Thank you everyone for the interest in the story, in this chapter our heroes are in trouble!

Annie walker - Poor Obi wan indeed :O You'll have to read to find out! Thank you for the encouraging words :D


The sound of water cascading and splashing reached Obi wan's ears, opening his eyes he was greeted with the familiar surroundings of the room of a thousand fountains in the temple. The room was stocked to the brim with plants and small life forms from all over the galaxy, Jedi seemed to add to it after missions and Obi wan knew Qui gon was responsible for the vast majority of these additions with his love for 'pathetic life forms'. The colours of the plants vibrantly lit up the room and made some exceedingly picturesque reflections in the various pools of water, the room was filled with many walkways all leading in different directions to each other.

Obi wan's feet seemed to move of their own accord towards a hunched over figure on one of the many seating spots in the tranquil room, this was Qui gon's favourite place to meditate… Shaking himself Obi wan continued forward moving on from past thoughts as Qui gon had always instructed him 'stay in the present moment'.

"What makes you think this isn't the present moment, my not so young Padawan?" The figures smooth baritone voice drifted towards his ears.

Obi wan halted on the spot, his breath hitching he could never forget that voice. He still remembered to this day the first time his master had called him padawan all those years ago, he reveled in the memories of when times were simpler and when the galaxy wasn't filled with so much pain. He had wished to hear that voice use that word again ever since the moment Qui gon Jinn passed into the force, a foolish childish wish but one that his head deemed to be necessarily fulfilled.

His thoughts were once again interrupted as the deep chuckle he had oh so missed filled the room and the figure stood lowering his hood.

"You were always stubborn, Obi wan, but this takes the biscuit, I have to wait until your unconscious and without mental shielding before you would let me in!"

If Obi wan wasn't already close to passing out he was now, the face that greeted him was just the same as he remembered it when he had said goodbye to his master on that fateful day in Naboo. The man stood tall clad in Jedi tunics with his light saber strapped on his hip, long silver hair draped down his back just as Obi wan remembered, and kind familiar eyes bore into Obi wan's very soul.

Unresolved feelings threatened to bubble over as Obi wan dropped to his knees wondering what cruel trick this was supposed to be! Disbelief turned into anger as he concluded someone was playing with him, how dare they use the still raw memory of his beloved master when he was dead?!

That's when Obi wan's mind seemed to catch up with what this, well whatever he was, had said. Unconscious? What was he talking about… It was then Obi wan felt a sharp pain in his side and chest and looked down to find the front of his white tunic spoiled with blood.

The man with Qui gon's appearance started towards him, deep concern edged over his features. The cascading of the water and the chirping of the life forms faded away until just a dead-set ringing filled Obi wan's head. The man's lips seemed to be moving and he was now looking very alarmed but Obi wan could no longer focus on these illusions as the burning in his side and head reached a new found level and a scream erupted from his bruised jaw.


The next thing Obi wan was aware of was the freezing cold metal under his head and a small squeaky voice calling out his name, he wanted to go back to where there was no pain why was this person so insistent on him opening his eyes? Memories from the past day flooded back into his brain a split second later that sent him reeling for a few moments.

He didn't make the mistake this time round of trying to sit up in one motion so just settled for prying his eyes open painstakingly slowly, the agony was still unmistakable and it took some time before the fuzzy surroundings actually turned into subject matter.

Of course the first thing he focused on was the face of Anakin, blue eyes filled with worry and his padawan braid dangling down only just touching Obi wan's face. He forced himself to smile slowly even though his jaw protested the movement greatly, and was rewarded with a slight smile back from Anakin and the twinkle in his eyes seemed to return.

"Come on, Master, no sleeping on the job!"

Obi wan chuckled slightly before abruptly stopping as it jostled his chest enough to bring about a coughing fit, he felt hands soothing the area and soon the fit was over and he settled with just steadying his breathing for a few moments. Looking back up again he could see Anakin was shaken and noticed a few tear stains on his cheeks, how long have I been unconscious?

"It felt like forever!" Anakin exclaimed before shamelessly looking down at Obi wan he had made quite a habit of seeing what was on Obi wan's mind.

"I am sorry, Ani, If I ahem fall asleep again please feel free to shake me out of it." Obi wan grinned back hoping to thaw some of the atmosphere in the room, it wasn't long before he was rewarded with a smirk from his young apprentice.

"Now help me up please this floor is rather uncomfortable, I feel our captors need some pointers on interior decorating."

