Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars

AN: Here's part 2! Thanks for all the great reviews. Enjoy and let me know what you think:)

Disturbing Enigma

Part 2/?

Bant and Barriss worked busily around Ferus, assessing his injuries and began the mending, as they attached various dermal regenerators to him.

"We just heard. What's going on?" Dooku asked, as he entered the Med Ward with Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Yoda, and Mace following him. Sola came next to Obi-Wan and put a hand on his arm.

"Bant says he has a lot of injuries, but he should be fine. He's very lucky," Sola said.

"We don't know much either. But whoever did this to him took Serra...and their son. We can only assume it's the Imperial Underground. But why they took her is the mystery," Anakin relayed.

"Their son? They have a son?" Mace asked.

"Apparently so," Anakin replied.

"But how come they didn't tell us?" Obi-Wan asked.

"They wanted it to be a surprise," Cin Dralig said, as he entered.

"Little Marcus was born six months ago. They asked me not to tell, because they were planning on finally coming home and surprising everyone, as well as getting married too," Cin said, as he sighed deeply.

"She's not a Sith anymore. What could they possibly want with her?" Cin wondered.

"I don't know, but we can ask Ferus. He should regain consciousness shortly. He had three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a fractured skull, among several other minor cuts and bruises. Fortunately, he is mending nicely," Bant reported.

"Bant, he's coming around," Barriss called. All present filed into the Med Room, as Ferus opened his eyes.

"Serra..." he exclaimed.

"Easy young one. You are still very much recovering," Bant said. Ferus looked to Anakin and Padme, as they approached.

"Ferus...can you tell us what happened?" Padme asked in a soft, soothing voice.

"A woman...a Sith assassin or something. I don't know...how she found us, but she brought one of those things. It was like punching durasteel. I fought him, but I was no match. He...threw me into the wall and I was in and out of consciousness. I heard the assassin...interrogating Serra. Marcus...was crying and Serra kept him...huddled close to...her chest. I couldn't protect them. I couldn't protect my family!" he cried.

"Shhh...you did everything you could. Tell us what they said then we'll start searching for them," Anakin said.

"Ani's right. We'll find them," Padme assured him.

"This woman was looking for something. Some book...or diary," Ferus said. Padme eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"A diary?" she asked. He nodded.

"I also heard her drop the name Sifo-Dyas. I think it could his diary they are looking for," Ferus said.

"Sifo-Dyas?" Dooku exclaimed.

"If Sifo left a diary behind and the Sith want it, then there must be something of vital importance inside," Mace deduced.

"Serra insisted...that she didn't know what they were talking about. She was telling the truth too, I could tell. She never learned anything about this diary during her time as...a Sith," he said, as he flashed back to the awful moment.

"Where is the diary?" the woman demanded, as she backhanded Serra across the face for the third time, making the baby in her arms cry harder.

"I don't know what you're talking about! I never knew anything about it!" Serra sobbed, as she rocked Marcus gently.

"Leave...her alone!" Ferus cried, as he struggled to get to his feet. The tall, burly man above him smashed his foot into Ferus' back, shoving him to the floor in a world of pain. Serra cried out to him, as he screamed in agony, feeling his ribs break.

"Leave the Jedi scum there to slowly bleed to death. Bring them. The Admiral is anxious to speak to you, Xana," the woman sneered.

"My name is Serra! Serra Keto-Olin!" she spat

"Shut up, you little traitor," the raven haired woman growled, as she grabbed her by the hair and shoved her toward the hovel's exit. The man followed wordlessly, as their ship quickly departed Tatooine...

"I don't know where they were taking them," Ferus said, tears in his eyes.

"This woman: was she dark haired and petite, possibly of Bultar Swan's decent?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes...how do you know that?" Ferus asked.

"She may be Lady Ziya, the woman Anakin and I encountered a few years ago down in The Works," Obi-Wan concluded.

"Investigate Tatooine, we must, if to find any possible clues, we are. Go, Anakin and Obi-Wan should," Yoda said.

"I need to go too. They're my family. I have to find them," Ferus groaned in pain, as he tried to get up.

"Rest for now, you will," Yoda ordered.

