CHAPTER 8

"Gone? What do you mean he's gone?" Master Windu walked closer to Obi-Wan. "I thought he was under your orders."

"He was, Master. I sent him and a group of Clones to check on Coco Town and evacuate the locals." Mace Windu paced the room before stopping and staring coldly at the Jedi Knight.

"You sent him to Coco Town knowing that that is where the droids had landed, knowing that there could still be more droids waiting for Jedi to arrive and ambush them?" Obi-Wan lowered his head briefly. "I am truly disappointed in you Obi-Wan. You not only risked the life of another Jedi but you sent eight Clones to their death."

"I thought he would be all right." Obi-Wan tried to stay calm and collected.

"Your actions and lack of logic has placed your former Padawan in mortal danger!" Those words stabbed at Obi-Wan, ripping through everything in his being. "Have you any leads on this, General?"

"A transmission from Sidious. He insist that I make my way alone to these co-ordinates or Commander Skywalker will be executed." Mace scoffed and looked down at the ground before looking back at the Jedi Knight before him.

"That is out of the question, General. We will figure out another way to rescue Skywalker and in the mean time…" Master Windu glared at Obi-Wan. "Pray the Force that Anakin won't suffer from your errors."

"Master Kenobi's fault this was not." Master Yoda entered the Chambers. Both Mace and Obi-Wan turned towards the Head Master. "Find Skywalker quickly we must… falling to the Dark Side I fear he could." Before leaving the room, Mace Windu stepped closer to Obi-Wan until they were only inches apart. He stared into the hurt blue eyes and whispered.

"If Anakin dies… his death will be on you." With no other word or glance, he left the room and called for a group of Clones to start searching the area for Anakin. Obi-Wan stood silently and glanced over at Master Yoda.

"I'm sorry I failed, master." Yoda closed his eyes.

"Blame you I do not. Worry not for your former Padawan, train him well you did." Obi-Wan smiled gratefully at the Jedi Master who had instructed him during his childhood.

"What?" Obi-Wan's eyes darkened with rage that he tried to push down.

"You will stay inside the Temple, you are removed from your General duties until we say so." Mace repeated.

"While my troops head into battle? That doesn't seem like a good idea."

"We will decide what's a good idea or not." Master Ki-Adi-Mundi answered back sharply. "Now wait in the main hall, we will decide what to do about Skywalker. In the meantime, you are not to leave the Temple. If you disobey our orders you will suffer the consequences."

"Which will be?" The sarcastic tone Obi-Wan took wasn't very appreciated by Mace Windu.

"You disobey and we will remove your Jedi title." Obi-Wan looked at Yoda, hoping to see him disagreed with what the other Masters had decided.

"Wait outside." Yoda gestured the door. Obi-Wan bowed only to Yoda and quickly turned to leave but not before sending a cold glare towards Master Windu.

Enraged with the Counsel's decision to remove him from duty, Obi-Wan paced inside the main hall, waiting for an answer about the matter at hand. He waited and waited, anxiety twisting inside him as time passed. He couldn't sense if Anakin was in pain no matter how hard he tried. He couldn't zero in on a location either but guessed that he was on Bespin; the location he was told to meet Sidious.

He had waited long enough and could no longer control the growing fear in his heart. He loved being a Jedi but he would not risk Anakin's life for a simple title. Though Obi-Wan knew this could be that last thing he ever did for Anakin, dead or alive, he darted out the Temple. He grabbed a Jedi Starfighter, throwing Mace's orders in the wind.

"We're heading for Bespin, R2." Jedi answered to the little droids questioning beeps.

"Left Master Obi-Wan has." Mace stood and headed at the door, not believing what Master Yoda had sensed. He swung open the doors and saw that the Knight was no longer waiting in the hallway. He swore under his breath and ran outside. He only had time to see a red Starfighter speed away from the Temple.

"He's gone too far this time." Master Yoda had followed Mace outside.

"Risking his life for a fellow Jedi he is. Thought him this I have." Yoda could only smile at his former Younglings actions.

"He truly does have Master Jinn's defiance in him." Mace shook his head.

"Help us with this, Qui-Gon will." Windu turned to look at his Head Master. "Know the truth about his former master, Obi-Wan must."

"Is that wise, Master? Obi-Wan didn't take Qui-Gon's death very well." Yoda looked up at Windu.

"It must be done or lose Skywalker, Obi-Wan will."

Anakin awoke in a dark and dusty room. His back ached from lying down on a cold floor for so long and his head throbbed from a blow he had received earlier. It took him a while before his eyes adjusted to the lack of light. The last thing he could remember was talking on the Com-Link with Obi-Wan and sensing a slight disturbance in the Force. Anakin looked around him and saw he was in some sort of cage made of red-coloured electric bars.

"Glad to see you're awake." A low, raspy voice echoed in the room. Anakin finally noticed the dark figure standing a few feet away from his prison.

"Sidious…" Anakin stood up and slowly approached the limit of the cage, making sure he didn't touch the electric bars.

"My boy, I wanted to tell you of my alliance with the Sith myself. I wish you hadn't learned it the way you did."

"What would it have changed? You're evil and you used me to further your own agenda." Sidious walked closer to Anakin.

"Anakin, I saw a great future for you with the Sith. I saw you bring peace in the Galaxy."

"You lie… I would never join you." Anakin hissed.

"And who would you join? Obi-Wan?" The Sith started laughing, an evil laugh that sent chills down Anakin's back. "You naïve boy… You have been here for hours and not a sign of your former master, even if he had the co-ordinates to your location." He paused for a moment. "Makes you wonder where his loyalties stand."

"Obi-Wan is loyal to the Jedi Order, he…"

"He would what, Anakin? Listen to their orders instead of coming here to save you? Would you choose the Order over your master, Anakin? Would you risk everything to save him?" Anakin looked away. "That's what I thought… you are loyal to Obi-Wan but is he truly loyal to you?"

"He'll get me out of here, I trust him." Sidious shook his head.

"You trusted me once, have I ever lied to you except for this? About me being a Sith?"

"Stop it, I don't want to hear it." Anakin turned fully away from Sidious.

"All right… then think about this. If Master Obi-Wan truly had a bond with you, he would be able to sense your location and would find you with hardly any effort." With nothing else he left those words turn into Anakin's mind. Anakin closed his eyes.

"Obi-Wan… where are you?" He whispered to Obi-Wan's mind. Anakin prayed the Force that Obi-Wan heard him.