Sarcasm was always a good fall back especially with Anakin, the boy visibly relaxed some more and started to help Obi wan up off the floor. It took an excruciating long time but eventually both master and padawan were propped up against the far wall breathing deeply over the exertion.

"I'm sorry you don't like it, Master, I thought it was quite roomy and booked us in for a jaunt next week." The smirk on his apprentice's face was enough to have Obi wan laughing again, be damned with the coughing that would eventually come afterwards.

After the subsequent coughing fit had subsided Obi wan looked pointedly at his young charge.

"I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to, Anakin, god knows you've already far exceeded every one of my expectations today, but this might be the only chance we have left to send out a communication and if you feel up to it maybe you could do a better job than I did."

Obi wan watched as Anakin took in the information, his brows furrowed as they did when he concentrated, eventually Anakin's tear stained eyes met Obi wan's and nodded slowly.

"What if they hurt you again?" Anakin squeaked out in terror and Obi wan's heart nearly broke then and there.

The harsh truth was though this may be the only chance they have to escape for a very long time, Obi wan was in no decent shape and as soon as they got handed off to a force user… Anakin stilled as he heard Obi wan's thoughts and seemed to nod in understanding.

"We don't have any other choice do we?"

"Anakin, I won't lie to you this may be the only shot we have left and it's our responsibility to take it, like I said I won't ask this of you this has to be your decision. However do not think about my safety when making it I would sacrifice myself over and over again if it meant getting you out of here and away from the force user." Obi wan finished sternly indicating he wanted no argument over the matter.

Obi wan watched as a flurry of emotions crossed Anakin's features, anger, fear, frustration and finally acceptance, he had made his decision. He hated having to put Anakin in this position it definitely wasn't fair on the boy but the foreboding of the new threat looming over them made it more than necessary.

"Okay, Master, I will, however I am not happy about you taking the blame if this goes wrong how do you think I feel when I have to watch you being beaten?" Anger laced the statement and Obi wan took a deep breath he understood where Anakin was coming from, having watched his own master Qui gon being brutalised he sympathised with the anger the boy was feeling.

"Anakin, I understand more than you know."

He saw the boy jump slightly as he sensed the memory Obi wan was replaying in his head and winced as the implications sunk in and Anakin's anger seemed to leave him for the moment to be replaced with steely determination.

"We're both making sacrifices, I will do my best, Master." Gone was the voice of his 12 year old charge, in its place the strong tenor of the man promised to come.

"I know you will, Anakin." Obi wan beamed affectionately at Anakin, pride welling up inside of him.

"Now Skepaf will hopefully be complacent, he doesn't think he's in danger of falling for the same trick twice not with me out of action in the force. Now remember the time I taught you to push a force suggestion into somebody's head?" Obi wan spoke in a hushed tone in case anyone was watching the security feed.

At Anakin's nod he continued noting the boy was concentrating and preparing himself, Obi wan knew this was a long shot but the pair both knew the consequence of not trying.

"Okay so you need to reach out with your mind just like before and head for the nearest person you can find, you need to push the thought into their mind continuously and try and steer them towards the bridge where they can send out a communication."

"Now I'm not going to lie to you, this is going to be incredibly difficult and will require all of your attention, if you slip then the crew may get suspicious, do you understand?"

"Yes, Master, I understand." Anakin's was full of determination, all worries driven out only a resolve to complete the task remained.

"Whatever happens, Padawan, you must promise me not to brood, you are not to blame it is my own foolishness that caused the slip last time." Obi wan tried to keep the mood light hearted before the daunting task ahead.

"I do not brood…" Anakin practically snapped back then plastered an extensive grin on his face as he realised Obi wan was teasing.

"May the force be with you, Anakin, good luck".

And with that Anakin fell deep into the currents of the force with the task on his mind, determination and resolve flowed through his veins as the weight of the task pressed on his mind, with one last fleeting glance at Obi wan he ventured out into the corridor.


Anakin shakily picked himself off of the cell floor, his expression sculptured into a pure look of mortification, I failed…

"Anakin, are you alright?" his master's panicked voice wormed its way through his clouded mind.

Anakin looked up into Obi wan's eyes expecting to see disappointment or something, surely he could see that Anakin had failed, Anakin stilled as he could feel Skepaf's rage from here. What have I done?

Obi wan's eyes softened as he pieced the puzzle together, Anakin was too incoherent for words right now as images running through the blazing captain's mind reached his. Why wasn't his master angry at him or even ashamed?