"But Master..." Ferus started to protest.

"He's right, Ferus. Once Obi-Wan and I have any kind of lead, then we'll send for you. Believe me, I know how it feels when the woman you love is in danger and your child too. When we think we know where she is, we'll rendevous with you and go after her together," Anakin promised. Ferus nodded in acceptance.

"Thanks Anakin," he replied gratefully.

"Leave at once, you must. Time to lose, we do not have," Yoda stated. Anakin and Obi-Wan nodded, as they all were off to prepare.

Within the next hour, everyone had gathered on the landing pad where Artoo and Arseven were doing the final checks on Anakin and Obi-Wan's Jedi Star Fighters. Obi-wan said his quiet goodbyes to Sola and their daughters, as Anakin did the same.

"You have to leave again?" Leia asked, as he knelt before her and Luke.

"Sorry princess, we've got a friend that's in a lot of danger. Your uncle and I have to go find her, but we'll be back before you know it," he assured her with a kiss to the forehead. Leia nodded and hugged him tightly. He chuckled, as his three youngest children threw their arms around him. He kissed them all.

"I'll be back soon. You three be good for mommy," he told them.

"We'll miss you daddy," Kimberly chirped.

"I'll miss you all too, tiny angel," he said, ruffling her smooth, caramel hair. He finally moved to Luke and hugged his oldest son.

"You're the man of the house until I get back. Help mommy with the younger ones, okay?" Anakin said. He nodded.

"Okay, but they don't listen to me, except Kimmy," Luke said. Anakin smiled and ruffled his sandy blonde hair.

"Yes they do. More than you think," he assured him, as he hugged him, before standing. He wrapped his arms around Padme's waist and pulled her close. She pressed her forehead against his, as they held each other in silence for a few moments.

"I guess that romantic welcome home will have to wait just a little longer," he said.

"Yes...but the wait is always worth it. And I know you'll find her and her son. Bring them home safely and come back to me safely as well," she said.

"Always. Always and forever, angel," he replied, as their lips met in a passionate, tender goodbye kiss. She watched him hop into his Star Fighter. The two ships lifted off and soared into the sky, quickly departing the atmosphere for space.

"Return safe, my love..." she said quietly.

"What is it?" Sate Pestage asked, as Sylo entered his office.

"Our informant on Naboo says that the Gungans recovered a strange artifact in the sea and sent it to Governor Sabe Valerte," Sylo reported.

"Then what are you still doing here? If Lady Ziya has returned, then take our latest android model and go investigate. Find the diary," Pestage ordered.

"Yes sir. Lady Ziya has just returned and has placed the woman and her child in a holding cell," Sylo reported.

"I'll introduce myself to Miss Keto in good time. Leave for Naboo at once," Pestage said.

"Yes sir," Sylo responded, as he went to prepare for departure.

Padme and the children arrived home that evening. They had ate dinner at grandfather's house and then dropped little Natalie off at Bail's, before arriving home. She sent Luke and Leia off to take their baths, grateful that they were now old enough to do so on their own. With Threepio's help, she bathed her three youngest and dressed them in their pajamas. She put her children to bed and then retired herself, silently hoping that Anakin, Obi-Wan, Serra, and her baby were all okay.

The tall, male android looked human and thus Sylo had sent him to the Governor's mansion in the mountain village region on Naboo, while he stayed in orbit of the planet. The man walked up to the door and knocked. A young woman, Bene, answered.

"May I help you?" she asked.

"I need to speak to the Governor," he stated cooly.

"I'm sorry, but Governor Valerte is in Theed today," she replied.

"Then perhaps you can help me," the man sneered, as he shoved his way into the house and slammed the door shut.

"Who are you? Leave now, before I call security!" Bene yelled. She yelped in terror, as the man lifted her up and slammed her against the wall.

"Tell me where the diary is," he demanded.

"What...diary?" she cried. She screamed, as he slapped her, bruising her cheek.

"The one the filthy Gungan brought here. Where is it?" he demanded.

"We...don't have it anymore," she cried.

"How unfortunate for you. Tell me where it is now!" he screamed.

