Chapter 11 The Hunt Begins

Devan looked down into the pit; Obi-Wan was sitting crossed legged with his eyes closed, "What are you doing down there Master Jedi? Sleeping?" She asked.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath and opened his eyes, "Meditating; what took you so long?" He asked.

"Aren't you the funny one. Alright, this is what's going to happen. Kien is going to come down and release one of the cuffs on those binders so that he can shackle your hands in front of you. Make one move against him and I will be on my comlink telling my friend watching over the boys to kill them both; is that clear?" Devan said.

"Oh yes, crystal clear." Obi-Wan replied, "But it's really not necessary to keep your friend's name a secret; we already know who he is."

Devan smiled, "You must think I'm an idiot if you think I'm going to take that bait. You're just trying to trick me into telling you who he is." She answered.

"Well, in the first place, since you're going to kill me anyway, I don't think it makes any difference whether I know or not. In the second place, I already know that it was Advar Tyrien who kidnapped Boba, so I would assume that he also joined up with you, probably on Nar Shaddaa and brought you here. So you see, it's not a big jump to figure out that he must be the one holding him and my apprentice." Obi-Wan explained, smiling back at her.

Kien threw a line down and began to lower himself into the pit as Devan's smile disappeared, "You're guessing; I know you gave that list to the Chancellor, you must have gotten his name off of it. There's no way you could know who took the boy." She claimed.

"Wrong; your friend Tyrien did two very stupid things; first he left an image on a security hologram in the medical center and then he refused to answer a request to return to Alderaan when one was issued after Boba was discovered missing. He used his own ship, Devan. The Chancellor is not a stupid man; he figured that all out very quickly." Obi-Wan told her.

Devan recovered quickly and smiled at him again; "It doesn't matter, we're all going somewhere no one can find us." She said.

"If you even manage to make it off the planet. Give it up, Devan; now, while you have the chance." Obi-Wan advised.

Kien landed lightly and headed to where Obi-Wan was still seated, "Alright, Kenobi; no tricks or the two boys are dead." He warned as he squatted in back of him.

"Last chance, Devan." Obi-Wan said as Kien released one of his wrists.

"I've told you the rules; as soon as we have you up here, the hunt will begin." Devan replied.

Obi-Wan shook his head as he brought his hands in front of him and rubbed the freed wrist until Kien clamped the cuff back on it and tightened it down, "This is foolish; you both know that, don't you." He said with a sigh.

"Yeah, yeah; just get on your feet." Kien answered, rising and then hauling Obi-Wan up.

Kien climbed up out of the pit first, "Alright, Jedi; your turn; just hold on to the line and we'll haul you up." He ordered.

Knowing he had no choice, Obi-Wan complied and allowed Kien to pull him up; moments later, Kien was dragging him up over the edge.

"Get up, Jedi." Kien ordered grabbing him by the arm.

Obi-Wan pulled himself up in front of Devan; she smiled at him as she held her weapon of choice against her hip, "Oh, do you like it? I thought it would be more sporting than a blaster." She told him.

"Lovely, a crossbow isn't it?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, I've gotten to like the feel of it." Devan answered.

"Taking after your other hunting companion? What was his name?" Obi-Wan asked, "He didn't fare very well, Devan; maybe you had better rethink your choice of weapons."

"Gibbon was playing under the old rules; the ones Moran laid down. There is no elimination rule in this hunt, Jedi; not unless you're the one doing the eliminating. And since you have no weapons and your hands are bound, I think that's highly unlikely." Devan replied.

"And he can't use his Jedi powers here either." Kien added.

"Yes, that too; lucky we found this planet, isn't it, Master Kenobi." Devan said, smiling again.

"I'm guessing it was more than just luck that brought you here, Devan." Obi-Wan replied.

"It doesn't really matter, now does it? You're here and you're just like one of us;" Devan answered, "now, get moving, we'll give you a five minute start."

