In-Between B -o- Kidnapped
Anakin wasn't even half way home when he realized something was off, that there was something going on. He stopped his speeder bike and closed his eyes looking into the force, trying to find out what was wrong. In his mind's eye he could see his and Padme's small home, a gift from her parents; it looked fine from the outside. But he could feel it, something was happening inside the house, something very, very bad.
'Anakin!' he heard Padme scream out seconds before her mouth was roughly covered with someone's hand. His eyes snapped open and he shot off towards his house hoping it was a vision, hoping it hadn't happened yet. He made it home in little more than ten minutes, faster than he normally would have. But as soon as he stepped off the bike he knew he was too late. He rushed into the house running from the kitchen to the living room calling out for her.
"Padme!" He screamed taking in the turned over furniture and the broken lamp on the floor. There was blood on one of the pieces lying on the floor and when he blinked he could see Padme slashing it across the hand that was holding her mouth shut. He closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing. She wasn't dead, he was sure of that much, he would have felt it if she was dead. He looked around the room, knowing there was something there he needed to see, but he wasn't sure what. He was positive, without a shadow of a doubt that this was not the work of the bounty hunter Obi-Wan and Elisa were chasing, how and why he was so sure was beyond him.
He found an unfamiliar holopad sitting on the arm of the upturned couch, waiting for him. He bent down and picked it up, trying to reach out and see who had placed it there, but he couldn't see anything. He turned it over a few times in his hands as he tried to work on controlling the anger and grief working its way into his chest. He took two deep calming breaths and ran his hand through his hair before he looked down at the holopad again. He opened his palm and placed it right side up and pushed play. A small cloaked figure shimmered into view with his back to Anakin; he turned the holopad and looked down at the hidden man.
"So much for her Jedi protector" The chilly voice mocked and Anakin felt a shiver run down his spine at the voice. It was so familiar, and yet he couldn't place it. "Tell no one, contact no one, her life lays in your hands now Skywalker. Don't bother looking, there are no clues, and don't try a scrambled call, I will know. For now you are to go to Dantooine and wait for me there, we will discuss what it is going to take to get your wife back, alive. Keep this with you, I will be in touch."
The figure disappeared and Anakin had to resist the urge to throw the little holopad across the room. This was his only link to finding her and he had to keep it safe, he slipped into a pocket in his pants. He hurried out to his and Padme's ship and began to prepare to leave.
-o-o-o-o-
"Come on Obi-Wan," Buffy said jumping out of the speeder. Obi-Wan was at her heels as they headed down the hall towards the main hangar where the starships were.
"We need to inform the council of what's going on and-
"Screw the council," Buffy told him, when he began to hesitate she grabbed his hand and pulled him along after her. "All they'll do is tell you to go after her."
"Actually they'll-
"We're just skipping a step here, it'll be faster." Buffy assured him interrupting him on purpose, she was fully aware of how these councils worked. If they had even the slightest inkling of Obi-Wan and Siri's past they wouldn't let him go after her. They'd send someone else, and it would kill him. So Buffy was going to make him break the rules, just this once.
"Elisa, we need clearance to take a starship." Obi-Wan told her. She turned and a mischievous smile graced her face. She pulled something out of her tunic and held it out to him.
"We already have clearance," She explained as he took the small datapad from her. He read it over and then looked up at her, how had she managed this? "I was planning on taking you to Naboo for your...what do you guys call it...Lifeday." She shrugged her shoulders as they continued on, a little faster now Buffy noticed.
"But still we really should at least contact the council and-
"Nope." Buffy said shaking her head. "As far as they know we're going after the bounty hunter right?" Obi-Wan nodded his head and Buffy smirked in triumph. "Well, that's just what we're doing."
Obi-Wan opened his mouth to argue with her but could find no fault in her plan. They were, after all, still on the same assignment, it had just taken a bit of an unexpected turn. And if he was honest with himself he knew that if the council knew they'd take him off the case, and he couldn't have that. Even if he hadn't seen Siri in years, and even if she wasn't now what she had been years ago, he still needed to see this through. So he let her talk him out of contacting the council.
-o-o-o-o-
Padme blinked her eyes against the harsh light shining in her eyes. She tried to sit up but found that something was holding her down to the bed she was laying on. The events of the day before came flooding into her mind as she remembered that she wasn't safe at home. Her whole body was bound to the bed with some kind of metal and fabric straps, three in total. She lifted her head and took inventory of herself. She was still in her day dress, and she didn't seem to be hurt too badly anywhere. She smiled when she realized she was still wearing all her jewelry as well, they had taken the small knife she had taken to wearing on her ankle, but she was still wearing both bracelets, ah; thank the force that she had a genius husband. Now all she had to do was get the bracelets off one-handed, couldn't be too hard.