"I...don't know..." she cried. The android wrapped his hand around her neck.

"Talk you little fool or I'll snap your neck," he spat. Fear filled her eyes.

"It was sent to...Senator Skywalker...on Coruscant. Please don't kill me," she pleaded with a sob.

"You know too much," he replied. Bene screamed, as he squeezed her neck. Her scream faded quickly, as her windpipe was crushed. The android threw the body into a table by the far wall and stormed out, putting his comlink to his lips.

"They sent it to Senator Skywalker on Coruscant," he reported.

"Then we should go pay her a visit," Sylo answered...

Anakin and Obi-Wan set down on the outskirts of Mos Espa, several hours later.

"We should check with Watto first and see if he saw any strange people poking around. Then we can head to the hovel and check for clues there," Anakin suggested. Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. They arrived at Watto's shop and found it eerily quiet, like no one had been here in days.

"Watto?" Anakin called, but received no answer.

"Something's not right," Obi-Wan stated. Anakin crept around the counter and looked behind it. He sighed in exasperation, as he found the Toydarians rotting corpse crumpled on the ground.

"Over here. He's dead," Anakin said. Obi-Wan covered his nose and mouth with his cloak against the stench, as he knelt down to examine the body with his gloved hands.

"He has singe marks," Obi-Wan said.

"Force lightning?" Anakin suggested.

"Very probable," Obi-Wan replied.

"They tortured him for information," Anakin decided.

"Likely so. Then killed him when they had what they wanted. His skull was crushed, likely with brute force," Obi-Wan concluded.

"The android," Anakin replied. Anakin put his gloves on and they took Watto's body back into the junkyard behind the shop, burning it and giving him a proper funeral pyre. They soon left and headed back to their ships, before starting for the Jundland Wastes, where the hovel was located...

"Come in," Padme called, as she sat in her office the next day. That morning, Anakin and Obi-Wan had reported that they found Watto dead in his junk shop. They investigated the hovel, but found nothing that could tell them where they possibly took Serra. They had left Tatooine and were headed for the filling station owned by Jagged Antillies, not far from Cato-Neimodia. The plan was to check with Scout, Whie, and Olana, who were stationed there, to see if there had been any strange activity at all. Her office door opened and Elle walked in.

"This just arrived for you milady," Elle said, handing the package to her.

"Thank you Elle," Padme said, as her receptionist exited. Padme tore open the package, revealing it to be a strange leather journal, with a note from Sabe.

Padme, one of the Gungans found this in the sea. The name Sifo-Dyas sounded familiar. I thought you or the Jedi may be able to make more sense of it. –Sabe.

Padme dropped the journal, recoiling in shock. This was what the Imperial Underground wanted! This was what they had kidnapped Serra for! She immediately stuffed it into her shoulder bag. She had to get this to the Temple right away. Her comm beeped and Padme answered it.

"Milady, Queen Organa is here," Elle said.

"Send her in please," Padme answered.

"Mommy!" Jayden called, as he sprinted through the doorway.

"Hi baby, what are you doing here?" she asked, as she picked him up and kissed him.

"Me and Natalie went shopping with Aunt Breha!" he said.

"I hope you don't mind. I went to the Temple to pick Natalie up and Jayden wanted to come with us. Then we came here to see Bail and he wanted to come here of course," she smiled.

"Of course I don't mind. I was just getting ready to head over to the Temple anyway. Thank you for taking him along; you didn't have to," Padme said.

"He and Natalie play so well together. He kept her occupied and I got everything done in record time," Breha replied.

"That's good. Well, wave goodbye to Aunt Breha and Natalie," Padme said.

"Bye bye Natalie! Thank you Aunt Breha!" he called.

"Bye Jayden!" Natalie giggled.

"You're very welcome Jayden. I'll talk to you soon, Padme," Breha replied.

"Okay Breha. Goodbye," Padme said.

"Is we going home, mommy?" Jayden asked.

"Right after we go see great grandpa at the Temple. Then we'll get your brother and sisters and go home then, okay?" she asked.

"Okay," he chirped. She kissed his cheek and they left for the landing pad.

