So here's the next instalment enjoy!


When Obi wan had finished retelling the tale Anakin looked a little more at peace with his role in their current situation. He didn't need to tell Anakin about what else happened whilst they were imprisoned, the boy didn't need to hear that, the memory even made Obi wan shudder all these years later. Obi wan could sense that Anakin still blamed himself for something though, this boy was so stubborn!

It wasn't until Obi wan had taken Anakin on as a padawan and the boy got himself into danger that Obi wan finally understood Qui gon's actions and his 'untrusting' behaviour was simply masking his worry. Obi wan now did the exact same with Anakin and chuckled when he too thought he was invincible, oh force I was so naive in those days, I couldn't see through my own pride to notice Qui gon's actions were out of affection and he was just being protective of me. Obi wan understood that completely now, he loathed putting Anakin into dangerous situations no matter whether Anakin was ready or not Obi wan wasn't and he didn't think he ever would be at ease with it.

"You see, Anakin, I made far more mistakes than you did and that wasn't my first mission either! You have performed exceedingly well the time we have been together on this assignment and kept your cool in battle. No one could have known what would happen on this mission and you have handled yourself far better than I ever would have done at your age. We don't know how the force works but these things happen for a reason we have to trust that we can change things for the better and we have to be here now for that to happen."

Anakin noticed his master staring at him, waiting on his response. Anakin didn't know what to say, he understood what Obi wan was trying to convey to him but it didn't change the fact that Anakin had rushed into that room without thinking and got himself captured. He blamed himself for Obi wan's current condition as he had given himself up to save Anakin, he hung his head low ashamed of his actions.

"Anakin, I want you to look at me," Obi wan demanded, he could see he was losing Anakin.

Waiting until Anakin's blue eyes met his to continue, he saw immense shame emanating from every fibre of his padawan's body. It broke Obi wan's heart.

"I could not have wished for a better apprentice, I am immensely proud of you Anakin." Obi wan's voice cracked the more he spoke.

How can he not realise how proud I am of him? I don't acknowledge him enough this is my fault he feels so insecure. Obi wan had felt the same with Qui gon every time he seemingly treated him as though he was a child, it wasn't until Qui gon had revealed his true fear to Obi wan in that cell that Obi wan had started to understand Qui gon was worried about his safety it was his flaw not Obi wan's.

Something visibly clicked in Anakin, Obi wan observed as his face was now plastered in shock. He really didn't realise how much I care, I will never let him feel that way again.

Anakin looked up as Obi wan demanded him to, when he gazed upon his master's blood covered face his heart broke all over again, how could his master ever forgive him when Anakin had caused all this!

The next words that came tumbling out of Obi wan's lips both shocked and surprised Anakin. He could see the sincerity and love pouring out from Obi wan as he told him how proud of him he was. Anakin never knew his master had these feelings about his training, they always got along together fine but this was Obi wan baring his soul to Anakin and it changed everything. He really means it. Anakin felt guilty all over again but this time for thinking Obi wan wan't proud of his progress, Anakin could see his master cared about him just as much as Anakin cared about Obi wan. Anakin then saw a way forward, they would get through this ordeal as a team.

Obi wan nearly fell backwards when Anakin practically leaped on him in a bone crushing embrace. He really didn't want to break the moment but his ribs were screaming in agony and he couldn't breathe. With a strangled cough his padawan got the message quickly and released Obi wan's body so he could breathe again.

"Sorry! I forgot and and…"

"No harm done, Anakin, I'm so very sorry I never conveyed my pride in your ability before now. You know how truly awful I am when expressing feelings." Obi wan smiled as Anakin slowly started to come alive again before him.

"Yes I know you seem to be grumpy all the time." Anakin beamed chiding Obi wan slightly.

"Grumpy?! Oh I see it's pick on Obi wan time now, is it?" Obi wan replied plastered a mock look of hurt on his face.

He was so relieved that Anakin was becoming more like himself again, this mission was already testing their relationship as padawan and master to the extreme, it was Obi wan's duty to keep Anakin in high spirits. Anakin smiled and leaned in to Obi wan resting his head on the older mans shoulder.

"You really don't blame me for getting us into this?" Anakin asked again, although the sorrow in his voice had dropped back dramatically.

Obi wan looked down at Anakin to reply, his eyes full of sincerity.

"Of course not, my young padawan, I should be the one apologising for not seeing the trap sooner. Someone somewhere has planned this entire operation intricately, they took advantage of your good heart, Ani, that's nothing to be ashamed of. All you do is want to help people, you just sometimes need to think things through before acting selflessly but I know that's hard for you. I should have seen it all so much sooner and warned you of the danger. I'm sorry you got hurt Anakin."