-o-o-o-o-o-
"You have her secure?" Sidious asked looking down at the small holopad. The bounty hunter nodded his head a nasty smile on his face. "Do not kill her, I-
"But you said-
"He must see her die!" Sidious demanded and the small holo figure nodded his head quickly the pout fading from his face.
"Of course," The bounty hunter said the nasty smirk back in place. "It will be done; he is on his way now."
"Good" Sidious told him nodding his head a sneer firmly planted on his face. "It must happen in front of him, do not fail me in this."
"Of course," The bounty hunter said nodding his head before he disappeared. The holopad beeped again and he smiled down at it before turning it on.
"Magus" Sidious said and the small figure smirked up at him. "You are doing quite the job of keeping them distracted."
"Thank you" Magus bowed slightly. "They are both on their way towards Adega."
"Have you intercepted all their calls to her?" Sidious asked sitting back in his chair as he turned to look out the window at the city below.
"I have, all their warnings have fallen on deaf ears." Magus reported smirking at the nod of approval he got.
"Find her, and keep them out of my way."
"Will do" Magus nodded his head before he too disappeared from sight. Everything was going according to plan now. He would not fail to bring young Skywalker to his side of the fight.
-o-o-o-o-o-
"Why isn't she answering?" Obi-Wan demanded in frustration as they flew through space. He had to resist the urge to bash his fist into the control panel.
"Maybe we're not close enough yet." He looked up startled as Buffy walked into the room. She walked over so she was standing behind his chair and put her hand on his shoulder and smiled as she felt some of the frustration ease away. "She's a big girl Obi-Wan, a Jedi even, I'm sure she can handle herself. Stop worrying."
"I know" he said nodding his head looking up over the chair at her, "We're still so far away, and I feel a little…"
"Helpless?" Buffy supplied and he nodded his head. Buffy walked over to the copilot's seat and sat down. They had gotten a slightly bigger ship this time around, one with lots of room to move around in. Buffy leaned back in the chair, pulled her knees up to her chest and looked over her shoulder at Obi-Wan. She had to get his mind off of what was going on right now. They couldn't get there any faster than they were, and thinking about it was not going to help him.
"When I was sixteen I found out that there was a prophecy about me." Obi-Wan looked over at her, surprised by the sudden change in topic. "The prophecy said that this big bad vampire, the Master, was going to kill me." Buffy smiled at the confusion on his face and nodded her head. "And where I'm from we take…well they take prophecies pretty seriously." Obi-Wan nodded his head as she looked forward and out at the darkness of space. He understood now what she was doing, she was opening up to him, to get his mind off the now. "I was only sixteen, and I didn't want to die." Buffy closed her eyes and could see herself back then, so young, not quite strong enough yet to be willing to give up her own life for that of another. Obi-Wan nodded his head finding himself pulled into her story despite his worry.
"And did you?" he asked and Buffy looked over at him a small smile on her face. She nodded her head and sat forward uncurling her legs as she went.
"Prophecies are funny things though." Buffy mused thinking back to her vision of Obi-Wan and Anakin fighting on the river of lava. "It's so hard to read them right. It said I would die, and I did. But it failed to mention that my best friend would bring me back to life. It said that the Master would rise, freed from his underground prison he was magically bound to, and he did. But it didn't say that I would kill him, and I did."
"The prophecy said I'd die and the master would rise. But if I hadn't gone to kill him before he could kill me he wouldn't have been able to kill me and then he wouldn't have been able to leave his prison. But then I wouldn't have been able to kill him. In the end, I think, prophecies are only as good as the belief you put in them."
They sat in silence for a while. Buffy was sure there was some kind of prophecy surrounding Anakin; she just wasn't sure what it was. She remembered Obi-Wan yelling at Anakin after he'd- Buffy shook her head cutting off that line of thought, she didn't want to remember that. But she remembered the words, so full of anger and pain, 'You were The Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy The Sith, not join them! It was you who would bring balance to The Force, not leave it in Darkness!' Buffy looked up in surprise as Obi-Wan jumped up out of his seat and looked down at her, his face covered in shock and fear.
"What?" Buffy asked standing up and looking around. Had he felt something, had she missed something?