"Anakin. what did we say about no brooding?" Obi wan chuckled mirth glittered in his eyes.

"Master, I… He's coming… I'm sorry…" Words weren't forming correctly and suddenly forming coherent sentences were out of the question.

Obi wan just smiled sadly down at him, projecting sorrow and apologies of his own.

"It is I who should be apologising to you, Anakin, I know how hard is to watch the person you love get hurt. I've asked too much of you, don't you dare see this as a failure you have accomplished more today than I could have taught you in years. I am so very proud of you."

He watched as the beginnings of tears started to form at Obi wan's eyes and felt warm liquid trickling down his own cheeks, he would be strong he had to his master would need him now more than ever.

Anakin leapt forward to envelop the older man in an emotional embrace, adjusting his position when he observed his master's problem with breathing. Anakin latched on for dear life and felt anger rise up from within him at the thought's being projected from the captain.

He had been so close to directing a crew member from the bridge to a console panel, he even had started to enter some coordinates then the control slipped and obviously after the last incident the crew twigged onto what was happening very quickly. Before he had retreated back to his own form the thoughts in the captain's head terrified him, he wanted to kill Obi wan.

Obi wan glanced down at Anakin with sorrow in his eyes, he could hear the bustling of movement echo along the corridor and felt the boy stiffen around him. This was going to be very hard on Anakin, it simply wasn't fair that he was being subject to all of this at 12! Whoever this force user was they were going to have a piece of his mind when they inevitably met, he could forgive what he had been subject to but looking down at Anakin he knew he would have a hard time letting these feelings of anger go.

"Anakin, you have to move, they're coming." Obi wan gently reminded his young apprentice who snapped his gaze up.

Fire shone from his apprentice's usually calm eyes, the usual joy and twinkle gone only to be replaced by pure hatred and anger. It terrified Obi wan how ferocious the feelings were, he had never seen Anakin so angry he was actually shaking with it.

"Anakin, let go, use the force you know how dangerous it is to hang onto feelings." This was a delicate time, hypocrisy filled the air around them for a moment, he knew Anakin had sensed his anger so he tried desperately to release his own feelings.

"I hate him, Master!" Anakin spat out head peaking up as the sound of approaching footfall got louder.

"Anakin, if you acted out of anger and hatred you would be no better than him." It was a low blow Obi wan knew but they didn't have long and the last thing they needed right now was Anakin lashing out he was dangerously close to falling victim to his emotions.

Anakin looked as if he was about to snap something back to Obi wan before his features softened slightly and recognition of what he was feeling finally caught up to him, he gripped Obi wan tighter and buried his face in Obi wan's ruined tunics. Obi wan felt Anakin's tension start to dissipate and the anger slowly left his shaking body, it wasn't long before he heard all out sobbing.

"I'm sorry, Master, I've failed you again." The voice was slightly muffled with a choking sound.

"You could never fail me, Anakin, you're going to be strong now." Anakin pulled back and their gaze met.

The fire was receding and in place were the innocent blue eyes he was so used to seeing, releasing that much anger and frustration at such a young age was incredible. Obi wan had been worried Anakin would do something he would later come to regret, as always Anakin thought he had to perfect right now the whole point of being a padawan was to learn and be guided to stay on the path by the master.

It was at this point when the force field for the cell was lowered and the very irate captain roared in heading straight for Obi wan.

Anakin turned and stood the steely look he gave the captain very nearly caused him to stop in his tracks all together, however after only just a moment's second thought he continued on his quest to reach the captives.

"You made the boy do your dirty work, Kenobi? I warned you what would happen if you crossed me again!"

Everyone in the room seemed to stop at the same point as Anakin held out his trembling arms and closed his eyes, all of a sudden every being in the room was slammed against the far wall with unchecked brutality. There was a sickening sound as necks snapped and bones were crushed, a klaxon rung out through the entire ship and there was a distant sound of reinforcements rushing towards the threat.

Obi wan couldn't believe his eyes, his apprentice had just force slammed no less than 8 beings with such power he had never achieved himself, he winced as necks snapped as they impacted with the wall. Anakin, however, had only acted in self defence and not in anger and didn't have the control over the force yet. That changed when he zeroed in on the captain's fallen body however, whatever Anakin had seen in the captain's mind relit the fire in his heart and Obi wan watched in horror as Anakin's hand closed around the captain's throat and slammed him against the wall.

