Chapter Ten

not mine don't sue

The next chapter finally I know...forgive how long it took please. Thanks so much to my beta as always.

Anakin grabbed Obi-Wan's uninjured shoulder and leaned in close. "Master. I swear I saw him dead. His body was burned, there is no way he could have survived the injuries he had."

"Ah, but what if it was not his body you saw Padawan."

Anakin's eyes widened. "But why would he fake his own death?"

Obi-Wan smiled mischievously. "Let us go ask him."

Anakin shook his head and tried to make sense of it all. "Obi-Wan there's something else. I've had this feeling of someone watching us on several occasions. The presence felt familiar, but I couldn't place it. I don't think it's a coincidence that Dr. Kreyu is alive. It's got to have something to do with our mysterious observer."

"Good observations Anakin and you are most likely correct...I do not believe in coincidences."

Anakin smiled. "Then I guess we better go ask Kreyu, though he might not want to cooperate though."

"Let us hope we can reason with him then." Obi-Wan smirked while igniting his saber.

Anakin saw his Master tighten the jury-rigged tourniquet around his thigh. Obi-Wan had stopped most of the bleeding by drawing on the Force, but the coming fight was sure to aggravate his wounds. There were at least twenty warriors that had seen, but there were probably more that were not visible from their position.

Obi-Wan caught his worried stare. "Do not worry Anakin. I have fought in much worse condition. I admit, I am a tad sore, but it is nothing compared to how I was feeling a few hours ago. Once we get off this planet I'll get plenty of rest." He gave Anakin an encouraging smile and nodded he was ready.

Anakin tried not to worry, but he'd already almost lost Obi-Wan today. Rest my ass. You'll be seeing the best Jedi healer I can find. He smiled. "Of course Master."

Obi-Wan gave him a knowing look. "You'll go right and I'll take left. We will take out all the soldiers first, then go after Kreyu."

Anakin started to head off toward the group of men "hiding" to the right but Obi-Wan's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Oh and Anakin, try to remember we need the good doctor alive to question him."

Anakin tried not to roll his eyes, he really did. "Yes Master. I'll keep that in mind."

Obi-Wan disappeared quietly into the bushes. Anakin silently made his way towards the Jabiimi soldiers using the trees and plant life as cover. The men weren't the brightest bunch, they had their backs to the foliage, probably anticipating a frontal attack. It was a juvenille mistake that Anakin fully intended to make them pay for, but then again these men had been fighting for months upon months. Tired men tended to make mistakes.

Another of his Master's teachings, and Obi-Wan didn't think he payed attention. If he only knew how wrong he was...just because I don't follow his advice, Anakin smiled and felt a surge of adrenaline as he neared his adversaries. He always did love a good fight, especially with his Master at his side.

The men remained oblivious even when he was close enough to hear each breath they took. Anakin could feel their apprehension but more than anything he could feel their hate. Hate for the Jedi and the Republic. . It was so strong it tainted the air around him and left a bitter taste in his mouth. One of the men had a sadistic smile on his face and was rubbing the handle of a long, jagged blade in his hand, the one that wasn't holding a blaster. Another wiped sweat from his brow while staring ahead of him. A shame he couldn't even see what was right next to him.

These men meant business and they were armed to the teeth. Too bad they won't even get the chance to fire off a shot, Anakin thought as he ignited his saber and leapt from behind the bushes. His blade cut through their bodies like butter; they were dead before they had the chance to blink. Five men collapsed in a pile at his feet. Anakin didn't look down, he'd seen enough death today. Through the Force he felt Obi-Wan finish off another cluster of warriors a short distance away.

One of the men who remained hidden yelled out, alerting the rest to their presence. Anakin leapt out into the middle of the clearing and began blocking blaster fire the second his feet touched the ground. He felt Obi-Wan pulling on the Force and then felt him against his back moments later. They blocked each shot without trouble. The men had noticed their already diminished numbers and were filled with even more fury if that were possible.

Several shots bounced off Anakin's saber and hit two of the soldiers square in the chest.

"Move towards them Anakin."

"Yes Master."

They moved as one slowly inching towards their opponents until they were within striking distance. It only took a matter of seconds to take out all ten men in front of them. It was one of the easiest fights Anakin could ever remember being in, for they hadn't even been surrounded. All the warriors had been in front of them; it didn't make sense. It was almost as if they hadn't been there to win, but that made even less sense than the prescence of the sniveling scientist cowering on the ground not two feet from them.