"That..." He trailed off looking at her, his face had now gone ash white and he looked like he might be ill. "That was me."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Anakin sat in the back of his starship, his eyes closed and his breathing slow and shallow. He was trying to reach out to Obi-Wan. This man, whoever he was, couldn't possibly know if he mentally contacted Obi-Wan, and he had to at least try. But so far he was coming up short, Obi-Wan was either to tied to Elisa now, or he was somehow blocking his mind completely. He tried again, sending out a call for help.
'Obi-Wan, are you there?' He waited a few seconds but got nothing. 'Padme has been kidnapped; I'm on my way to Dantooine right now.' He shook his head in frustration as he opened his eyes. He refused to get angry; he knew he had to stay calm, to trust in the force and in Padme. He fingered the ring on his hand, the cool metal surprisingly comforting. And then a smile broke out on his face as he stood up. Padme's bracelets, he had almost forgotten she had them. He smiled as he remembered making them for her, it had been her idea…
'Do you think you could?' She asked leaning over his shoulder looking at the idea she had drawn up for him. He looked over his shoulder at her a wide smirk on his face. 'I mean, after being chained to a podium and almost being eaten by a Nexu I think some kind of lock pick might be a good idea.'
'Padme, you are a genius.' Anakin said looking back down at the plans. 'Shouldn't take me too long to set this up, I can even add a few things, make them less detectable.'
"Wonderful.' Padme said kissing him on the top of the head. 'I'll leave you to it then, have fun.' Anakin nodded his head and she smiled knowing he was already half absorbed in the ideas.
At the time it had seemed a good idea, an unnecessary idea, but a good one. It had only taken him a week and a half to put it together, and he had added a few extra touches. Mostly to help her, but there was a touch of pretty he had added, for her. It gave him an extra push of hope and strength to know she had them, that she was possibly at this moment working on her own rescue. Anakin walked back to the pilot seat with a small smile on his face. Whoever had her better watch out; she was not fun when she was angry.
-o-o-o-o-
"What?" Buffy asked shaking her head, already ready to deny whatever it was he'd heard.
"In your head, you…I was…" He took a step back as he realized what it was that he had seen. He too began to shake his head, deny what he had just seen. "What was that?!" He demanded blinking his eyes as if trying to rid himself of the sight.
"I'm sorry" Buffy whispered taking a step towards him. "It was, not something you were suppose to see, I-
"Is that the future?" He asked her, his voice shaky as his eyes met hers in an intense stare. Buffy cursed herself, she was not used to this, after six months it was still easy for her to forget, if she wasn't careful he could see everything. And now, now she'd have to show him everything, and tell him everything. Well, that would take his mind off everything going on now for sure.
"Damn it." Buffy cursed shocked by the anger on Obi-Wan's face. "It doesn't have to be, let me explain."
"That's what you were talking about 'I know some things, about your future, I can't tell you though because I'm not supposed to.'"
"Wow, you have a really good memory." Buffy said and Obi-Wan's face darkened just a little. 'Ok, not good'
"Damn right it's not good." Buffy flinched at his words; she hadn't been guarding herself still. She pulled up her blocks and took a step away from Obi-Wan.
"Look, I told you, the Powers That Be, they gave me a mission, I came here to help, you still believe that right?" She asked her voice pleading. If he no longer trusted her, they were going to have even bigger problems here. Obi-Wan took a second longer than she would have liked to nod his head.
"I can show you, you won't like it, it may, color your thoughts about-
"Anakin" Obi-Wan whispered and she nodded her head slowly. "I saw, just a little, your mind, it cut off the thought before-
"Yeah, it's not a pretty scene." Buffy told him walking a little farther away. There was something coming off of Obi-Wan now, it wasn't quite distrust, but it was making her eyes water up and she didn't want him to see her cry. "Are you sure you want to see?" She took a breath and blinked the tears away before she turned around to face him. "I mean, this could wait till-
"No." Obi-Wan said shaking his head taking two long steps so that he was right in front of her. "We need to do this now." Buffy looked down at the controls, there were still at least three hours before they'd reach Adega. She looked back up at Obi-Wan and nodded her head once. She knew though, no matter what happened after this, things would be different. She reached out and placed her hands on his temples and he did the same to her, they both closed their eyes and Buffy took a deep breath. He'd done this once with her a few months ago, to show her Anakin as a child, it had been a very nice experience, she was sure it wouldn't be this time.
