A/N: Here it is, this chapter took me awhile, as you will see, it's quite long. I hope I haven't lost the few people who were reading this! But here it is finally, and we are winding up for the climax and conclusion-about three or four more chapters to go. Thanks all for reading!


A Day at the Races

Anakin had risen before the sun, and outside the Jedi Temple he waited for any movement from Jedi Davad Hoiy. He didn't have to wait long. Soon after Anakin took up post outside the dark haired Jedi exited the building. Anakin followed Davad easily; the latter Jedi cruising in his speeder through traffic with all the hurry of a tourist on holiday. When they arrived at the racetrack Anakin docked his speeder a few rows away from Davad, and followed closely behind as the older Jedi wound his way through the growing crowds of gamblers and career pickpockets.

The Core Racetrack was one of many gambling halls in the mid-levels of the capital city. Most of the gambling took place within the racetrack itself, or outlying bars and cantinas. Betting was available for any kind of race or sporting event in the galaxy. Gamblers and bookies from a variety of alien worlds had brought multitudes of creatures and racing events to the capital city, all with the goal of taking the credits of the Coruscant populous.

That particular morning the Core Racetrack was buzzing with the energy of the new day. A new day of possibilities for those down on their luck to gamble and possibly win that once in a lifetime bounty; and it was a new day for Yennaj Monvé who was worried for her circumstance and the man in her life.

As Davad casually wound his way through the various aliens cluttering the walkways of the racetrack, Anakin followed not three paces behind. No one took notice of them; they were both dressed plainly. Neither man clothed in any Jedi-identifying garments. Anakin had his lightsaber accessible under the poncho he was wearing, and he guessed Davad also had his hidden somewhere in the folds of his clothing.

Anakin followed, as Davad passed the betting windows where aliens of all races were lining up to place their bets, and as he made his way to the seating area overlooking the ∞-shaped racetrack. Anakin watched the Jedi search the crowd, obviously looking for someone, and as he turned suddenly to descend the stairs, Anakin remained at the top of the aisle, observing.

Davad must have seen who he was looking for and halfway down the stairway he entered a box seat where a woman sat, dressed beautifully in pure white. She turned to the Jedi and broke into a sincere smile, one of pure joy. Anakin watched with interest as she stood and the greeted the Jedi with a kiss. Anakin knew at once this was the Jedi he and Obi-Wan had been sent to seek out. And the woman must be Yennaj Monvé, the senator Padmé had spoken of from Corellia.

All too easy, Anakin thought as he brought out his commlink, intending to call Obi-Wan.

Anakin had the commlink to his mouth when Davad suddenly stood and excused himself from his seat. Anakin quickly hid himself behind a group of chattering Rodians as Davad entered the throngs of gamblers yet again. Anakin reattached his commlink to his belt and began the pursuit once more.


Davad hated lying to Yennaj. But it wouldn't take him long to pass on the data disc to Dooku's man. She didn't have to know what he was doing, instead of visiting the refresher like he'd said. He tried to reason with himself, because in a way he was doing it for her; he was trying to end the war. She would understand, he thought, I'm protecting her and her son.

Davad made his way to the corner of the open air atrium where the lines of beings waiting to place bets now extended across the entirety of the room. He backed into the corner, allowing himself a full view of the room. Putting his hands in his pockets, he fingered the data disc with the Jedi Council meeting information. He stood there for only a few minutes when he saw what could only be Dooku's man moving towards him. He stuck out of the crowd like a Hutt in a group of Twi'lek's. He was dressed in all black with a hooded robe that disguised his features, and he walked directly towards Davad. The varied races in the betting hall avoided the man, not taking notice of him on purpose.

As the crowds parted to allow this strange being to pass, Davad saw something which turned the blood in his veins to ice. Anakin Skywalker; and he was staring straight at Davad. The two Jedi's eyes met, and before Dooku's man could meet Davad in the corner, Davad was on the move. Out went his hand and as he rushed past the man in black he thrust the data disc at him. Davad didn't wait to see if the man grabbed it or not. He quickly made his way to the exit, glancing over his shoulders looking for Skywalker.


Anakin watched Davad standing in the corner, his eyes flashing around the crowd. He reached out with The Force, careful not to alert Davad to his presence. As he did, he felt the dark side moving through the crowd. As he narrowed his senses to track the culprit he saw the crowd moving and before he could prevent it, he was staring across the room into the eyes of Davad Hoiy.