"Are you ready to go home?" she asked, as they walked to the speeder, his little hand in her own, as they entered the darkened speeder hanger at the Senate building.

"Uh huh," Jayden said, as he stopped in his tracks.

"What's the matter sweetheart?" she asked.

"Let's go back inside mommy," he said, tugging her arm.

"What? Baby, what's wrong?" she asked.

"There's a bad man!" Jayden cried. Padme looked in the direction of her speeder and gasped. A tall Neimodian stood there and Captain Typho was laying unconscious on the ground. Padme picked her little boy up and started to run in the other direction, but crashed into what felt like a wall of durasteel. It almost knocked Padme down and she scrambled to hold her balance, while holding Jayden close.

"Where's the diary?" the android demanded.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Padme replied. She yelped, as he ripped the shoulder bag from her, tearing her sleeve as he did so. He dumped the contents onto the permacrete and plucked the leather book from her things. Padme glared at him.

"Fine. You have what you want. Now leave us alone!' Padme yelled.

"Oh no, Senator. I'm afraid you and your brat are coming with us. My boss will enjoy dangling you both in front of your husband. We have the chance of a lifetime before us. The wife and son of the Chosen One will please the Master immensely. Then when he comes for you, we'll be ready and finally destroy him," Sylo sneered.

"You're a fool if you think this wall of metal and wires is any match for my husband," Padme spat. Sylo laughed.

"We shall see, Senator," he smirked.

"Yes...we will," Padme said, as she lunged forward and kicked him in the abdomen. He doubled over in pain, as Padme began running with Jayden in her arms.

"Get her!" Sylo roared. The android stopped her and ripped Jayden from her arms.

"Mommy!" he cried.

"Jayden!" Padme screamed. She yelped in agony, as the android struck her on the back. She fell forward, unconscious, on the permacrete below.

"Mommy! Why'd you hit my mommy!" Jayden screamed.

"Shut up kid," the android snapped, as he scooped the young mother up. Sylo seemed satisfied, as they boarded his ship and took off.

Scout and Whie both sighed, looking dejectedly at the two Masters who had come to visit them.

"I'm sorry we don't have more," Whie said.

"It's all right Whie. We both knew this was a long shot," Obi-Wan replied.

"But you said that the Neimodian Viceroy, this Sylo Ma'jal, passed through here just recently," Anakin stated.

"Yes, just yesterday. He seemed anxious and in a hurry to get refueled, so they could be on their way," Whie said.

"They?" Anakin asked.

"There was a man with him. A human, or at least he looked human," Scout replied.

"It could have been an android," Anakin said, looking at Obi-Wan.

"Perhaps," Obi-Wan replied.

"Come on Obi-Wan. Since when does a Neimodian hang around with a human. They hate humans," Anakin said.

"He has a point," Whie added.

"Okay, if it was indeed an android that he had with him, then we would need to know where they were going," Obi-Wan said.

"Those files are encrypted to most employees. Most patrons like to keep their information confidential, so Mr. Antillies has the destination logs encrypted," Whie explained. Anakin smirked.

"Encrypted to us maybe, but I'm sure it's nothing Artoo can't get around," Anakin said, patting the droid's dome. He whirred affirmatively.

"Go find a terminal and log into it. See what you can find out about where Sylo Ma'jal was going," he told Artoo. The droid clicked and beeped in response, as he rolled away to do so. Suddenly, a really bad feeling swept over Anakin. He closed his eyes and reached out to Padme. He could feel her fear. She was afraid. Something was wrong.

"Anakin...Anakin what is it?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Padme...she's in danger..." he uttered, as Artoo rolled back to him, stomping his feet in urgency, clicking and whirring.

"What's he saying?" Obi-Wan asked.

"He has a urgent message from grandfather and the Council," Anakin replied.

"Patch it through, Artoo," he ordered. Yan Dooku's solemn face appeared on the holocom on the terminal next to them.

"Grandfather, what's going on. It's Padme, isn't it?" he asked immediately.

"I'm afraid so Ani. She and Jayden have been abducted," Yan replied.

"Jayden too?" he asked. He nodded.

