for the all clear. The commanding clone nodded the affirmative. Obi-Wan put his finger on the release button for the door and glanced at Mace.

Force help us, Master, he said, then pressed his finger down and the door swished open.

Obi-Wan and Mace Windu entered the cellblock first, and stopped abruptly. Obi-Wan could not focus on a single object. His whole body was swimming in confusion, and he felt something being drained from his body and his consciousness.

The room stopped spinning and Obi-Wan stumbled, but regained his balance quickly, as did Mace. Obi-Wan and Mace glanced at each other. "What was that?" Obi-Wan asked. Mace shook his head that he didn't know. He shrugged, then motioned for Obi-Wan to begin looking for Anakin. Obi-Wan started down the hallway, dimly hearing Mace tell Adi and Ki-Adi to keep a sharp eye and to wait for them to return. Then, he followed Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan heard the master's footsteps behind him, and he stopped to allow Mace to catch up. Then, the two Jedi began down the cellblock again.

Halfway down, smack-dab in the middle, Obi-Wan and Mace found Anakin's cell. When they looked inside slowly, Obi-Wan gasped and froze. His apprentice lye on the metal floor, blood all over his body. His ribs were purple and swollen, his tunic and pants torn, his eyes were swollen shut and red, and he lay curled up into a fetal position. Obi-Wan stared in horror. What has Dooku done? he asked himself. A hand on his shoulder pulled Obi-Wan from his thoughts.

"We have to move quickly, Obi-Wan," Mace said. "Dooku and his friends could show up at any time." Obi-Wan nodded.

"Yes, Master Windu." With that, Obi-Wan reached out to open the force field, but couldn't do it. He opened his eyes quickly, and tried again with the same result. He could feel nothing. "Master Windu," he said. "I think we have been rendered Forceless." Mace looked at the Jedi with a confused look, and then tried to open the force field himself, but he had as much success as Obi-Wan did. He opened his brown eyes and looked at Obi- Wan.

"Looks like we're going to have to do this the old fashioned way," Mace said and Obi-Wan nodded. Mace went to the control panel on the left wall next to the force field door and opened it, preparing to hotwire it. Obi- Wan glanced in at his Padawan again.

"Anakin," he called, but he unconscious form on the floor didn't move. "Anakin!" he called louder this time. "Can you hear me, Anakin?" This time, Anakin's finger twitched slightly, and Obi-Wan distinctly heard the young man moan. That's always a good sign Obi-Wan thought. "Anakin, it's me."

Anakin opened his eyes as much as he could and saw Obi-Wan standing at the force field smiling at him. Anakin tried to smile back, but the strain on his muscles was too much, and he lost consciousness again.

Obi-Wan saw this and his smile immediately faded. "Don't worry, Anakin," he said. "You'll soon be out of here." He then walked over to Mace and watched as he worked to hotwire the force field.

* * * *

Adi Galia glanced at the chrono on her wrist and scowled. This was definitely not going as quickly as anticipated. She glanced at Ki-Adi and the two exchanged worried glances. Do you think they've been caught? Adi asked mentally to Ki-Adi. The tall-faced Jedi shook his head.

No he answered. They'll come when they're finished and have Anakin.

Suddenly, both Jedi felt the presence of more clone troopers close by and they both froze. She glanced at Ki-Adi.

"We need to get out of here," she said, her nervousness coming through as her voice quivered.

Ki-Adi was about to say something when the door swished open and Obi-Wan came stumbling out with Anakin dangling from his side, bruised and bleeding. Mace Windu followed and Adi gasped as Ki-Adi moved under Anakin's right side to take some of the weight off of Obi-Wan. Adi glanced at Mace. "Let's go," he said. With their Force abilities restored, the four Jedi Force ran down the hall just as the clone troopers rounded the corner, guns blazing.

Oooohhh my goodness! Thank you guys for all your reviews on this story, I was really worried about the response it would get. Well, biggest update coming up next, and please, don't kill me when you read the next chapter! R&R