Obi wan thought back to the fateful mission where he and Qui gon had gotten themselves in deep. When they were in the cell and Qui gon had tried explaining to Obi wan it was his fault not Obi wan's he had felt dubious as Anakin did now. Obi wan understood what Qui gon was feeling, the immense guilt for not being able to keep his padawan from harm. What Anakin had gone through was nothing compared to what he had been subjected to on that mission, Obi wan was surprised how Qui gon had contained his anger. He never thought he could feel more angry as he watched Anakin be hit but Qui gon had seen far worse, it explained why Qui gon nearly lost control now he thought about it. If Anakin had been sliced with a light saber Obi wan didn't think he would have had Qui gon's control, which in hindsight probably wouldn't have been a good thing and they would have both ended up dead.

In some ways he felt his and Anakin's bond was now stronger than he and Qui gon's, Obi wan loved Qui gon like a father but he was difficult to bond with emotionally.

That was his dear old master's problem in ways, in that cell though Obi wan saw a different side of Qui gon that changed their bond for the better. Obi wan was sure that even though it wasn't the best situation he and Anakin were in right now, there bond too had somewhat changed. Anakin understood the pride from his master and they had both opened up to one another, Obi wan was never as close to the force as Qui gon was so couldn't foresee why the force wanted them here.

But he had to believe in the force, just as Qui gon had in that cell, when they were broken down by their captors his faith never wavered. Now Obi wan too had to trust in the force and show Anakin how to as well.

He couldn't believe he had done the same thing as Qui gon had! He hadn't showed his appreciation of Anakin and as a result the boy thought he was unworthy, force Obi wan knew that feeling. At least he had the chance to resolve that before it fledged into anything else inside his young charge, being a master was extremely difficult. Qui gon had made it look so easy at times…

Anakin stared up at his master's battered face, it too was etched with guilt. It was obvious they both harboured blame for the situation and as the master Obi wan blamed himself for not being able to stop Anakin for being injured. Why couldn't he take his own advice?

Anakin smiled knowingly at Obi wan who looked confusingly at his padawan for some time.

"What?" Obi wan asked frustratingly it was annoying not being able to look into Anakin's thoughts.

"You should take your own advice master, if I shouldn't feel guilty about this whole mess then neither should you." Anakin finished the sentence with his eyebrows raised.

Obi wan smiled, his padawan was becoming more perceptive by the day.

"Very well, lets both agree to not feel guilty over this matter any longer and stop feeling sorry for ourselves. We need to plan our next move." Obi wan replied surprised it had taken him this long to release his guilt, but it was hard he was reminded it of every time he looked at Anakin's damaged face.

"Deal, and I'm not as hurt as you your face is a complete mess!" Anakin laughed as Obi wan gave him an incredulous look.

"Oh great, so I've been beaten up tied up and now I'm being bullied by my apprentice over my appearance, I get it I won't be winning any beauty contests anytime soon." Obi wan smiled back enjoying the banter between them again.

"Soon? Don't you mean never?" Anakin burst out laughing at his master's hurt look over the comment.

If Obi wan's hands were free he would have smacked Anakin over the head all he could do in his current predicament was stare daggers at his apprentice. The mask of anger quickly washed off Anakin's laughter was infectious and he couldn't keep up the pretence any longer and quickly joined in with his apprentice's giggling.

"Why do I put up with such insolence." Obi wan sighed in jest as their laughing subsided.

"Because you love me too much!" Anakin replied jokingly, but the look he got from his master told him he'd hit the nail on the head. Obi wan loved and cared for him as much as his own mother had when he was growing up. Anakin never wanted to lose this, ever.

A content silence fell between the pair as a new understanding was reached in their relationship as master and apprentice.


Obi wan broke the silence after some time, intent on finding out more information to get out of their predicament.

"Have you looked for any weaknesses in the structure? I can't sense anything with this damned force inhibitor they've given me" Obi wan finished in a miffed tone.

Anakin couldn't imagine what it would be like to have the force ripped away from your mind, he thought he felt empty without sensing Obi wan. But imagine sensing nothing, it would be like losing all your senses at once. Anakin hoped he never experienced it, the force was the only thing keeping him grounded now his master wasn't there to anchor his feelings.

"Yes master, I've checked all the gaps around the door and the force field and was rewarded with quite a nasty electric shock" Anakin replied, annoyed he couldn't relay more favourable news.