"Sith-spawn," he cursed under his breath as the older Jedi suddenly moved forward and took off towards the exit. Anakin shook his head in anger and frustration as he once again found himself in pursuit of the Jedi.


In the box seat situated high above the racetrack, Yennaj began to worry for Davad. He had been gone too long to have just visited the refresher. Maybe he's placing a bet? She thought, even though she knew better. Davad didn't gamble, and as a Jedi he had no money. She told herself she would allow him until the next Eopie race started, than she would go looking for him.


Anakin restrained himself from cursing again. The racetrack had filled almost to capacity, and the walkways were packed with Rodians, Neimoidians, Trandoshans, Ryn, and dozens of other aliens, plus humans of all shapes and sizes, and in the massive crowd he'd lost sight of Davad. Using The Force, Anakin stretched out with his feelings, searching for the unique Force signature that every living being possessed, the Jedi more prominently than others. Suddenly he felt him, not far ahead. Anakin, using his strength with The Force, cleared a path for himself through the throngs of gamblers. Then he saw him, running ahead, heading for the pedestrian exit out to the raised streets of the mid-levels of Coruscant. Anakin hurried his pursuit.


Davad was desperate. He wasn't ready to be found out. He needed more time. He needed Yennaj. Her presence was soothing and when he was with her he forgot about the war, and the Separatists. He felt Anakin searching for him with The Force, and Davad had to reprimand himself for not practicing more the art of masking his feelings. He'll find me for sure, he thought. I've got to find someplace to hide, somewhere to lose him.

Davad spied the pedestrian entrance to the racetrack ahead of him, and made a beeline for it. He was running against the main flow of traffic, so he was repeatedly bumping and shoving people aside. As he flew out the main doors he paused, eyeing up, down and across the walkway. Across the wide expanse were the dark alleys that led to the less than savory areas of mid-level Coruscant. Davad made a quick decision and darted down the alleyway directly ahead of him.


As Anakin came bursting out onto the walkway, he too paused. He'd lost him again.

"This is starting to become slightly irritating," Anakin said under his breath as he once again reached out with The Force-searching for Davad Hoiy.

Anakin struggled, his anger and frustration getting in the way of his use of The Force. He would think he had sensed him but then the feelings would fade and there'd be nothing but the hopeful optimism of a gambler down in his luck. Suddenly a flash lit up behind Anakin's eyes, as a feeling of love and loss swept over him. He opened his eyes and smiled. Straight ahead, he thought, as he took off down the dark alleyway.


The racetrack lay on the border of the civilized entertainment district and the seedy streets and alleyways that led to the dark underworld of Coruscant. It was not uncommon for people to disappear walking these border streets. The border streets were just that; an invisible barrier for the city and for the mid-level entertainment district. The gangs of the lower levels wouldn't cross the barrier, but they would hang out in it-picking the pockets of the lucky ones who won on the races. The spider-roaches and armored rats that habited the dark alleyways would watch from the shadows, waiting for a pedestrian to drop a crust of food or spill their drinks. The deathstick dealers worked these border streets as well, knowing the beings that walked there were usually desperate people, on the edge. It was a dealer's paradise.

Anakin sensed all this as he crossed the invisible barrier and ran down the alley. But it was the sense he got from Davad that kept him going. The sense he felt a connection with; what he sometimes felt within himself; what he had to keep hidden-buried from Obi-Wan and all the other Jedi.

Anakin felt the texture of the surface below his feet soften the deeper he moved into the alley. He looked down and saw a brownish looking growth on the ground. Some sort of moss or lichen. There were carcasses of giant armored rats, several meters in length, littering the ground as well. For all the time he'd spent on Coruscant, Anakin had never seen this part of it before. He slowed his run to a fast walk, taking in the things around him. Discarded tech-equipment, pieces of droids, even parts of wrecked speeders and starships. Debris piled high on either side of him. The available light was also growing fainter, and Anakin noticed that the alley was on a slight downward tilt.

Suddenly Anakin wasn't so sure about what he was doing. I've got a bad feeling about this, he thought-borrowing Master Obi-Wan's favorite saying. Quickly his fast walk slowed to a cautious creep. He could still feel Davad. He was close by, probably hiding within the tons of garbage that lined the alley.


