Chapter Three

not mine, don't sue.

Why can't things ever go smoothly? Obi-Wan's vision cleared in a fraction of the time it would take an average person. Through the Force he was able to see quite well, even in a pitch-black room. A room which is probably filling with destroyer droid's, or is about to be flooded with poison gas. Take your pick.

He sensed his Padawan's presence and headed towards him. He deactivated his saber. So you have been listening to at least some of my advice. Whoever turned off those lights couldn't see in the dark like a Jedi. Without their weapons activated, they were virtually invisible. That was unless they had night vision goggles on, but they would deal with that if they had to. Right now he just wanted to be near Anakin, make sure he was okay for himself.

A hand rested on his arm, "Master, are you okay?" Anakin's soft voice floated into Obi-Wan's ears.

Relief flowed through him, and he released a breath he hadn't been award he was holding "For the moment," he patted Anakin's hand, "What about you?"

Anakin released his death grip on Obi-Wan's forearm.

"Unharmed. What's going on? I sensed a darkness in the Force, but now it's gone." Anakin's eyes struggled to make out the details of their prison, but even a Jedi had his limits. It was another storage facility, that much he new. He could only make out about half of the area, the rest was too blurred. But he didn't sense any threat. Where is the ambush?

Obi-Wan felt his student's restlessness. "Calm yourself. I think all will be revealed if we just," the lights came back on, "wait a few moments."

A small, timid voice echoed through the now very illuminated storage area. "Did the Council send you"
"How do you do that?" It was time's like this that reminded Anakin how lucky he was to have Obi-Wan as a teacher.

"Trade secret my young friend. Now let's go find out why our scientist is so paranoid," Obi-Wan replied as he headed towards the small, frail older man standing two meters in front of them.

Anakin followed, shaking his head and suppressing a grin. Very lucky.

His Master was as calm and collected as ever while he spoke with the doctor. But Anakin, however, knew him to well. He could feel his Master's annoyance bubbling just under the surface, but he would never show it. Anakin decided to show the same courtesy, as it was what Obi-Wan wanted.

Even if the little bantha fodder deserves a good lashing. Locking us in here like that, and after we put our life's on the line to find him. Some gratitude. He couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever achieve the kind of calm, controlled center his Master had.

They're wrapping it up. Thank the force. I would give anything for a dry pair of clothes and a full stomach right about now. Hell, I'd settle for just getting off this death trap. Kreyu was, of course, refusing to tell them anything until he was safely off the planet. Now there's a surprise. Once scum, always scum.

Obi-Wan caught Anakin's gaze and found himself imitating his young apprentice. He rolled his eyes. "We should head back the way we came, it's not far," .

"I agree Master," his smile reached his eyes.

"I have overridden the security procedures. The door should open without problem," Kreyu's nasally voice was really beginning to get on Anakin's nerves.

Obi-Wan inclined his head. Their signal for Anakin to take point. Forgetting his annoyance, he drew his lightsaber and assumed position. The scientist was placed in the middle, standard protection protocol. He heard his Master's weapon hum to life as he covered their rear. Anakin reached for the button that would release the blast doors. He never got to push it.

Eleven nine foot tall, extremely nasty looking droids burst into the room with them. The very same kind that had been patrolling the perimeter. The two Jedi stepped in front of the trembling scientist, blocking the barrage of energy bolts that were coming at them from every direction. Their sabers spun with a grace that only a seasoned Jedi could accomplish. Neither had to think, they just reacted. And they knew each other so well that when one blocked high, the other covered low. It was a dance, one they had done many times together.

The blaster fire was deflected time and again, but it wasn't getting them anywhere. Neither could take on eleven state-of-the-art destroyers alone, and besides they had a civilian to protect. It just wasn't possible to go on the offensive.

Both looked at each other and saw for once they were in complete agreement.

We are so screwed.

The energy blasts were stopped when the damn machines started launching explosives from their chest cavities. Hands raised the two propelled the devices back at their owners. Then Anakin sensed it. The black cloud. It was a nightmare coming true. He knew what his master was going to ask of him. Tears of anger blurred his vision, but he didn't slow or falter.

"No Master. We'll find another way."

"There is no other way. You must take Dr. Kreyu and get him to our ship. I will meet you there.

If I survive.

The unspoken words hung in the air like an itch that you weren't allowed to scratch. No matter how much you needed to.

"You can't defeat them all alone Master. Please don't ask…"

"I am not asking Padawan. This mission is too important." The droids were getting closer. The blaster fire was intensifying, and they were backed into a corner. This was their only chance of success: Obi-Wan would hold off the destroyers, while Anakin got the scientist out. Sounded simple enough, only it wasn't.

You are going to leave me after all. Now he understood his overwhelming feeling of dread. It had been a warning. Only he hadn't figured it out in time, he never did. Because of his ignorance Obi-Wan would suffer. Hot tears were streaming down his cheeks. He didn't care. Perhaps that is what I was chosen for….to lose all that I love.

"Ani." His Master's eyes were unusually bright. "Go. Do this for me."

"Yes Master." It was the hardest thing he'd ever had to say.

Anakin spun, grabbing the doctor's arm and hitting the button to the door all in one fluid motion. He barreled through the door dragging the whimpering scientist with him.

"Shut up," he choked back a sob as he heard the sound of a man fighting for his life only meters away. A man he needed, but was going to die. So this pathetic worm can live. How is that fair?

He dragged the doctor a few more paces when he heard a sound that would forever haunt his dreams: a scream of pure agony. Never had he heard Obi-Wan call out like that. His Master didn't scream. He was unaware he'd stopped moving until the body of the now panicking Doctor Kreyu slammed against him.

Anakin barely noticed.

I should keep going. The way out was only a few meters away.

He could hear Master Windu's deep voice warning him. " The mission is worth more than any one person's life." But he couldn't make himself take one more step in that direction. " I never liked that lesson anyway."

He had already started backtracking when a terrified voice broke into his thoughts. "You can't leave me here. I have information. If I die, then you'll never find out who is the leader of the Sith."

Anakin Skywalker, JedI Knight in training, knew what should be done. Get this man out of the factory and back to Coruscant.

But Anakin Skywalker, surrogate son and best friend of Obi-Wan Kenobi wouldn't allow it.

"I suggest you hide, I'll come back for you. But first I am going to help my Master."

"He's dead already. We can save ourselves."

Rage coursed through his body, the kind he hadn't felt since that day on Tatooine.

The day his mother died.

The day he saw red.

"Hide," he snarled.

Then without a glance back at the helpless scientist, he ran towards the sound of battle.

Obi-wan was alive, he could feel it. But he was hurt, his life force was getting weaker by the minute.

His blood was boiling and his heart was racing as he charged down the corridor. Anakin drew upon the Force and his legs moved faster still.

He had already lost his mother.

He would not lose his father.

end chapter three

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A/N: Once again thank you to my beta's. This story is even better b/c of you :)