"Anakin, no!" It took a few seconds for the command to reach through his padawan's hazy awareness, but painstakingly long moments later the captain's throat was released and Anakin collapsed to the floor in a heap of limbs.

Obi wan felt despair and a sickening feeling well up inside of him, Anakin had almost killed another being out of anger, it was only at the last second that he let the captain go, and now he wasn't responding to Obi wan's calls he had no way of knowing if the training bond was still there What if he's dead? The horrifying terrible thought filled his mind locking out all other logical reasoning.

When he lifted his eyes off of his fallen padawan he noticed the cell was a lot busier, guards were pouring in armed with blaster rifles and shock sticks. He observed detachedly as the captain and any survivors were pulled to their feet, Skepaf spent a good time choking and catching his breath before glaring at Obi wan red faced and broken with murder in his eyes.

"You told the boy to murder my men! How dare you?!" Skepaf headed back over to Obi wan to finish what he started, drawing a long blade from its sheath and flanked by many ticked off guards. Well at least he thought it was my idea. Obi wan couldn't help shake the fact that Anakin hadn't moved since he had fallen, this was not looking good at all.

The thought was mercilessly ripped from his head as Obi wan found himself hauled upright and slammed into the wall. The action left him without words or any coherent thoughts, everything exploded into white hot pain as all the broken bones in his battered body were shaken. He drowsily managed to focus on the face of Skepaf in front of him, sneering eyes bore into his own. Without any further warning the knife in Skepaf's hand was abruptly thrust into his mid-section.

Obi wan cried out in an agonising cry as the blade pierced skin muscle and probably organs, with a smirk the hand viciously twisted the knife which was if it was possible more agony than the initial stabbing. As quickly as the attack had started it was over, he felt a hand grip his hair and pull upwards as his legs started to give way, unable to support the weight any longer.

"Not so high and mighty now are we, Jedi?" the last retort was essentially spat at his face.

Even if Obi wan had a reply for the captain he didn't think he would be able to speak, breath left his lungs and only a groan escaped as gravity finally caught up with him and his body crashed to the floor with a resounding thud.

He watched distantly as if he wasn't in his own body anymore as the captain wiped the blood, his blood, off of the knife on his shoulder and readied himself for what would be the killing blow. Obi wan could read people well and this man was too overcome by madness and anger to be reasoned with, he watched detachedly as the captain readied himself to deliver the strike.

Everything in the room seemed to still again as a young voice drifted across the space, in some part of his mind Obi wan registered that to be the voice of Anakin Skywalker and relief flooded his mind at the thought of him being alive, it didn't last long however as the thought slipped away he was going into shock quickly.

"What would your employer do if you killed us?"

Damn that boy was smart, there were only a few things that would override a man's hunger for anger and in Skepaf's case terror of another was definitely something that qualified.

Obi wan gazed up blearily as full blown terror covered the features of the captain, he went as stiff as ice and gazed unsteadily down towards the weapon which was hovering at Obi wan's neck. The tension in the room was discernible, silence seemed to stretch for millennia before the captain seemed to regain some colour and looked around the room. Everyone was waiting on tender hooks for their orders, Obi wan was just struggling albeit slightly in vein to remain conscious, blood loss was dangerous as well as whatever manner of things had been nicked when the knife had penetrated his body.

"Separate them and bind the boy he's dangerous. I don't want Kenobi giving any more instructions to this one here make sure they can't communicate." The captain issued the orders in a shaky tone before storming out of the cell limping slightly after his encounter with the wall.

Obi wan's vision swam before his eyes as he was hauled out of the cell into the corridor and dropped unceremoniously onto the cold hard floor of his new prison, away from Anakin.

He heard a struggle as Anakin was bound probably in the same manner as he was, no matter what words formed in his mind he couldn't get his mouth to respond. He wanted to know Anakin was okay and he was pretty sure all the shouting was over him he just needed to put Anakin's mind at rest about his state of health. That was easier said than done as his health was honestly deteriorating by the second, his mind became more and more groggy as his precious life source flowed out from the messy wound below his chest.

The jostling was pure agony for all the wounds he had already sustained, he was vaguely aware of some kind of wire being wrapped around his legs and proceeding up towards his chest, it was barbed Obi wan found out rather painfully as he tried shifting and was rewarded with the spikes digging in to his flesh eliciting a small cry from his lips.