Buffy opened her mind, just far enough so he could see the memory. Buffy could smell the sulfur and it made her gag as she opened her eyes. Obi-Wan was now standing next to her, his arms hanging limply at his sides. Buffy didn't want to watch, she didn't want to see this again, but she turned and looked anyway, she didn't want him to watch this alone. The heat from the lava was incredible, hotter than anything she'd ever felt before. It only took a second for her eyes to find the two figures clashing lightsabers down the river bank a ways.
"It's over, Anakin! I have the high ground!" Obi-Wan yelled looking out into the lava where Anakin was, floating on something in the middle of the lava. Obi-Wan took a step forward and moved before Buffy could tell him he couldn't move. But, apparently, in her memory she could get closer. She followed behind Obi-Wan as he walked towards them.
"You underestimate my power!" Anakin screamed back, his eyes were wild and there was a fierce edge to them Buffy had never seen before, and hoped never to see again.
"Don't try it." Obi-Wan begged, and now Buffy could hear the pleading edge to his voice, the love and fear in his voice that she hadn't been able to hear before, back when she hadn't known these two men. Buffy reached out and took Obi-Wan's hand and again had to blink back tears as Anakin took that leap into the air. She closed her eyes, unable to watch it again; she heard Obi-Wan, her Obi-Wan, cry out as the other Obi-Wan cut Anakin's legs out from under him.
"You were The Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy The Sith, not join them! It was you who would bring balance to The Force, not leave it in Darkness!" Obi-Wan screamed at him now moving slowly up the river bank. There were tears streaming down his face as he bent and picked up Anakin's lightsaber. He shook his head and ran, unable to watch as Anakin burned.
Buffy stumbled backwards as Obi-Wan pulled out of the memory quickly. She almost fell but she caught herself on the chair next to her. Obi-Wan was shaking his head, over and over again, just shaking his head. There were tears in his eyes and a look of utter shock on his face.
"I..." he trailed off looking up at Buffy. His eyes looked haunted as he stared at her. "I..." His voice hitched and Buffy moved quickly to him.
"You didn't, you won't." Buffy assured him as she reached up and wiped away the tears that had escaped. "That's not going to happen."
"But-
"No." Buffy said vehemently shaking her head. "You listen to me; I came here to change that." She said taking his face in her hand. "I came here to help him. To stop that. It will never happen. Do you hear me? Never." Buffy whispered the last word. Obi-Wan still looked lost, and very, very sad.
"Did you see his face?" Obi-Wan asked his voice low as he reached up and moved her hand. She nodded her head now afraid she may cry if she opened her mouth. "We won't let that happen." He told her and she nodded her head quickly. Buffy took a breath and when she was steady again she spoke.
"I'm sorry you had to see it." She whispered and he looked her in the eyes. Any distrust she may have felt coming from him was gone. Buffy couldn't help but notice that he hadn't let go of her hand yet.
"Better that I know what we're up against." His voice held a hard edge to it, an edge that had not been there half an hour ago. But his eyes softened after a moment and he pulled her into a hug. Buffy held onto him as she made herself regroup.
"I'm sorry you had to carry that alone" Obi-Wan said finally when he pulled away and dropped her hand. Buffy tried to smile a little and shrugged.
"I'm used to it." She said and he nodded his head. He didn't doubt it for a second, but she needed to learn that she didn't have to hold this stuff alone anymore, now she had him.
"Elisa, you can tell me anything, I promise." Obi-Wan told her and Buffy smiled at him, for real now. Of course she knew better, there were something's she couldn't tell him, and every time she remembered that it broke her heart just a little.
"There's nothing else," Buffy said shaking her head as she swallowed hard. "That's all I've been carrying, really." Obi-Wan nodded his head and Buffy walked back over to the controls, still almost two hours left. "Maybe you should go meditate, regroup?"
"Are you sure-
"I won't touch any of the controls, I promise" Obi-Wan smiled at her and nodded his head. He needed to get his head straightened out.
"I won't be long." Buffy nodded her head and he turned and walked out the door towards the back. Buffy sank into the copilot's seat and sighed. She put up all her blocks again, she couldn't let anything else slip this time, no more screw ups.
-o-o-o-o-o-
Buffy was leaning back in her chair her feet up on the controls and her eyes closed. Obi-Wan had taken that...well. Surprisingly well considering. But Buffy was a little concerned over the second of hesitation before Obi-Wan agreed that he still trusted her. Having his trust, especially now, was very important. Him not trusting her could get them both killed, not to mention Siri. She sighed and tried to relax.