Obi wan huffed, it was expected really. These pirates were obviously professionals and were very well funded, they knew how to contain Jedi, very well. It was clear they weren't breaking out the cell just at the moment with Obi wan in his current state and no weapons, so the next question was who was this mysterious employer Skepaf mentioned earlier…

It seemed Anakin's mind had drifted to the same thoughts as he enquired about the exact same question.

"Master who do you think could have done this?"

Obi wan noticed the worry had left his padawan now, good he's focussed on the problem, our talk helped. Obi wan wouldn't have wanted to try and execute an escape plan with a brooding apprentice, and if he was honest he also had held onto more guilt than he had realised. They had both helped each other get over their respective harbouring of guilt over the situation, Obi wan realised his head was a lot clearer because of it. He now had time to think things over.

"I don't know Anakin, they were targeting us specifically not just any old Jedi team. Skepaf knew my name." Obi wan wasn't sure if that particular piece of information was worrying or not.

He and Qui gon had made a fair few enemies along their travels who all held grudges. But that was years ago and most of those criminals were either dead or in prison somewhere, It didn't seem like an old grievance to Obi wan but he couldn't place the feeling he was having. It was difficult without the force, he kept instinctively reached out to grasp out to it to aid him in his thought process but there was still just an empty void in front of him.

He glanced down at Anakin who was also deep in thought, he seemed to be struggling to grasp an answer too. Obi wan suddenly had an idea, he had never met anyone with such a strong force presence as Anakin, as Obi wan couldn't search the force for the answer maybe he could instruct Anakin how to.

"Anakin I'm going to try and teach you a way to move outward in the force without your physical body, it's very difficult to master and takes most Jedi years of practise. But I have never met anyone with a force count as high as yours, it's like its physically part of you, will you try for us?" Obi wan knew he was pushing the boy far beyond what he should but they needed more intelligence and seeing as Obi wan couldn't access the force right now this was their only hope.

Obi wan could see Anakin taking in the information, gone was the boy before him and in his place sat a well balanced Jedi who understood the importance of the task ahead. It forever surprised him how grown up Anakin seemed sometimes, he carried a heavy burden on his shoulders and when it mattered, truly mattered, he fulfilled everything he was promised to.

Anakin listened as Obi wan asked what could be the impossible of him, he had never been that in tune with the force the way Obi wan was describing, as he looked up at his master though all he saw was immense pride at his padawan. If he believes I can do this then I must. Anakin knew his master wouldn't ask this of him if it wasn't important, Anakin steeled himself and nodded his head preparing for the task ahead.

"I can do this master." He was pleased to hear his voice was so steady, it sounded more mature than it had any right to be.

Obi wan smiled before he answered, this was going to be tricky without his own access to the force.

"I know you can Ani, Now this is going to take all of your concentration. It would be best if you were in the meditation position to help you get into the right frame of mind."

Obi wan knew Anakin wouldn't be able to complete the complex manipulation of the force until he had let every thought leave his mind, every feeling had to be let go. Which was damn near impossible under the circumstances, he believed in his padawan's ability though. Waiting until Anakin had assumed the position and closed his eyes Obi wan continued.

"You need to let go of all feelings all emotions, you will be leaving your body to be in the force I will act as your anchor so you can find your way back. Now what I want you to do is imagine yourself floating upwards, let everything go and leave your body behind and sink into the force, feel it run through your mind and follow it out."

Obi wan stopped talking, Anakin needed quiet to complete this task. He hated not being able to help this was potentially dangerous if Anakin got lost in the force… It was very disorientating the first time achieved, like nothing else Obi wan had ever experienced. He observed as Anakin released the last of his emotions and he seemed to go rigid, it was difficult to tell without the use of the force but Obi wan's breath hitched in his throat none the less. Anakin had done it! first time! His padawan never stopped amazing him with his connection and ability to harness the force, it truly was a magical thing to watch.

Suddenly Anakin gasped and his eyes shot open looking around in panic.

"Woah Anakin it's okay you're okay, what happened?" Obi wan remembered the feeling that he had experienced when he first completed leaving his own body it was very shocking, and he had asked this of a 14 year old boy Obi wan wondered if he had taken things too far.

Anakin's head snapped up he had heard Obi wan's thoughts, he could see the concern in his master's watchful eye.

"I'm fine master don't worry, that was incredible I was actually with the force, like I was in the room looking down on myself it was epic!" Anakin proclaimed positively beaming from the experience.