"But I'm not like you, my hands are bound and I have nothing to defend myself with; that's not really fair, is it." Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Fair enough for us; get moving or I contact Tyrien and tell him to kill your cub." Devan threatened.

With a sigh and shake of his head, Obi-Wan sprinted away from the pit and into the cover of the trees.

Kien raised his weapon and aimed it at the Jedi's back, "No, Kien; I gave him a five minute start." Devan told him, as she pushed Kien's crossbow down, "It's only fair…and more challenging."

She smiled at him and inched closer, "Oh, don't tempt me; I don't want to end up like that guy on Smuggler's Moon." Kien said.

"Don't worry; you won't." Devan assured him, pulling his head down and licking his ear.

"We don't have time for this now." Kien replied, fighting the urge to kiss her.

"No, but we will later; this is just a taste." Devan whispered in his ear, "Hunting makes me hot."

Kien smiled, "Me too; later then." He answered.

"Yes, later." Devan agreed, "Time to go."

"Let's get on with it then." Kien said, shouldering his weapon and bending down to pick up a sheath of crossbow bolts.

Devan smiled and did the same….the hunt for Obi-Wan Kenobi had begun.

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Anakin paced around the docking bay impatiently as the last of the Clones boarded his shuttle. Bail came to walk beside him, "The last men are boarding now, Anakin." He informed him.

"Yes, thank you, Chancellor; I'm sorry, I don't mean to seem impatient. I am just very concerned about Obi-Wan; Master Maru has heard nothing from him and since both he and Zak had comlinks, he should have." Anakin said.

"I wish you would allow me to come with you." Bail replied.

"You know as well as I do that it would be much too risky for you. As soon as we find Boba, I will contact you." Anakin assured him; he reached out his hand to touch his shoulder and then drew back.

Bail took notice and smiled, "You could have done that, Anakin; just because I am the Chancellor does not mean I am untouchable." He told him.

Anakin smiled back, "You're right, I suppose; but I can imagine what Obi-Wan would think. He is very adamant about respect and protocol." He said as they reached the shuttle.

"Yes, I know." Bail laughed and put a hand on Anakin's shoulder and then offered him his hand, "Good luck."

"Thank you, Chancellor." Anakin answered, taking Bail's hand, squeezing it and then putting his other hand over it, "I'll find him."

"I know; and Master Kenobi and Zak along with him. Catch these people, Anakin." Bail urged.

"I will, I promise." Anakin vowed as he released Bail's hand and disappeared into the shuttle.

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Banyon located the distress beacon coming from Tyrien's ship and searched for a clearing nearby where he could land. The nearest one was several kilometers away, but having no choice if he wanted to conceal his presence on the planet, he began his descent into the atmosphere. He still had no idea how he was going to be able to locate any of them considering the vastness of the planet and the effect the ore content naturally present in its trees would have on any tracking device he might try to use. He would be very lucky if he found them before they left the planet; in fact, he wondered if Aang himself would be able to find them. Why had he agreed to this?

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"I've just heard from Master Skywalker, Padawan; he and the first squad of Clones are on they way down." Clive told Ferri.

"Oh; that's good…will you excuse me for a moment." Ferri replied.

"Yes, of course; but what's wrong Ferri? I sense great tension in you." Clive asked, "You should be relieved that help is finally on the way."

"I...I am, really; I'm just not feeling very well…maybe that period of time when I couldn't feel the Force has affected me more than I thought." Ferri answered, "Can I go?"

"Alright, but don't leave the clearing." Clive warned.

"Don't worry, I have no intention of doing that." Ferri assured him and exited the ship.

Needing a place to hide, and afraid to enter the woods where the ysalamiri were, Ferri headed for the only other place he could think of - Tyrien's ship. Glancing back to be sure Clive was not watching him, he walked up the boarding ramp and into the cargo bay.

