AN- Thank you for the reviews and follows. Hopefully this chapter is a big more exciting more ya'll than the last.

Chapter 48

Month 2 Day 22 Year 27 BBY

0300

The sleek yellow speeder glides across the skylane and lands within one of the parking tunnels near the Inquisitor's offices. The offices are held in a tall sleek durasteel building as are all other buildings near this portion of the Imperial Center.

The heavy breathing of the masked individual reaches the ears of several life forms nearby and they flinch away at hearing that awful breathing. It is the middle of the night so not many lifeforms are out other than those who had no life or were drunk or high from the spice. The footsteps of the sleek dark figure creep steadily through the parking tunnel and eye the nearby speeders.

" You said his speeder is within this parking tunnel?" The masked baritone voice questions through his comm. link via the mask.

" Yes, the scanner showed he parked here and paid the toll within the last five minutes, so he can't be too far ahead of you," Assures Obi-wan's voice through the comm.

" You better be right about this-" The masked figure growls low under his breath. Though to the drunk or high onlookers it sounds more of the animal's vicious growl towards its prey before leaping upon it and killing it.

" Use the force to guide you, Anakin." Qui-gon mentions, as his voice penetrates his ears within the helmet.

His eyes look ahead and he tries to use the force to guide him in the right direction. The mask has a tinted red shield which would be used in cases of looking directly at stars or suns nearby when walking outside of a ship. In this case, Anakin isn't sure how helpful it is and it is taking time for his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the red light.

He stops and closes his eyes, attempting to filter out his frustration and focus on finding Carth. He didn't know Carth personally, but he knew individuals like him- greedy, eagerness to achieve their goals and to know they are useful to others.

He stretches out his senses and can sense the two drunkards nearby on the wall. Then the three high on spice within the tunnel as well. He tries not to chuckle within his mask as he senses the couple within their speeder engaged in all out sex session. That's where he'd rather be right now- holding Padme' close to his side and telling her how beautiful she looks after their passionate encounter….

Focus Anakin. You can see her after you succeed in finding Carth.

He breathes in the oxygen blowing in through the built in tank within the suit. The suit had a timer to let him know when the oxygen would need to be refilled and based on his estimation it would be another hour or so before needing to do such a task.

He reaches out within the force again and senses the presence nearby- within about 20 meters or so. The eagerness is apparent and the sense of his determination as well. Anakin's eyes snap open and he calls through the comm. " I've got his location."

His heavy booted steps turn into a faster walk, rather than a run. His chest is heavy as it takes more energy than he realized to attempt to jog or run within this suit. The sweat creases his brow as he continues to match the distance between himself and his target. The sensations are stronger within the force as he matches the length of the man's strides. Soon his target is within a few meters, walking steadily with confident strides towards the lift at the edge of the parking tunnel. His boots can be heard within that radius of a few meters as well as his heavy onslaught of breathing.

Chills creep up Carth's back and he stops midway within his stride to turn around and peer behind him. His green eyes widen upon seeing the figure walking faster towards him. He gulps nervously and hugs the shoulder bag to his hip. He turns back forwards and begins a full length run upon seeing the creature attempting to come after him. His body continues to stride and keep the pace without breaking a sweat. The pounding of his heart pulses through his chest with fear for his life. He continues to push his body faster and harder towards the lift. He only has mere meters to reach his goal.

Yes! Yes! I will make it-

His thoughts are abruptly cut off when his entire body lifts up and slams into the nearest maroon speeder. He yelps in agony as he cannot bear the pain seeping through his back and hips. He had hit the back of the speeder at full force. His eyes widen as the perpetrator closes the gap between them. He attempts to move but the gloved hand of the perpetrator holds him there almost like with an invisible string.

" You're not going anyway, Carth." The booming voice hissed.

Carth pushes himself back against the bent speeder and with the movement that he can manage pushes himself towards the backseat of the maroon speeder.

" Wh-o- are yo-u?" Carth stammers out, his eyes widening with fear.

The soulless eyes of the monstrous suit perch over him. The lifeform appears almost seven feet tall within the confines of the suit, or rather its menacing presence. The helmet stares right through his very soul as he growls out, " Where is the datapad?"

He grips the black bag closer to his hip as best as he can. The pain shooting from his right leg indicates there is at least a fracture or broken bone somewhere from the hip down.

He surmises, " I don't know what you are talking about."

The monster snorts which comes out more as a hissing noise of a dying animal. He flinches upon hearing the sound and the monster repeats his question, " If you care about your life, you will reveal the datapad to me, now."

Carth's hand shakes and his body quivers with a bit of fear towards the monster. A part of him wants to give the monster what he wishes and the other part yearns to try and escape while he still can. He tries to persuade the monster of his greed. " And what will you give me in return? I am in the need of a few 1000 credits."

The black helmet shoots a low growl from its lips, or rather where lips should be. Carth feels the invisible fingers clutching around his larynx and windpipe. He gurgles as the monster above him snips out, " You double crosses the alliance! You're a greedy son of a Sith! I should just crush your neck now and be done with you."

The sounds of Carth's gurgling continue and he manages to get out, " Plees- I don't want to die- not like this."

" Anakin, this isn't the Jedi way. He is scared enough of you, please let him go." His father's voice commands sounding much more like his commanding officer than his father and mentor.

