Chapter XXVIII

Jedi Temple, Coruscant

Obi-Wan Kenobi's body lay suspended in the bacta tank as Ian and Yoda circled it.

The young Jedi Padawan finally stopped circling and turned to regard Yoda, "Master Kenobi's wounds will be healed with the bacta and the Healer's touch, he shall be with us again soon,"

Master Yoda turned his attention to Ian, "Have anything to report, on the attack that you and Master Kenobi suffered do you?"

"No," replied Ian quietly.

Anakin Skywalker entered the medbay, "I came as soon as I got word," he said touching his master's bacta tank, "how is his condition Master Yoda?"

"Stabilized it has Master Skywalker," replied Yoda his eyes glistened, he turned his attention back to Ian, "however, unable am I to discern, what Force put Master Kenobi in this state, unable Padawan Riath has been, in fully giving the details, of encounter with the Death Seekers,"

Anakin turned his attention to Ian, and the Padawan felt the eyes of both Jedi Masters' upon him.

Ian did not cringe under the scrutiny, his Jedi training and training under the Seeker holocron helped him ward off Force probes and the use of the Force to scan or search the memories of a being. He had recently mastered a Seeker technique to project feelings and thoughts, hiding his true thoughts and motives.

"Did anything else happen on Ilum padawan Riath?" questioned Anakin carefully.

"As I said," replied Ian, "three Death Seekers attacked us and Obi-Wan was knocked unconscious, I don't know what else happened to him,"

Anakin nodded, "you may leave padawan Riath,"

Ian nodded and left the room slowly. Yoda watched him go, "darkness I sense in him, a darkness,"

Anakin nodded in agreement, "he lied, he used the Force masterfully to conceal it but he lied to us," he said with a sigh, "I saw it in his reply, he replied as I did when I returned from the Battle of Geonosis, I never told Master Kenobi of my crime against the Tusken Raiders and I had kept it secret, the Force did not reveal my crime, but my reply did,"

"True, ah, true," said Yoda as he returned his gaze to Anakin, "a path of darkness you once walked, succumbed almost did you, but word used is almost, stronger you were, darkness did not claim you," he sighed, "but fear do I; for Obi-Wan's padawan,"

"As do I," admitted Anakin, "as do I,"

"A close eye must we keep on this padawan," concluded Yoda.

Anakin nodded as his eyes returned to his injured master.