Johannes looked up as Yoda entered the meditative chamber. Qui-Gon and his apprentice followed in after the Jedi Master.

"Have you heard anything from Master Windu?" Johannes asked.

"Not yet. I'm sorry," Qui-Gon replied. "He may still be in the hands of the slavers."

The Mon Calamari blinked. "He's not. He's on Alderaan. But he's safe, for now."

"How did he get there?"

"I'm not sure."

"Master Windu is strong in the Force. A fighter, he is."

Johannes smiled. He was proud to be Master Windu's apprentice. "And we still don't know who this child is."

Yoda looked away. He was sure of whom the child's ancestors were.

"Master Yoda?"

Mace looked up at the darkened sky. Pulling the rough tunic closer to him, his mind flew to his apprentice and the child. So he's Jonas' grandson. No wonder this Sidious wants him. But who is he? This Sidious? He turned as he felt Shmi's presence coming out onto the balcony. Smiling at her, Mace walked to her.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?"

"Alderaanie evenings are always beautiful."

"You've been here before?"

"Several times. I've had dealings with the Organas before." Mace saw worry flicker across the muddy brown eyes of Shmi. "Don't worry about him. I will never let anything happen to him. Not if I ever have any say. Who is his father?"

Mace saw Shmi recoil. Closing his eyes, he realised he had brought up a sensitive topic. "I'm sorry."

Giving Shmi time to recover, Mace moved indoors. "Don't be, Mace. If you are to train him, you need to know." Mace turned back to her. Shmi turned around slowly. "There was no father. The slavers have been chasing me ever since my fiancée abandoned me to the streets of Coruscant."

"How did you end up on Yavin IV?"

"A week after Anakin was born, I flew, with him in my arms, anywhere away from Coruscant and Darth Sidious' spies. Yavin happened to be the planet I landed on. They chased me for two weeks before I abandoned Ani in the ruin. A few hours later, I was woken up by you."

"Ani's safe, for the moment," Mace said.

"I know. The Jedi will look after him well."

Mace picked up a different feeling from Shmi—one of regret. "What's wrong?" he asked, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder.

"I feel as though I'm not going to see Ani again. I gave him up once. I don't think I can do it again."

Mace felt tear fill his eyes. He blinked them away. Shmi needed comforting now, not his pity. She leaned against his chest and cried. Mace held her hesitantly, but compassionately as tears fell from the deep depths of his dark eyes.

Johannes made eye contact with the fourteen-year-old padawan of Master Qui-Gon. There had been no word from Master Windu. Obi-Wan gave him a boyish smile. An image flickered in front of Johannes. He jumped to his feet.

"Master!"

"Johannes. Is the boy safe?"

"He's in the crèche. Master, what's wrong?"

The image flickered, seeing the padawan of Qui-Gon in the room also. "Obi-Wan, is Master Jinn around?"

"He'll be here in a few moments, Master."

"Protect Skywalker at all costs. Johannes, meet me on Myrkr." The image faded slightly and then disappeared altogether.

Qui-Gon entered the room. Johannes breathed deeply and rose. "Master Qui-Gon," he said, bowing, before exiting the room.

"Padawan."

"Yes, Master?"

"We're going to Alderaan."

"Master Windu—" Obi-Wan started before trailing off.

"What about Master Windu?"

"He said that Skywalker must be protected at all costs. Johannes is meeting him at Myrkr."

That stopped Qui-Gon dead still. He hadn't heard that name since Jonas was kicked out of the Jedi Order.

"Master?"

Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan. "Yes?"

"What's wrong?"

"Discovered the identity of the boy, did you?"

"Yeah, sort of. His name is Skywalker."

Yoda nodded thoughtfully. "Think he is, do you, Jonas' grandson?"

"I've only met Jonas once, Master. I wouldn't know."

"But see, I have, your opinion."

Johannes landed on Myrkr with absolutely no trouble. What in the galaxy? A dark figure beckoned to him from the shadows.

"Johannes! We're being watched. Follow me."

"Master!"

"Shush," Mace hissed. "I dare not show myself with you. They are hunting for us. They want Ani so much. And we're their link."

"Do they know who you are?"

"They've never seen me or heard my name. Now, be quiet."

Johannes followed silently behind Mace. It was ten minutes before they reached their destination. He found himself in torchlight.

"Where are we?"

"Shush!" Shmi hissed.

"They were following us. They want to know where we are."

"Who?" Mace silenced him with a glare.

They heard troops pass overhead. After five minutes of waiting, Mace turned to Johannes. "I don't know who they are. They're in league with Sidious."

"Who's he?"

"That's what we have to find out, Padawan." His dark eyes locked with Johannes.

