3

The stars seemed tono longer bedots in the distant heavens but more a dense blanket of blue and white clouds traveling by the viewport of the Constantium. Anakin gazed over the control panel, going through one last checklist before he allowed the autopilot to take over.

Obi-Wan disconnected his crash webbing and made way behind the twins to a large round table that lay in the center of the ship. They each took a seat facing one another. Afe soon joined them.

It was quite some time before Anakin found his way to the table. He had a ton of thoughts on his mind, and they were like a pack of starfighters on his tail. He just couldn't shake them off. A sense of darkness had fallen about this mission, and though he felt the others knew, it had yet to come up in conversation. He finally dropped his head into his hands and took a seat adjacent of Obi-Wan.

"Given that our faces are more than well-known throughout the galaxy, a plan to infiltrate this drug ring will be nearly impossible," Obi-Wan stated, running his fingers along the reflective marble table.

"A disguise could end in failure as well," Afe mumbled. "Considering that there is an unusual amount of dark presence surrounding this mission."

Anakin knew the others felt it! If one thing hadn't aged in his years of being a Jedi, it was his ability to sense things.

"So what are our plans?"

A grin formed along Anakin's face. "We divert their attention entirely. A planned attack on the base will force everyone to abandon post. We know that drug lords aren't necessarily concerned with saving their sales. They will most likely run."

Luke, leaning against the armrest of his chair, spoke up. "We're going to need a proper mandate from Corellia itself for the attack. Can you imagine what they would think if some group starts a medium-scale attack in the forests of their planet? We'll then be bombarded by Corellian security forces as well as resistance from the spice cartel."

Both Anakin and Obi-Wan smiled. Luke's maturity was coming into effect. It wouldn't be long before he took and passed the Jedi trials.

I shall contact the Jedi Temple and request that the Republic informs Corellia of our actions," Afe said. "Perhaps we can acquire some crafts to attack the base."

Obi-Wan stroked his beard in thought. "We want them to think that their lives are in danger, but we also want to keep the base intact. We just want a little time to investigate."

Ollo took a walk through the blue-tinted forest at dusk, as he did everyday. Herelished in the twigs and branches that graced his skin as he made his way through the dense underbrush. At length he came to a stump and took the chance to rest. He loved the dark forests of Corellia. That was his reason for moving from Coruscant. After years living on the planet-spanning city, he had grown tired of the constant acquaintance of duracreet. Soft, warm ground was his home of choice.

With a sigh, he smoothed down his dark brown tunic and gazed out at his home. The hidden base of his was almost completely enveloped by the dark trees, and under the blanket of night, it was entirely invisible.

He knew that his reign in the spice ring wouldn't last long, and that his time was drawing nigh, but a person with Ollo's resolve wouldn't give up for the life of him. He would fight for control until his dying day.

With one hand, he flipped out a small datapad, powered it on, and began to view ancient scriptures from a forgotten past. He knew each and every scripture by heart, and practiced their teachings constantly. They were the teachings of the Sith.

Anakin sat at a personal computer staring at satellite read outs from Corellia's orbit. Though the Jedi Order gave them plenty of information about the mission, the coordinates of this hidden base were not among them. It would be a treasure hunt. As he scrolled through countless pictures of the surface, he came upon one that caught his eye. It was in the middle of a dense forest at dawn. A glimmer rose from the trees, forcing him to inspect further. He zoomed until it was nothing more than a blur. He couldn't entirely make out what it was, but something felt different about it. He called to Obi-Wan and Afe who sat talking over a cup of tea in the lounge area.

"What is this, Anakin?" Afe asked, bending over and peering through her goggles.

"It's a satellite holophoto of Corellia's surface." He pointed. "And this caught my eye."

Obi-Wan looked deep at the photo. He agreed with Anakin. "Something's not right about it. Nothing would glimmer in the deep forest, especially a glimmer that big."

"It feels like the right one." Anakin said, and the topic was over. Everyone could sense a disturbance in the force emanating from the area.

"I'm going to record the coordinates into our nav computer," Afe trailed off, jogging from the room.

Anakin found his twin children in their rooms upside down resting their entire body weight on one hand. He watched them for some time as they went through their daily training routine. He smiled, thinking of how much they had grown. Suddenly he felt his feet leaving the ground. The children had him hanging by his feet in the air.

"Let me go, kids." He grunted, thrashing about in mid-air. He knew he could easily escape the grasp of his young children. They weren't that powerful, yet. It was then that the two children we knocked over onto the hard durasteel flooring.

"You forget to be aware of those around you, young apprentices," Obi-Wan stated dryly, leaning in the doorway. "That is always where the attack comes from. The last place you expect."

The children groaned, having trouble righting themselves on the slick floor. Anakin pulled himself to his feet and grinned.

"Thanks, Master," Anakin said. "If you didn't save me, I'd be done for."

Obi-Wan smiled and rolled his eyes, leaving the room.