The sound was mercilessly cut off as a thick rag was stuffed into his bruised jaw and wrapped around the back of his head effectively silencing any further talk. His sight was the next to be stolen as an equally filthy cloth was thickly wrapped around his eyes before being tied tightly also which sent a jolt of pain through his skull, moaning as his head was released and hit the surface with a clang.

He thought he still heard Anakin's panicked shouting as the energy barrier to his own cell sprang to life but he couldn't be sure anymore as sounds faded into a ringing sound and he slowly fell back into the depths of his mind where the pain did not exist in this ferocity. A chiding voice seemed to tell him it was dangerous to fall asleep with blood loss but that voice was not going through what Obi wan was now, the blackness in his mind increased the only thing keeping him in the corporeal world was the spikes of pain flying through his nerves at any slight movement, including breathing.

After witnessing the horrifying assault wrought by his own padawan his thoughts flew back to the remainder of the memories he had of the mission with Qui gon well over a decade ago now…


Punch, kick, backhand, swift hit to the ribs, strike to the jaw, Qui gon took it all in his stride as the rebel continued to rain down his brutal assault on the Jedi master.

Obi wan was seething at the rebel in question, unchecked anger was threatening to boil over as the monster continued to attack his master laughing and sneering as he went along. This time there hadn't seemed to be much of an aggravation, he had simply stormed into the prison cell with friends of course that were keeping a watchful eye on Obi wan, and proceeded to carry on where he left off on the last visit.

Mercifully the onslaught was finally over and the men left the cell dropping Qui gon to the floor as if he was a sack of tubers, not before delivering one more vicious kick to his midriff however.

Obi wan once again made the painstaking journey across the cell dragging himself along the ground grunting as his wound was stretched. He expected to sense anger radiating off of his Qui gon's broken body but all he could feel was detachment. Eventually he reached his master's side and after being satisfied that he was conscious went on a rant.

"How can you not be angry at them, Master? They beat you within an inch of your life out of anger!" Obi wan didn't get how his master was staying so calm.

Qui gon winced before answering "You have much to learn, my young Padawan, anger towards these men will not help our situation we must keep our heads clear until the opportunity arises to escape."

"I hate them! I want them dead!" Obi wan raged before he even registered the venomous words spilling out from his own mouth.

He quickly looked down at the floor and shifted uncomfortably emanating shame, Qui gon's strong hand gripped his jaw and forced him to look into his face. He was expecting Qui gon's face to be etched with disappointment not the slightly bemused flicker that was twinkling in his eyes now. His face was etched into a sad smile however as he let go of Obi wan's chin.

"I'm sorry you had to see this, Padawan, I think you've just realised for yourself how anger can control one's actions or in your case speech."

"But, Master, I wanted to kill him when he was in here, how can I ever think such a thing about another being?" Obi wan interrupted appalled at his own feelings and how little control he had over them.

"Obi wan, the fact that you have released some of your feelings and are feeling remorse right now proves you have a good heart and you are more than worthy of being a Jedi. I admit if I were in your position I would also feel anger this is why attachment is so dangerous young one. Feeling anger is only human, it's what you do with those feelings that define you. You must release any other feelings you have towards them into the force, meditating sometimes helps."

Obi wan visibly calmed took a deep breath and set about releasing the last of his angry emotions, when he opened his eyes Qui gon was grinning proudly at him.

"So you're attached to me hmm?" Obi wan asked slyly not missing the insinuation earlier.

"About attached as a gundark is to their prey, my young Padawan" his master playfully replied eyes filled with mirth.

Obi wan managed to look offended for a full 5 seconds before the contagious mood took hold and he burst out laughing alongside his master.

This was one of the only moments in Obi wan's life that he had nearly lost control, Qui gon took it all in his stride of course and turned the entire ordeal into a lesson. The words that were barked at them ever since training had begun rung true no more in that moment, Anger leads to pain, pain leads to fear, fear leads to the dark side…

Obi wan had never got as angry as Anakin had done, he understood the loss of control Anakin was very young and he couldn't even imagine what the captain was projecting. He was just thankful he had been able to get through to his young charge before he did something he couldn't take back, there was a fleeting moment back in that cell where Obi wan thought he wouldn't get through to Anakin and he would have killed him, the thought made him shudder as he finally fell within the depths of his mind seeking solace and peace…


So our heroes are having a tough time of it! Don't worry the identity of the employer will be revealed very very soon, along with their plans for the two Jedi. Hope you're all enjoying it so far!

Until next time...