" He could still tell the Inquisitor's about your connection to the Alliance. If we let him live, he'll just weasel his way back to the Inquisitors." The menacing voice replies to no one.

Carth reaches for the bag near his hip and gargles out, " Here- take it. I - I- wan-t to- live- I sw-ear I'll never tell anyone about the people I kn-ow in-volved with the Alliance."

The monster uses that invisible string to float the bag to it and opens it up. There lying within the contents of the bag are the datapad from the holo. He snaps the bag shut and backs away from Carth murmuring, " I will find you and kill you with my bare hands if you try to reveal what you know about the rebellion."

Carth shudders and begins to sit up. His body quivers as he pushes himself into a standing position. His knees buckle slightly, but he seems to find confidence in himself as he says to the monster in black, " I know enough about many members within the Imperial Academy attached to the Rebellion. It will only be a matter of time before they learn who is recruiting the members within their ranks. Adm-"

The sound of his neck snapping is the only one left in his ears. Carth feels the snapping of his larynx and the warning of oncoming death. His body buckles underneath him as the the last thing he sees is the monster standing over him with his closed fist reached out in this position. The invisible force had taken his life away from him. His eyes cloud over in death and that is the last Imperial Officer sees.

( Qui-gon's Warehouse)

0400

Sweat pours off of his shoulders and neck. The suit had taken a lot of stamina to use and stay in for as long as he had. He'd have to train more to use the suit in actual combat. Though this should only be the one time, it feels as if this isn't the last time- and only the first time. The adrenaline from the kill felt good through his veins. He hated to admit it but following the rules of the Rebellion had been tying him down and being able to use some of the techniques he had learned during his interrogations with Maul had paid off. He isn't a murder, but feels this death is just. How many Rebels had killed Imperial Officers to accomplish their missions? How many Imperial Officers tortured and killed the Rebels for their beliefs? They are at war with each other and every life matters. Every life that has been and will be taken will matter.

But Anakin had to admit he had felt a rush within himself of passion for protecting those he cared about in his moment of anger. He had the need to protect his father. He had to protect his brother in arms and himself.

He senses the anger and disappointment within their bonds as he enters the building. He is a bit surprised to notice his father is not angry, but just disappointment with his actions. He swallows and Obi-wan is on him like a rancor on a hunting mission.

" What part of not killing him, did you not comprehend?" Obi-wan snaps. His control is gone and the usual calm faced Jedi is ranked with fury. " He gave you what you wanted!"

Anakin eyes bore over to his father and his eyes are staring off into the distance. Silence. He has nothing to say as if Obi-wan is the only one who will speak for him.

Anakin turns on his best friend, arguing, " He was about to name Qui-gon! What was I supposed to do?"

Obi-wan hisses back, " You could have brought him back here for us to interrogate, and to send back to the Rebellion for them to deal with him. It is not our way, Anakin. Jedi don't kill for enjoyment."

Anakin retorts, " You could not expect me to allow that traitor to name Qui-gon. It would have exposed us too. It is known by many officers and recruits within the Academy that we are all friends. I was just protecting us from being revealed."

Obi-wan scolds, " No, you 're going against orders from your commander and enjoying the kill. Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it in the slightest."

Anakin narrows his eyes and snaps, " I went against orders because my father would have been arrested and sentenced to death. Do you really expect me to sit around and allow the only parent I have left to be taken from me?"

Obi-wan's gray eyes soften slightly at the mention of Anakin's parentage. Anakin steps back as well realizing what he had just admitted within the confines of secrecy.

" The Living Force always has a purpose for us, Anakin. If it had been my time then you would have had to accept it. It is the way of the force and letting go is the way of the Jedi. Allowing fear to cloud your judgement will allow you to follow the dark path. If that is what you are choosing then you are not Jedi material." Qui-gon murmurs quietly from his sitting position.

Both Anakin and Obi-wan turn to him then. Anakin assures angrily, " I was doing what I thought was right. Why can't either of you see that I only wanted to protect my family?"

Qui-gon orders, " I think you need to go home and sleep off your anger. We will speak in the morning or tomorrow evening. For now give me the datapad so I can check its contents."

Anakin uses the force to send the bag with the datapad inside into his father's hands. He grumbles out, " This conversation isn't over. I'll be back in the morning."

He storms off in a blaze of fury. Obi-wan sighs and eyes his mentor. He suggests, " Do you think he'll be able to walk this line? Are you sure he'll be able to fight the darkness within himself? Because I am not too sure anymore."

Qui-gon stares back into the younger man's features. He sighs and murmurs, " Honestly I don't know Obi-wan. I fear losing him to the darkness with tip the balance. But it is difficult for me to draw the lines of his commander and father. Perhaps I am no longer the best Jedi Master to be training him."

Obi-wan shakes his head. " Anakin will always buck up against the rules. It is in his nature to do so. You are the only one who seems to be able to reason with him."

Qui-gon smiles slightly but there is weariness in his eyes. " Yes, but being a father is a different sort of connection than just being a mentor. I fear my own feelings of our relationship are clouding my own judgement."

Obi-wan nods, " Likewise. He is like my brother. We will just have to watch him and guide him as best as we can then."

Qui-gon nods silently and turns back to the datapad to begin his work.

To Be Continued.