He detected his master's worry start to dissipate and he too smiled back at his padawan.

"Anakin do you realise how difficult that is for a seasoned master to accomplish when in normal conditions? You should be very proud of yourself, I know that I am." His master grinned back.

Anakin didn't have to go looking to see if his master really was proud of him, it was etched into every feature on his face. Anakin steeled himself and mentally prepared to try again, now he knew what to expect he could try and find somewhere else on the ship and search for information or a weakness they could exploit.

"Are you ready Anakin? When you feel yourself leave this time I want you to drift outwards towards the door, let the force do the work it will feel natural trust me. Look for Skepaf and try and take in as many details as possible, this will be quite taxing on you so we don't want to be doing this multiple times" Obi wan instructed Anakin and waited for the boy to once again close his eyes and let everything go.


This time when Anakin drifted upwards out of his body he didn't feel the same shock as the first time, it was weirder than anything he had ever experienced but it was wizard! With one last look at Obi wan he drifted towards the exit and passed straight through the force field. Obi wan had been right as soon as he thought where he wanted to go the force seemed to move with him and there he went.

Gliding along the long corridor Anakin noted a lone guard posted, there was no sign of anyone else the pirates obviously thought the cell would contain them. Focus Anakin! He chided himself and started forward again coming to a fork in the road.

Something in the force was instructing Anakin to head right so that's exactly what he did, Anakin was always amazed with his ability to harness the force before but this was something else entirely. It was like he was the force, it flowed through his body as if sustaining it.

He took in every detail of the journey, noting the shift patterns of the guards, the various twists and turns of the corridors and tried to map out the layout of the ship in his head. Suddenly he heard a voice that made his blood run cold, it nearly made him lose control and Anakin realised now why Obi wan had said this was dangerous, he had to stay neutral.

Preparing himself he started forwards towards the voice of Skepaf. Passing through the door felt strange Anakin's mind was still in the state of thinking he couldn't pass through matter, but the force could it was everywhere.

Glancing around the room Anakin realised he must have stumbled upon Skepaf's personal quarters, he seemed to glance around as Anakin had come through the door. He was staring right at him! Oh force he can't see me can he?

Anakin's thoughts were squashed when Skepaf shrugged and carried on with his business, Of course he can't see me I'm not here! Anakin scolded himself mentally and started forwards again taking in the surroundings before him.

Skepaf looked almost normal in this setting, the anger Anakin had seen on the other ship was gone, he was a business man Anakin realised none of this was personal. He and Obi wan may be able to use that if they played the man right. He also had a look of anxiousness plastered across his face, Why was he so nervous?

The reason became quickly apparent as a terminal beeped off to Anakin's left he turned as Skepaf rushed through him and plopped himself down at the desk accepting the incoming communication. The employer. Anakin moved forwards maybe he could take in enough detail that Obi wan would know who this mysterious being would be.

The screen flickered to life and Anakin studied the image of the man in front of him, he didn't recognise him but darkness seemed to fill the air around him making him feel cold so very cold.

"Do you have them?" The baritone voice drifted into the room, cold, void of any emotion.

"Yes, yes we have them. They're secured in the hold now." Skepaf's voice was laced with fear, this mysterious man obviously meant business and didn't allow for any babbling.

"Good, good. I trust you are on your way to the exchange point?" Anakin was pretty sure the man didn't feel those words as they passed across his lips but Skepaf didn't seem to notice.

It was time to get a closer look at this employer, Anakin moved forward to hover over Skepaf's shoulder and tried to take in every detail he could about the man on the image before him.

He was older than Anakin had expected, with grey hair covering his head, cold dead eyes turned towards him and narrowed as the man before Anakin seemed to look right at him. He can't see me, he can't see me. Anakin repeated to himself as he felt the sudden urge to back away.

Out of the corner of his eye Anakin saw Skepaf look in his direction too and looking very confused when he saw nothing there. The man did not break his contact with Anakin and that made him no longer sure that the man couldn't see him.

"Is there something wrong?" Skepaf panicked voice drifted out across the air.

"Nothing I can't solve." The man grinned and with that Anakin felt a massive wave of energy consolidate around him and before he could figure out what was happening he was hurtling out of the room back towards the hold.

He tried desperately to control his spinning form but the force wasn't responding, Anakin panicked he couldn't direct where he was going and felt himself spin more out of control, darkness was all around him. That was when Anakin remembered what Obi wan had said "use him as an anchor". Anakin could have sworn that wasn't his voice but didn't think anymore about it as he reached out for Obi wan's signature, he felt so cold so engulfed in darkness.