"Who are you?"

"Shmi Skywalker. You must be Johannes."

"Yeah, I am. You're the mother of the boy?"

Shmi nodded. "How is he?"

"Fine. Master Qui-Gon is looking after him. Master Windu, what are we going to do?"

"We are going to wait and see."

Johannes felt Mace glow in the Force. "What are—"

"We're going," Mace cut off his apprentice. Shmi lead the way to the surface. Mace crouched beside her. Mace indicated to the forest. "Go, quick." Shmi darted into the shadows. Johannes came up behind his master. "Follow me in five seconds," Mace commanded as he drew his lightsaber. "They'll be coming back around soon."

"Yes, Master."

"May the Force be with you," Mace said and disappeared into the gloom.

Johannes drew his lightsaber. He waited and then ran after his master. One of the locals saw him as they rounded the corner of a building. "Hey!" they yelled, pointing at the dark figure running. "STOP!!!!!!"

Johannes kept on running. The local pulled out his blaster and fired at him. The silver blade was thumbed on, forming a shield of light around its wielder. Mace and Shmi crouched in the gloom, watching Johannes and his shield of silver light. The blade disappeared. So did Johannes. Shmi fell back, stunned.

Mace got up and moved further into the woods. Shmi looked up at him and decided to follow him. "Where's Johannes?"

"He's coming," Mace answered and fell silent.

They were soon joined by a third figure. "Hello, Master."

"Johannes," Mace replied. "We need to go."

"Follow me," the Mon Calamari said. "We'll need to get to the ship."

Mace nodded. Johannes took off in the opposite direction from the ship. Shmi came behind him and Mace took the rear. They doubled back the way they came. Shmi looked confused as she turned to view Mace.

"Don't worry. Johannes knows where to go. He's just making it harder for them to find us."

"Oh, right."

Johannes sat in the cargo bay of the small ship. He was cross-legged and alone. What was he to do? The feeling he was receiving through their training bond was confusing him. Mace came and sat opposite him. Johannes knew that he shouldn't question his master.

"Don't worry. It's confusing for me too."

"Master, I always thought you didn't have human emotions like normal people."

"I'm only human. I've avoided it, Padawan."

"You've tried not to get distracted by emotions you knew would get you into trouble with the Order, after working so hard to become a Jedi?"

"Yes. And it hasn't always worked."

The seventeen-year-old Mon Calamari smiled. Master Windu had surprised him at times and this was one of those times.

"Johannes, I need to tell you about the information I found out in the slavers' camp."

"Useful information?"

"It depends on how we use it. Some of these slavers are working for somebody called Darth Sidious. You would have heard me use this name before. I've heard hardly anything about who he is, but I feel great evil will come from this creature, if we don't act now. The name is feared greatly by the slavers. We need to find out what or who this creature is."

Johannes nodded, looking deep into the dark eyes of Mace Windu. He got up and said, "Where do we start?"

"Just a minute, Johannes. There is some more information that you need to know." Johannes sat back down. "This Darth Sidious creature wants the boy. Anakin Skywalker must be important to this creature's plans. We need to find out why. And what his not having a father has to do with Sidious' plans."

"The child has no father?"

"No he doesn't. He only has a mother."

"How can that be true?"

"I have no idea. All I know is that he must be protected at all costs. He may be the chosen one."

"The one who will bring balance? How can this be so?"

"I can feel it."

The two sat silently together for several minutes before Shmi entered, looking for Mace. She realised that the two were deep in mediation.

The Mon Calamari was the first to speak to her. "Lady Skywalker, there is something that I'd like to ask you." Mace caught his eye, warning him not to step too far over the line. "I'm intrigued by the boy. I'd like you to tell me a little about him."

"Such as?"

"My Padawan is curious about very young children. Johannes, Anakin is only a few weeks old."

"Yes, Master."

"I need to contact Master Yoda," Mace said softly, after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes, Master."

Mace got up and shuffled past Shmi. Johannes followed him out the door. Contacting Master Yoda was harder than first expected, but finally the diminutive Jedi's image appeared above the holo-communicator.

"Master Windu."

"Master Yoda. I feel the need to explain some facts I've found out about the boy. Also why these slavers want him…"

Johannes and Mace shared a sickened glance as they peered out at the world around them. In no terms could they go back to Coruscant with Shmi. Too much was at stake. Neither of them were looking forward to dealing with the Hutts, but technically, they were in Hutt space. Nal Hutta was the capital world of the Hutts, even though they controlled many other systems.

Johannes' boots clicked down the metallic ramp. "Why are we here, Master?"

"I explained it to you, earlier, Padawan. We are here to protect Lady Skywalker, and to find as much as we can about these slavers."