Anakin swallowed and glanced at Obi-Wan. His Master's emotions were as turbulent and guarded as Anakin's. None of this made any sense.

There was only one person to ask.

Obi-Wan moved first, his lightsaber still drawn and his limp a little more pronounced as he walked over to Dr. Kreyu's whimpering form. The doctor was holding his hands up and begging for his life. Obi-Wan knelt down and grabbed the pathetic scientists shirt collar, and hauled him to his feet.

"Care to explain Doctor? " Obi-Wan demanded.

Anakin came to his Master's side and smiled at the Doctor. "You're looking good for a dead man."

Obi-Wan gave his Padawan a bemused look and then directed his attention back to the quivering doctor. "Well?"

"I can't, it wasn't me...look if I tell you he'll kill me."

"Jedi do not like being lied to Kreyu. Tell us what you know."

The man looked like he was about to have a nervous breakdown. Sweat dripped down his face, his eyes darted back and forth, and his hands were trembling at his sides. Finally he sighed. "If I tell you do you promise me protection?"

Obi-Wan met Anakin's wary stare. They nodded in unison. Obi-Wan faced their prisoner. "Yes, you have our word."

"I was ordered to bring you both here. It was mainly him they wanted." Kreyu pointed to Anakin.

"What did they want with my Padawan?"

"It was a test," his voice shook more and more with each word, "they wanted to see how he would handle himself. Wanted to know how far he would go." the scientist paused and bit his lower lip.

"'So this mission was all for nothing! Obi-Wan almost died! Who ordered this? Was it the Sith lord?" Anakin growled, clutching his saber so tightly his knuckles were white.

"Yes."

"And Dooku." It wasn't a question. Things were beginning to fall into place. The feeling of being watched, the familiar presence. It had been Dooku he was sensing all along.

"Yes."

"Tell us his name." Anakin hissed.

He could feel Obi-Wan's impatience mirroring his own.

"It's the..." Kreyu abruptly went into convulsions, foam leaked from the corners of his mouth as Obi-Wan tried in vain to save the seizing man. They had him laid on the ground Anakin raced to the ship to grab a med kit but stopped halfway knowing it was too late.

"It's too late Anakin. He's gone." His Master tried to hide his frustration, but Anakin could feel it.

The scientist lay on the ground, blood shot eyes rolled back in his head, this time he really was dead.

"Poisoned."

"Yes." Obi-Wan agreed. "Probably a fail safe implanted without his knowledge in case he decided to ever be less than completely loyal. " Most likely it was remote activated Anakin by-."

"Dooku." he finished his Master's thought without realizing it.

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and gave him a tired smile. "There you go with the sentences Padawan."

"Sorry Master."

"He has probably been watching us the whole time. Disgusting. Sacrificing all these men for what? This all makes me very unsettled. I do not like the idea of the Sith taking an interest in you Anakin."

Anakin knelt down by his Master. "Neither do I, but for some reason I think I may have failed their test."

Obi-Wan looked up and met Anakin's sincere gaze, "I agree, and I must say it is one test I am very glad you failed."

"Me too."

They smiled and then stood both reaching out again with their senses for any trace of Dooku or someone else.

Nothing.

Not that they had expected anything. Dooku was too smart to allow himself to be detected, he had most likely fled the moment he had activated the device.

"He's not here." Anakin stated.

"No Anakin he is not. That is what cowards do, they flee."

Anakin nodded. Wordlessly they picked up the body of Kreyu and carried it to their ship. The council would want to examine it for possible clues as to the Sith Lord's identity. They wouldn't find anything, but they'd want to look just the same.

Anakin looked out the ship one last time before sealing the door and heading up to the pilot's seat. It was one place he never wanted to see again, yet he was beyond grateful for the lessons he had learned the past few days.

Obi-Wan smiled at him. "Ready to leave."

"What do you think Master?" He asked as he started the engines and set a course for Coruscant.

"When we get back, after we brief the Council, you and I have much to discuss."

"Yes Master. I look forward to it."

end chapter 10 (the next chapter will be a little different kind of an interlude of sorts)

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