The still holographic image of the man previously known as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine filled the empty Jedi Councilroom, the only members present within being Mace Windu and Master Yoda. Obi-Wan Kenobi stood near the masters' chairs waiting with aggravated trepidation to hear the message that had come to the Temple, directed solely to him.
Mace commanded the recording to proceed.
Theblue glowing holographic image suddenly came to life. The man appearing before them wore a dark cloak, possibly black, with its hood drawn up, concealing most of his facial features. He suddenly appeared much older than he actually was, the wrinkles in his face somehow deeper, the grim expression usually worn on his face, was now much more cruel. Obi-Wan's teeth ground together as the image before him began to rasp forth.
"I am Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith. I have in my possession something that is dear to you, Obi-Wan Kenobi. If you wish to see your son alive, you will do exactly as I say. Go to loading dock 66-B. A ship will be waiting for you there. Board it. Leave your weapon and come alone. Let no one follow you. If they do, the child will die."
"A bad feeling about this, I have." Yoda stated as the holographic message ended. "But go you must. A sacrifice, the Chosen One must not be."
"We can't allow him to go alone, especially unarmed. And why does Sidious want him anyway? He already has the boy! You would think he would need the mother. Why Kenobi?"
Mace couldn't understand this demand from the dark lord at all. It was a perplexing situation. But he too shared Yoda's troubled premonition. The small green Master wasn't the only one with a bad feeling.
"Padmé awoke a few hours ago and spoke to me." Obi-Wan offered the information, hoping to answer some of their questions. "She mentioned something about the baby being sick. I have the feeling it has something to do with that."
"Hmmm." Yoda propped his head on the handle of his walking stick. "Meditate on this I will."
"I will accompany Knight Kenobi to the rendesvous." Mace countered, despairing that it was the only help that it seemed he could offer at the moment
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The slightly rusted red and white councillor's ship sat waiting at the platform when they arrived, flanked by several armed guards in robes and helmets of dark blue, Mace noted. Apparently, Sidious had gathered some support before he fled the Senate. This was more bad news to add to what they had already discovered. Gathering forces to himself, the dark lord obviously had a plan, and now that he had the Chosen One, there was no telling what he would do. Mace felt a stab ofconcern for the Jedi Order, but quickly focused it on the single knight who stepped forward toward the lone ship that was waiting for him. The future of the Order was suddenly in this young man's hands. He must rescue the Chosen One and bring him safely back to the Temple. And he must do it alone, and without his lightsaber.
"Kenobi."
Obi-Wan turned to face the taller Jedi Master and waited.
"May the Force be with you."
The young knight grinned and stepped forward and into the ship waiting to transport him into the hands of Darth Sidious.
Once inside the ship, Obi-Wan allowed himself to be searched by a large blue being he recognized as the chancellor's assistant, Mas Amedda. He was then led to the sleeping quarters. Once inside, a hypospray was placed to his neck. His initial reaction was to fight off its effects, but the bass tones of Amedda changed his mind.
"Don't use the Force against it, Jedi. You will cooperate."
Obi-Wan allowed the comatosing agent to enter his blood stream as intended and he was soon unconscious and laid down upon the single cot in the room.
When he awoke, he was unsure of how much time had passed and how far they had flown. He could hear the thrusters beginning to fire as the ship was obviously making its ascent. He then became aware of a pounding heart beat that was not his own. It reverberated deep within him and was fast-paced and irregular. The child was ill and he then realized as Sidious already had, that he was the only one who could help him.
The guards wasted no time in escorting him from the ship. He passed through a durasteel hangar and felt the rumbling of engines beneath his feet. They hadn't landed on a planet after all, but were still in space. He quickly glanced around him, the surprise showing on his face. They were on a ship, and it was large. Darth Sidious had gained more power than the Jedi had realized.
He was placed into a cell approximately three meters square and watched as the guards exited, locked the barred door and one of them manipulated a handheld switch that instantly activated an energy field around him. There was nothing he could do now but wait.
---------------------------------------------------
"Senator Amidala."
"Hmm?"
"Padmé, please. You must wake up. I need your help."
Padmé's eyes opened, expecting and hoping to see Obi-Wan at her side. Immediately her eyes widened as she took in the face of Mace Windu. "M...Master Windu? Where's Obi-Wan?"
"He's gone to meet Chancellor Palpatine - the sith lord we have been looking for. He's gone to try and rescue your child."
Padmé immediately sat up in bed, surprised that there was no pain in her body and very little discomfort. "How long have I been out?"
"Two days Mi'Lady. Knight Kenobi left yesterday in a ship provided by Sidious. He went alone and unarmed."
"He had to." Padmé reflected, her eyes cast to the floor.
"What do you mean?"
"The baby. The baby is sick. Obi-Wan is the only one who can help him. Sidious must have found out. He won't let Obi-Wan go. The baby will die without him. They have a bond, you see."
"How do you know this?" Mace found himself questioning the senility of the young woman sitting on the bed before him, but a surge in the Force surrounding her confirmed she was speaking the truth.
"The...Force told me."
Mace Windu's eyesbrows shot up to where his hairline would have been and observed the dawning of realization on the young woman's face.
"Mace. We've got to help him."
"That's what I've come to you for. I need you to use your bond to help me locate Kenobi."
Padmé nodded her head in determination, finding a new confidence and strength not only the the bond she shared with Obi-Wan, but through this new and strange sense of power flowing through her body.