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Obi-Wan ducked behind a stand of bushes to catch his breath and decide his next move. He pushed down his frustration and his feeling of powerlessness at having no access to the Force here among the trees where the ysalamiri resided; he needed to get out of the woods, but he had no idea where another clearing was. If he had the Force, he could easily find his way out; however, he knew it was pointless to even think along such lines, he had no such advantage. He could not free himself, he had no weapon and the one way back to the clearing that he knew about was the one marked by the treacherous Ferri and he was cut off from that. However, he knew that Anakin and a contingent of Clones would arrive soon and begin searching the woods; he need only stay ahead of the pair until that help found him.

"Hey, Master Jedi; it's no fair hiding. Besides, we'll find you eventually anyway; come on, make this a little more sporting." Kien called out.

Obi-Wan wished again for the use of the Force; if he could just throw a sound….he had to stop thinking about that, there was no Force here…but there were rocks. Smiling, he picked up a good sized rock, and then picked up another; then moved crouched down further away from Kien's voice before he stood up and managed, with difficulty, to heave one of the rocks two-handed back in the direction he had just come from.

Obi-Wan heard a hiss followed by the sound of a bolt as it buried itself in the bushes and a curse when Kien realized he had missed; he nodded and smiled with satisfaction. Even without the Force, he could play this game; he stooped down to pick up another rock and moved further away from Kien. Now he had only to find Devan and watch for the vornskrs….

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Anakin fidgeted impatiently in his seat as the shuttle grew closer to the planet's surface, he could make out the trees now and then several clear areas as the craft descended. Guided by the coordinates given to them by Clive Maru, and homing in on the distress signal still being broadcasted from Tyrien's ship, the pilot easily located the clearing where both ships had landed and expertly touched down beside the Jedi starcruiser. Before the pilot even shut down the engines, Anakin was up out of his seat, waiting for the shuttle door to open. Clive had left the starcruiser and now stood alongside the shuttle waiting for Anakin. As he stepped out of the shuttle, Maru bowed, "Master Skywalker, I'm relieved that you're here." He said.

Anakin smiled and bowed back, "Well, let's see if we can put an end to this, Master Maru." He replied. "Where did Master Kenobi enter the woods?"

Clive pointed toward the area near Advar Tyrien's ship, "Over there; they were following the trail apparently left by the hunters." He answered.

Anakin nodded and started to walk in that direction, "How did they know to go that way?" He asked.

"Oh, that was Ferri's discovery; he has post cognition and he could tell they had taken the boy that way. Then he wandered into the woods, as he does sometimes when he has his visions, and happened upon the boy trapped in a pit in the woods. He couldn't free the boy himself, so he marked the trail and came back here; on the way, he found a canister with another chip in it warning the two of us off. So we stayed here while Master Kenobi and his apprentice went in to follow Ferri's markers and we've heard nothing from them since then. I began to worry when neither of them checked in after about half an hour, but I knew there was nothing I could do." Clive explained.

Anakin frowned and knitted his brow in thought, "Then something's happened to them; Obi-Wan is not one to break contact when so much is at stake, especially when he knows that I cannot feel him either. I'd like to talk to your Padawan." He said and then looked around, "Where is he, Clive?"

"Well, he only left the cruiser a few minutes ago, and I know after being in the woods he wouldn't leave the clearing, so I'm sure he hasn't gone far." Clive assured him.

"Well if he's still in the clearing, then I should be able to find him." Anakin answered and closing his eyes, reached out, turning his head searching for another Force sensitive… "There, he's over there." He pointed toward Tyrien's ship.

"He must be on the other side of the ship; maybe he's looking for more clues." Clive suggested.

"Maybe; or maybe he's hiding." Anakin said.

"Hiding? What would he be hiding from?" Clive asked.

"I don't know; let's find out, shall we?" Anakin answered.

"Perhaps he's just meditating; he did say that he didn't feel well; he thought it might have had something to do with being in the Force void." Clive replied.

"Perhaps." Anakin said, although he was starting to get a bad feeling about it.