It wasn't hard to find his master, he was a shining beacon of light, force or no force. He careered towards the source and soon found Obi wan, willing for the force to move into the direction of his body he essentially slammed back into.


Obi wan waited calmly not wanting to disturb Anakin he had been absorbed for quite some time now and Obi wan was beginning to worry Anakin had got lost somewhere, he knew how difficult it was to get back into the physical world sometimes especially for someone so young and only on his second go!

His questions were answered as he heard Anakin gasp and fall backwards as if in pain, worry seeped into Obi wan What in force could have happened?

"Anakin talk to me, are you okay?" Obi wan tried to snap Anakin out of whatever was going on and cursed himself for not having his hands free.

Anakin started to pick himself up off the floor and lean back against the wall, Obi wan noted the fear in his eyes, it consumed him. Obi wan's anxiety levels shot through the roof as he nervously waited for his padawan to answer him, he had to be delicate here the mind was a very fragile thing especially after what his padawan had just experienced. He noted Anakin feeling his own body as if to confirm he was really here and breathe a sigh of relief.

"I'm okay master, now I'm out of the darkness".

That was it Obi wan was positively alarmed now and leaned in towards Anakin, something very bad had happened during his apprentice's experience.

"Darkness? Anakin what happened?" Obi wan wanted nothing more than Anakin to tell him what had happened and quickly but realised he couldn't rush this. He could already hear Anakin's heart rate pounding from this distance.

"I was doing fine, I made my way along the corridor and started to take note of the layout of the place and the patrol patterns of some of the guards."

Obi wan waited on tender hooks as Anakin took a deep breath before he continued, whatever had happened had shaken his padawan.

"Then the force seemed to push me in one direction and it wasn't long before I was in Skepaf's personal quarters. Just as I was observing him the terminal in the room indicated he was receiving a communication."

"The employer?" Obi wan was starting to have a very bad feeling about the next part of Anakin's story.

Anakin nodded and continued, "Yes it was the employer they talked for a minute or two about Skepaf having us and then the man asked if we were heading to the rendezvous point. That's when I decided to get closer and get a better look at him hoping either I or you would recognise him if I could describe what he looked like." Anakin shivered as the next words poured out of his mouth.

"He looked right at me, like he could see me. Skepaf couldn't and asked what was wrong, the man said nothing he couldn't fix and thats when I felt darkness well up all around me in the force suffocating me. Then all of a sudden I was flying backwards, it felt as though I had been force pushed! I went tumbling out of control and started to panic I couldn't sense where I needed to be and thought I would get lost up there, darkness surrounded the force around me. It was only when a voice reminded me of you I used your force presence as an anchor and found my way back here."

"No that can't be…" Obi wan muttered, racking his brain for any other conclusion to the one staring him right in the face but none came to him. He had never heard of anything like it, but there was only thing that could be that powerful to see Anakin as he was in the force.

"What was it master? What just happened? I was so scared, I've never felt so much darkness before in my life" Anakin was very frightened and confused, he thought he was doing well and felt at one with the force in a way he never truly had before.

Then this darkness had crept up on him out of know where, and it had felt like he was physically shoved out of the force. It was so strong and full of evil that it made Anakin shiver again.

Obi wan looked down upon his young charge and wished he could pull him into a big hug, the boy had experienced something truly terrible and Obi wan felt horrible for putting him in that position. He did what he could and laid his head on the Anakin's head, it seemed to bring some comfort to Anakin and he latched onto Obi wan happy for the comfort he gave.

"I'm so sorry you had to experience that Ani, If I had known it would be that dangerous I would have never let you do it." Obi wan whispered quietly and Anakin huddled closer into him.

"No guilt remember?" Anakin's small voice drifted upwards, and Obi wan noticed the shaking in it had decreased, he was starting to take control of his emotions again.

"I remember padawan, I didn't think it would be so soon I would have to stick to that promise." Obi wan smiled down at Anakin who looked up meekly, his face was still ashen but he managed a weak smile he was slowly coming back to the light and Anakin's shivering had decreased. Obi wan wanted to believe that it was going to be okay but the facts were staring him straight in the face and Anakin deserved to understand the danger they were in.

"Only a very powerful force user could have done to you what just happened." Obi wan started, a look of apprehension and worry plastered onto his blood covered features.

"And that means we might be in big trouble…".


The next chapter is turning out to be rather large so I will endeavour to have it up in about a weeks time as always your feedback is much appreciated!

Until next time...