"Elisa?" Buffy jumped out of her seat as she hastily got to her feet and began o reach for her lightsaber at the seemingly familiar voice.
"Obi-Wan?" She asked looking around. But there was no one there. But she had heard someone say her name. She took a few steps forward looking around her as she went. "Master?" She called quietly.
'Elisa?' Buffy knew that voice, and it wasn't Obi-Wan's. She shook her head, sure she must be hearing voices, well obviously she was hearing voices, but she wasn't sure if she was really hearing voices. 'Can you hear me?'
'Um...yes?' She thought still trying to puzzle things together in her head.
'Finally.' Anakin thought and Buffy was taken back.
'Can you do this with anyone?' Buffy thought heading back towards where Obi-Wan was. Whatever Anakin had to say she was sure he'd want to hear it. Speaking of which, why hadn't he just contacted Obi-Wan?
'No.' Anakin thought back and Buffy was surprised by how, nervous he sounded. 'Is Obi-Wan alright?'
'He's...fine.' Buffy hadn't meant to hesitate, but she wasn't exactly sure how he was now. 'He's meditating. Why?'
'I couldn't get a hold of him.' Anakin thought and Buffy smiled when she finally found him. His legs crossed in a way she thought didn't look very comfortable.
'Why not just com us?' Buffy sat down in front of him and had to resist the urge to reach out and push his much longer hair out of his face.
'I can't, look Elisa...Something's happened.' Buffy could hear the fear and worry in his mind now, what had happened?
'Padme?' Buffy thought the smile fading from her face as the confirmation came in not words but images. Anakin's house in Naboo, the living room looked ransacked, something had happened all right. 'Where is she?'
'She's been kidnapped, a bounty hunter. I think he's after a ransom.' Buffy grimaced at the thought of Padme, locked up and alone.
'Where are you?' she asked trying to remember how to pull Obi-Wan from his meditation without hurting him.
'Coming up on Dantooine.' He must have sensed her confusion because he went on. 'It's near Tatooine.'
'Your home planet.' Buffy thought and she could actually see him nod his head. This whole mind talking still creeped her out a little, at least, doing it all the time did. 'We'll be there as soon as we find Siri.'
'Siri?' Anakin asked sounding very surprised.
'She's in a little bit of danger, some bounty hunter named-
'Magus?' Anakin said and Buffy rolled her eyes. Buffy wondered if she was projecting or if Anakin had a history with this bounty hunter too.
'Figures you'd know.' Buffy thought shaking her head. 'Are you ok?' She knew he'd know exactly what she was talking about.
'I trust her; she can look out for herself.' Buffy nodded her head and softly tried reaching out to Obi-Wan's mind like he had shown her.
'Wait.' Anakin said before she could fully reach Obi-Wan. Buffy pulled her mind back and sent a mental glare at Anakin. 'Don't tell him, he's probably worried enough about Siri, and for now there's not much you can do.'
'Are you sure?' Buffy asked watching as Obi-Wan opened his eyes a little, he must have felt her before she fully pulled away.
'Yes, as soon as Siri's safe, promise me you won't tell him before.' Anakin asked and Buffy sighed, like she needed another thing to keep from Obi-Wan.
'Ok, unless it becomes dire that he know.' Buffy thought smiling at Obi-Wan. Buffy felt Anakin begin to pull away. 'Anakin.' She called and she felt him snap back.
'Yes?' He asked.
She sent him a reassuring mental smile 'May the force be with you.'
'May the force be with you too Elisa, good luck.' Anakin said then was gone. Buffy leaned back as Obi-Wan came fully awake and she shook her head.
"Hello" Obi-Wan said and Buffy smiled at him.
"Hi" She said standing back up and looking down at him. "We're about an hour out."
"Thanks" He said standing up as well. He seemed more at ease now, calmer. She hoped his meditating had helped.
-o-o-o-o-
Anakin sat with his back to a wall as his eyes scanned the small seedy bar he was sitting in. After his talk with Elisa he had received a communication from this bounty hunter. All he had said was the name of this bar and a time. So here he was, watching and waiting. He wasn't sure what to expect but the small red-headed woman was not it.
"Hello." She all but purred at him as she lightly rested her chin in her hands. "You look a little lost." Her eyes were sweet and held a little bit of a flirtiness to them.
"I'm not." Anakin said his eyes still scanning the bar. "I'm expecting someone so-
"You're looking for me." She told him, the sweetness gone in a flash. "You didn't honestly think he'd come in person, did you?"