Yennaj was officially starting to worry. The Eopie races had come and gone. The speeder bike races were next on the schedule. She debated whether she should leave. She wasn't interested in the races, this spot only existed for her as a place she could secretly meet Davad. A place where they could be together without prying eyes and secret looks.

Suddenly a thought occurred to her, one that calmed her considerably. He must have been called away on Jedi business. He had told her once that it could happen anytime, day or night. He was at the whim of the Council.

"That must be it," she said to herself as she smiled relief. He would have left her a message. So Yennaj stood and left the races, on her way back to her small but stately senatorial apartment at 500 Republica.


Davad could see Skywalker from where he hid. The younger Jedi had caught up to him very quickly. Davad watched as Anakin slowed his fast pace, and began to take notice of where he was. Davad knew his thoughts of Yennaj had led Anakin right to him. He had sensed a kind of similar life in this young Jedi. It had only been momentary, but it had been there. Anakin Skywalker was hiding a secret, too.

Davad contemplated the few options before him. Reveal himself and appeal to Anakin's sensibilities (which he doubted would work), or try to play on the feelings he thought he'd sensed from Anakin, enough to distract him so he could get away.


Anakin was weary of this chase. He knew Davad was the spy, now all he needed was to catch him. Anakin knew he was the more powerful Jedi of the two, and overpowering Davad with The Force would not be difficult.

"Davad!" Anakin yelled into the dark, dingy alley. His voice echoed off the walls as it traveled endlessly up towards the faraway sky. Anakin slowly turned his head, noticing every unstable piece of durasteel, every dark corner where the Jedi could be hiding, and every possible escape from capture. He rejoiced that there weren't many. He was confident he would be bringing in the traitor very soon.

"I know you are here. Show yourself! Take responsibility for your treachery and maybe you won't be stripped of your Jedi Knighthood," Anakin spoke loudly, again his voice carrying up and down the alley.

"I won't be condemned for doing what I think is right. The Republic is corrupt-the Jedi are being used. And I am trying to end this war," Davad's voice also echoed through the alley, and Anakin couldn't quite pin down where it was coming from.

"You are directly causing the deaths of your fellow Jedi Knights! You call that being a guardian of peace and justice? You think the Republic is corrupt, fine. Why supply the Council's tactical plans when that will only lead to the deaths of Jedi!" Anakin was exasperated and tired from the morning spent chasing Davad, and one way or another he was bringing Davad before the Council.

"You and the other Jedi have been deceived. The Sith Lord who has control of the Senate will cause The Republic to fall, and the Jedi will be destroyed. The only way to prevent this is to end the war as soon as possible and stop the Sith from taking over. That's what I'm doing! It's a small sacrifice. Even honest Senators like Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, even Padmé Amidala are not beyond reach of the corrupt. Can you imagine what would happen to those who fought for an end to war if the Sith Lord has control over all the senate and the galaxy? They will be destroyed. The Separatists know the truth. The only way to survive after this war is to join them," Davad quieted suddenly. He had spoken far more than he'd wanted. He looked between the pieces of wreckage he was hiding behind, and saw Anakin staring right at him, a kind of detached smile on his face.

"Maybe you're right, maybe not. My duties are to the Republic and the Jedi Council. And you need to answer for your actions," Anakin walked slowly toward the pile of debris where Davad was crouched.

"Sorry young Skywalker, but I'm not ready for that yet," Davad said as he used all his power with The Force to topple the pile of debris on top of the younger Jedi. He controlled the fall enough so he wouldn't crush the kid, and as soon as Anakin was buried Davad took off down the alley, working his way deeper into the dark regions of the capital city.

Anakin had been caught by surprise. He called himself a number of colorful names before he lifted off himself the giant pile of crashed speeders and pieces of starships. As he suspected, Davad was nowhere to be seen. Anakin reached out with The Force, and immediately sensed the gang making its way up the alley from the other end towards his location. Anakin turned and quickly moved back towards the border street where he had first entered the alley. He wasn't in any mood to deal with these underworld gangs. He had a Jedi to track down.

Back at the racetrack, Anakin walked past the box seat where Davad had met Yennaj. The lovely senator was no longer seated. Anakin continued through to the garage where he located his speeder. There he noticed Davad's was still parked. Anakin considered waiting for him to come back for it-but then what if he didn't? Anakin smiled. He had an idea of where Davad might run too. Anakin reversed out of the garage and entered the lanes of airtraffic, heading towards the Senatorial District.