"And who they're working for. Are you sure we will find information about this Sidious here?"

"Nal Hutta may be controlled by the Hutts, young Padawan, but many in the service are Bounty Hunters. Bounty Hunters can be used for many reasons, and our 'friend' may have hired some of these to get to the bottom of this crisis we seem to have created. Be on your guard."

Darth Sidious snarled. Nal Hutta. So they were on Nal Hutta. His apprentice shifted behind him. The nineteen-year-old wanted action. Soon, young one. Soon. Now wasn't the time for the Jedi to get involved. There was no way Darth Sidious would let that child receive his full Jedi training. That child is no end of trouble.

"Master," the young apprentice said, drawing Sidious back to the present.

"Yes?"

"We have found traces to the mother. Where is the child, though?"

"Patience. We must have patience, young one. The mother is our link to him. Without her, the Jedi will have no difficulty hiding him from us."

"Wouldn't they have worked that out by now, Master?"

"They are fools, young one. Their aim is to preserve life. We are here to break that aim," Darth Sidious replied, his eyes gleaming. The chosen one, the boy may be. He could be the death of me.

They had gone along, unhindered. They were careful not to ask too many questions, to draw too much attention to themselves. Johannes had discarded his Jedi robes for something much simpler, and Mace hadn't returned to wearing his Jedi robes.

Nothing could hide their lightsabers other than their cloaks. Johannes knew something was up even before his master did. His silver blade was activated. Before anyone could stop him, Johannes had turned and blocked blaster fire that was directed at both him and his master.

"Run, Master. There is nothing more we can learn here. They want her." Johannes needed to say nothing more. Mace Windu disappeared into the crowd gathering around his apprentice.

How am I getting out of here? I am trained to protect, not kill.

Mace knew Johannes was cornered. He needed to do something to help his apprentice. He managed to conceal himself in a dark alleyway. Looking up, he estimated the roofs of the two building to be four metres up. Obviously not a Hutt's quarters. His eyes darted over his shoulder. Nobody was paying any attention to him. Using the Force, he jumped.

Johannes retracted his lightsaber and pushed the hilt up his sleeve. The crowd pushed in closer around him, grabbing at his shirt. Cries of "Jedi!" were echoed around the assembly. He needed to get out of the line of fire. But how? He noted an opening in the crowd and pushed through it. Think, Johannes. They're after you. But why? "Jedi! Jedi!" the crowd screamed his answer. Why are we so hated? the seventeen-year-old asked himself as he fought his way out of the crowd.

Mace was atop the third building he had leapt onto. He pulled the hood over his face, drawing his lightsaber. Scanning the crowd below him, his dark eyes spotted, to his horror, Shmi amongst them. Further searching the crowd, he spotted the Mon Calamari forcing his way to the edge of the crowd. He created an image in his mind—that of a peaceful market place—and sent it over the crowd.

Johannes found the crowd around him thin out. Master?

Yes?

That was you?

Yes. Find Shmi. She's in the crowd.

Johannes looked around and spotted her making her way to him. He smiled. And the unexpected happened. Johannes closed his eyes, reliving the same moments that happened a few seconds before. But his lightsaber didn't jump at his command. His dark eyes flashed open. What? He saw Shmi stumble toward him. Blaster fire rang through the air. What's happening? He felt no burns; no indent of death. Shmi was tumbling, falling. "No!" he screamed as the realisation hit him.

Mace saw what had happened and there was nothing he could do about it. He could feel pain, overwhelming pain. Tears stung the backs of his eyes. There was nothing you could have done, he scolded himself. He saw her collapse into the dirt. His apprentice ran to her unmoving body. He was at a loss. He turned. Gleaming yellow eyes held his gaze. Mace stepped back, feeling the edge of the building with his heels. This creature, whatever it was, was not going to stop him from escaping.

The creature's hand landed softly on its lightsaber, its striped face grinning wickedly. Mace had a set expression on his face. Nobody was defeating him this easily, but this was no a time to confront this monster. He jumped backwards, somersaulting to land upright at the base of the building. Looking up at the creature glaring down at him, Mace turned sharply.

"Johannes!" he yelled, breaking into a sprint. Johannes turned at his master's call, seeing Mace sprint off. He took one look down at the body of the woman, and turned back to his master's fleeing form Surely he doesn't mean to leave her here?

A red blade caught his attention. A double red blade. The Mon Calamari blinked twice as the Iridonian jumped from the rooftop and moved toward him. He needed no second urging.

"What was that?" Johannes asked, panting.

"We're not sticking around to find out," Mace replied, lifting off.

"Where are we going?"

"Coruscant."