"Who are you?" Anakin demanded as he took in everything about her. She didn't look very threatening, but if he had learned one thing in his years with Obi-Wan, it was never judge on appearances.
"You can call me Belle." She said signaling the waitress that passed by. "I'll have Twisted Top and he'll have-
"Nothing." Anakin snapped never taking his eyes off this woman, Belle. Belle shrugged her shoulders and smirked at him. "Where is she?" He demanded as soon as the waitress walked away. "What is it he wants?"
"Revenge." She stated simply as she leaned back in her chair.
"For what?" Anakin asked raking his mind for where he knew that voice from. Who was this bounty hunter, and why was he after him?
"Past wrongs, why does anyone what revenge?" She smiled sweetly as the waitress dropped off her drink.
"He must want something." Anakin said, hating the pleading that was creeping into his voice.
"Oh he does." She said leaning forward over her drink. "But it's not something you're going to be willing to give."
"What is it?" Anakin demanded his fear and anger growing.
"A life for a life." She said her eyes going hard as the smirk on her face twisted into a feral snarl. "He wants the Jedi, Elisa, delivered to him, alive and well."
"I don't...why?" Anakin asked as his eyes went wide and she laughed.
"He wants to look her in the eyes." She said leaning back as a small smile took over her face. "And then cut off her head."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"What is this place exactly?" Buffy asked as soon as they were off the starship.
"It was a mining colony" Obi-Wan told her as they walked across the lush green ground. It was dark, almost too dark since there was no moon out. "The Adegan crystals in your-
"Oh!" Buffy said grabbing her lightsaber. "They're the crystals that make this work." She nodded her head and smiled at him. "What was Siri doing here?"
"It was a classified mission, it didn't say in the mission log." Obi-Wan said as they moved through the woods quietly.
"Is she here? I mean, can you...feel her?" Buffy asked lowering her voice as they walked.
"No" As Buffy's face fell Obi-Wan shook his head and clarified. "I mean I can't feel her. I'm tracking her holocom."
"You can do that?" She asked looking down at the small device Obi-Wan was holding. She clipped her lightsaber back on her belt then regretted it as she felt him stiffen.
"What?" She asked her voice a low whisper.
"We're almost there." Obi-Wan said trying to keep his voice level as they moved. Buffy could hear the worry in his voice though. And she was sure that Siri wasn't the only thing he was worrying about now. 'Good one Summers' Buffy thought to herself placing her hand on her lightsaber when Obi-Wan did the same.
"It should be just on the other side of this river." Buffy looked down at the water, she hadn't even noticed they had come up on it. She nodded her head and started to cross. Obi-Wan followed behind her, both of them were keeping their eyes peeled wide, looking for anything that might move.
They crept up the side of the riverbank slowly, on high alert. Buffy took a deep breath and could smell the scent of smoke.
'Someone's had a fire' she thought looking back at Obi-Wan. He nodded his head and they both started up the side of the embankment. It didn't take them long to get to where Siri had camped.
"I'm sorry." Buffy said looking around at the small camp. It was empty, and looked thoroughly trashed. There had been a struggle, and by the looks of it a lightsaber fight. There were a few small bushes with the tops seared clean off.
"She's alive." Obi-Wan said and Buffy nodded her head. "I would know."
"I don't doubt it." Buffy agreed with him as she walked forward a few steps. There had to be something here, something to show them what their next step should be. She began to look through the few things on the ground. The small things Siri traveled with, the necessities.
"Elisa." Buffy turned and walked over to Obi-Wan, he was kneeling down next to something. She looked over his shoulder and saw the small holopad sitting there in front of him.
"Another message?" Buffy asked kneeling down next to him.
"Another taunt." Obi-Wan growled. Buffy nodded her head; she knew just what he meant.
"We'll find her." Buffy said putting her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her; there was an understanding in his eyes that scared her a little.
"Not until he wants us to, not until he's ready." Obi-Wan picked up the holopad and stood up, Buffy following right behind him.
"Do you want to listen to it now?" Buffy asked and he shook his head pocketing the small holopad.
"Let's get back to the ship first, be on our way off this planet." Buffy nodded her head and followed him out. She knew Obi-Wan was beginning to see this mystery better than she was. She understood what he meant though, this bounty hunter, this Magus; he was definitely calling the shots, for now.
A/N- Sorry for the wait. It's just been a little slow in the coming. Took a while for the juices to flow. :-) Hope you guys like it. Sorry it's so short, the next chapy will be longer, promise. Let me know what you think!