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Banyon set his ship down and secured it; he had a vague notion of the direction Tyrien's distress beacon had been coming from, so he decided he would hike there to see if he could pick up some kind of sign that would lead him to Devan Carlyle and her companion. He still had not decided how to handle meeting up with the Jedi searching for her, or what he would do with their unfortunate hostage; but he supposed he would deal with that when he needed to. After setting a homing beacon at a frequency given to him by Aang so Aang could locate him, he left the ship and headed toward the other clearing.

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Viral was still in hyperspace, would be for another hour, and he worried that he would be too late and that his former hunting companions would already be gone by the time he arrived. He realized, by this time, that the Chancellor would have already ordered a search for the escaped hunters and had probably stepped up that search after the bounty hunter's abduction; and that the Jedi, along with a Clone task force, would be part of that search. He did have one advantage over the Jedi and the Chancellor's men, though; he knew Myrkr, in particular, he knew about the bunker complex where Devan and Kien, and whoever they had managed to persuade to take the boy and bring them there, would be. He knew of a clearing nearby where he could put the ship down; then he could easily take the boy and kill the two of them, along with their new ally, or wait for them to return to the bunker if they weren't there. He only hoped presenting the boy to Cardl would be enough of an offering to save his neck, if in fact, he managed to elude the Clone force he knew may already be there; he was almost certain now that Cardl intended to kill him as soon as Devan and Kien were taken care of.

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As the sun sank lower in the sky, the woods darkened, giving Obi-Wan a slight advantage; still wearing his brown cloak, he could blend into the trees especially as the light faded. He had yet to see a vornskr, but he knew that his luck there would not continue for much longer. He now also knew where both hunters were, and could easily keep track of Devan with her uncovered head of blond hair; as for Kien, that young man was exceedingly clumsy and crashed around in the woods so that Obi-Wan had little trouble keeping track of his position. So far, although both hunters had gotten off several shots, none of them had come even close to their intended target thanks to Obi-Wan's divertive rocks. However, the lack of sleep, after having been up for over twenty-five standard hours, was wearing on him; and he did not have the ability to draw on the Force for additional energy. Somehow, he would have to keep going until dawn, knowing that any search during the dark hours of the night would prove fruitless. He paused to wipe the perspiration from his face with the sleeve of his cloak; he flexed his wrists in an effort to ease the chafing caused by the binders and tried to catch his breath before moving again before he was spotted by the hunters. He knew it was going to be a very long night.

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Clive followed Anakin as the younger master headed toward Tyrien's ship. Anakin paused as he came closer, closed his eyes and reached out again, "He's not on the other side of the ship, Clive; he's in it." He said.

"What? Why would he be inside the ship?" Clive wondered.

"Good question; that's just what I intend to find out." Anakin answered and walked to the boarding ramp, "Ferri? What are you hiding from?"

There was, of course, no response so Anakin walked up into the ship with Clive following close behind.

"I know you're in here, Ferri; you might just as well come out now." Anakin said as glanced around the cargo bay.

Silence.

"Look, Ferri; if I have to come looking for you, it's only going to make things worse." Anakin warned.

"Why are you hiding, Padawan? Are you afraid we'll have to go into the woods? Is that it? Because of what it felt like to be without the Force?" Clive asked, "I would never make you do that; come on out now."

The silence continued, so Anakin reached out, yet one more time, and headed toward the speeder, "You can't hide from me, Ferri; I can sense where you are. Come out now, because if I have to pull you out, you're going to regret it." He threatened.

The top of Ferri's head popped up on the other side of the speeder, "That's right, now come out from behind it." Anakin ordered.

Ferri didn't move, he just stood there, and both Anakin and now Clive could sense his fear.

"Come out from behind there, NOW, Ferri, or I'll come back there and drag you out." Anakin told him angrily, disregarding the boy's fear with the certain knowledge that Ferri had done something terrible.