Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.

CH. 9

"ATTACK OF THE CLONES"

He watched the weapon clatter to the ground and roll to his feet, stopping just as it reached the toe of his boot. It was the lightsaber he had been given after his own had been lost during his first duel with Vader.

"Pick it up," Darth Vader demanded, pulling his own lightsaber from his cloak and activating it. "This is the end of your journey, Obi-Wan."

Aah, yes, my replacement, Obi-Wan mused as he casually reached down to retrieve the device. After all the times I have gotten after Anakin about losing his lightsaber and I have gone through two in two days myself…

"You have interfered with my life for the last time."

"I won't fight you again," Obi-Wan replied as he calmly cast the weapon aside. "If you wish to kill me, you will have to kill an unarmed man."

Vader glared at his old Master and took a menacing step forward. "Don't think I won't."

"Do what you must, Anakin…"

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and allowed the Force to surround and soothe him. I sure do hope Qui-Gon is right, he thought to himself. If not, I may have just committed suicide…

He heard Vader's lightsaber switch off and for a brief second he felt relieved…for a very brief second. His eyes flew open a moment later when he felt a great pressure tighten around his throat. Vader's own yellow eyes peered straight across the cell at him – his arm extended in front of him – and the pressure intensified as he slowly and maliciously balled his hand into a fist. Then, opening his palm towards Obi-Wan, he sent him violently crashing into the wall directly behind him.

The wind was knocked out of the Jedi Knight as he collided with the wall and dropped to the ground. Gasping for air, he heard footsteps approaching him until he saw a set of black boots stop just in front of where he lay. Allowing himself no time to catch his breath, Obi-Wan did his best to gather his bearings and climbed back to his feet. However, he didn't get far before he felt pressure around his throat again, this time by Vader's actual hand. His fingers were securely wrapped around his throat – once again cutting off his air supply.

"I am losing my patience," Vader sneered, keeping a tight grip on his former Master's neck and lifting his feet from the ground. "Where are they? Tell me now!"

After getting no response from the man he dangled a foot from the cell floor, Vader tossed him back to the ground and turned to leave. On his way out, he called Obi-Wan's lightsaber to his hand using the Force and left without another word.

I have to get out of here, Obi-Wan told himself.

The first thing Padme Amidala felt was a throbbing pain in her head. As she slowly opened her eyes, she held a hand up in front of her face to block out the offensive light that filled the room. She blinked several times to allow her eyes to adjust before lowering it. Glancing around the cramped area, she realized she was in the room the Jedi had given her to stay in during her time with them.

She glanced over when she heard a voice speak up.

"Good, it does my heart, to see you awake again, Senator."

"Master Yoda?" she asked as she saw the small Jedi Master sitting beside her bed in a chair that must have been modified just for him. He thoughtfully watched her from where he sat. "What happened? Is Obi-Wan alright?"

A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he answered. "Well, Obi-Wan is."

"What's going on?" Padme moved to sit up in her bed, but immediately stopped when she felt a stabbing sensation in her side. Resting her head back against her pillow, she let out a groan of pain.

"Still, you must stay," Yoda commented.

"Where is he? All I remember…" Padme trailed off as the room began to spin. "Anakin?"

Yoda let out a heavy sigh as the former Queen of Naboo slipped back into unconsciousness. She had not remained awake for longer than a few seconds at a time since her return to their sanctuary and the Healer's were growing increasingly concerned over her current state.

"I can see her condition has not improved much," the blue persona of Qui-Gon Jinn said from the other side of Padme's bed.

Yoda sadly shook his head.

"There is no need to worry," Qui-Gon reassured his old Master. "Everything will soon be set right…trust me."

Darth Vader furiously stormed down the narrow hallway towards Obi-Wan's holding cell. Hatred and rage surged through him as he drew closer. He has done it again, he thought. He disrupts my life every chance he gets. I never should have spared him – I don't need his help to find Padme.

It had been hours since he had left the treacherous Jedi alone and minutes since he had received word of his escape. Who is responsible for letting him get away?

When he rounded the corner, he saw a group of clone soldiers standing outside the opened doors to the now vacant cell while several others were scattered around the floor. Kenobi had obviously taken quite a few of them out during his untimely departure.

"What happened?" Vader angrily questioned. "Where is he?"

The commanding officer quickly straightened his posture and stood at attention upon the Sith Lord's arrival. "The prisoner caught us by surprise during food delivery. He took us off guard and managed to evade our attempts to contain him, sir."

"Who authorized food delivery?" Vader growled, glancing into the empty room before returning his attention to the officer.

"It is standard procedure to – "

With an enraged flick of his wrist, Vader snapped the troopers neck, not giving him the chance to finish his explanation. Then he turned to the remaining soldiers and shouted his orders in disgust. "Find him! Obi-Wan Kenobi is not to leave here alive!"

"Yes, sir."

The soldiers responded in unison before rushing down the hall to carry out the Emperor's command.

You have been a thorn in my side for long enough…I will find you. There is no running this time.

Obi-Wan quickly ducked into a dark alley when he spotted clone soldiers searching the busy streets of Coruscant and hurriedly made his way through the area towards the safe haven of the Jedi. He was careful to make sure he wasn't being followed as he cautiously continued to move in and out of the shadows – using the darkness to hide himself from his pursuers. It was a miracle he had managed to escape the clutches of the Empire alive and he knew that if he were to be captured again it would no doubt mean his end. Vader would make sure of that… I am sure he is not in the best of moods right now, he thought.

In a matter of minutes he had reached the undisclosed location of the refuge and was met by dozens of Jedi. He was instantly barraged with questions.

"Where is Master Yoda?" Obi-Wan asked, raising his hands in a gesture to silence the crowd surrounding him. "I have pressing matters to discuss with him."

"Welcome back, Master Obi-Wan," all heads turned to Yoda as he emerged from his chambers. "What news, have you?"

Before Obi-Wan could answer, there was a loud rumble and the floor shook beneath their feet. His eyes widened and immediately darted towards the door. "They couldn't have…"

"What is happening?" one of the Jedi Knight's asked with an alert expression on his face.

"What have I done?" Obi-Wan spoke more to himself than to anyone else around him. Then he turned his gaze back to Yoda. "I led them right to you, Master! I thought I was careful, I…"

A large explosion suddenly erupted and tore a massive hole in the nearby wall, clone soldiers swarming through it to attack. Blue and green blades sprang to life while blaster fire filled the room. Obi-Wan narrowly avoided getting hit by a shot as he dove through the air – catching the lightsaber another Jedi had tossed him and igniting it the moment it reached his awaiting hand.

He swiftly sliced through several troopers as he rolled to his feet. "There are too many of them!"

"Destroy them all!"

Obi-Wan spun around when he heard a familiar voice shout out behind him.

A lone figure stepped into the room and activated his crimson blade…Anakin.