"He was with Queen Organa and her daughter earlier today and she dropped him off at Padme's office. They were taken in the speeder hanger at the Senate building. Captain Typho was shot by blaster fire, but the Neimodian was a bad shot and he's recovering in the Med Ward," Yan said.

"Sylo Ma'jal and his android took her, didn't they," Anakin said.

"We think so, but how do you know about Sylo?" Dooku asked.

"Whie and Scout say he passed through here yesterday with a human looking man. We were just trying to find out where they were going," Anakin replied.

"You don't have to, because they went to Naboo," Yan responded. Their eyes widened.

"Naboo? What in blazes would he go there for? A Neimodian would never get past the notice of the Royal Guard," Obi-Wan replied.

"He sent the android down. I have just spoken to Sabe and it appears that a few days ago, she received an old, leather bound diary that a Gungan had found in the sea. She didn't remember where she had heard the name Sifo-Dyas before, so she sent it to Padme, thinking that we could make more sense of it," Yan said.

"Padme had the diary?" Anakin exclaimed.

"Yes, she must have received the delivery this afternoon. We think she was on her way to the Temple to bring it to us when they got to her first. I am terribly sorry Anakin," Yan said, shaking his head in grief.

"It's not your fault, grandfather. Now, we just have to figure out where they would be taking her. I have a feeling it's the same place where Serra is," Anakin said.

"Have Artoo find out what type of ship the Viceroy had and we'll put out a galaxy wide alert. Every Jedi on patrol will be on the lookout for it," Dooku said.

"Artoo, do you have the ship model?" Anakin asked. He whirred affirmatively and relayed the information, letting Anakin read it on the translator.

"It's an A class Neimodian cruiser, but that won't do us any good while they're in hyperspace. You don't think he's taking them to Cato-Neimodia?" Anakin said, his eyes widening in terror. The Neimodians hated Padme with a vengeance.

"Highly unlikely. If he's working with the Imperial Underground, then they want her alive, so they can use her against you," Obi-Wan replied.

"He's right Ani," Dooku said. Anakin put his hands on the console and sighed deeply, trying to calm his emotions. He saw the transmission blip and Dooku looked to the controls.

"We have another transmission coming in," Dooku said. Suddenly, Anakin's grandfather and the Council disappeared from their vision and Sylo Ma'jal was in their place. Anakin clenched his teeth in anger, as the Neimodian's lips curled into a cruel smile.

"Greetings, Chosen scum. I am Sylo Ma'jal and I believe I have something of great value to you," he hissed, as he pulled Padme into view. She whimpered, as he put a long, slim blade to her throat.

"What do you want? You have the diary, now let her and my son go!" Anakin roared. He laughed.

"I'm afraid she is much too valuable for us to do that. Now, listen carefully. You will come to...Mustafar and you will come alone, if you ever want to see them alive again. And do not think I am joking, because nothing would give me greater pleasure than slitting her pretty throat...and the brat's too," he sneered.

"Fine, I'll be there and I'll come alone. Just don't hurt her or my son," Anakin pleaded.

"Good man. We shall be expecting you, Master Skywalker," he hissed, as the transmission went dark.

"There's no way in bloody hell I'm letting you go alone," Obi-Wan said, as Dooku and the Council appeared again.

"He's right Anakin, it is a trap," Qui-Gon said, looking at his son.

"It doesn't matter. They have Padme and my son. They hold all the chips," Anakin replied.

"Not entirely," Obi-Wan said.

"What do you mean?" Anakin asked.

"Well, you will go in alone. But the rest of us will be right behind you," Obi-Wan said. Anakin sighed.

"Fine, just be careful though. I can't take the chance that he'll make good on his threat. Be discreet," Anakin pleaded. Obi-Wan smirked.

"They won't even know we're there," he replied.

"Obi-Wan, we'll get Ferus and rendevous with you in orbit of Mustafar. It is likely that this is also where Serra and her son are," Dooku said.

"Understood," Obi-Wan nodded.

"May the Force be with you both," Dooku said.

"And you," Anakin replied, as the transmission went dark again.

"Let's go Artoo," Anakin ordered, as he strode purposefully toward the landing pad where his Star Fighter sat in waiting...