Many thanks for the reviews/favorites/follows!
And now, I present chapter two.
Alex slowly opened his eyes.
He was in a metal room. Four walls, box-shaped, with a bright overhead light on the ceiling and a floor made of grates. They were gray, with small holes to allow air in and out of the room. A bright red light shone from below, casting eerie webbed shadows on the walls. The doorway...well, there wasn't exactly a door. A reddish-pink beam stretched across the doorway, seemingly unsafe to touch.
Alex jiggled his hands, and growled in frustration. His wrists were bound together with blue bands of neon light that vaguely resembled a glowstick. His ankles were free, which was fairly unusual for his experience with captors. They'd have him tied to a chair, or handcuffed, with supports to keep the teen from lashing or kicking out. This obviously wasn't an ordinary captor.
And then Alex remembered the elderly man, and the silver cylinder. The invisible hand that had clamped around his throat, claiming his consciousness. The husky barking at the same elderly man on the streets. Dogs would sense when something wasn't right, and go crazy as a result. That husky must've known something was off about the man.
Alex remembered the pocketknife in his pocket, and rolled over on his right side, hoping to feel the small weapon. The elderly man must've taken it, he figured, sitting back up as best as he could. His next plan of action: find a way out of the glowstick handcuffs.
Alex yanked his wrists apart, but they snapped back together, bound by the handcuffs. He tried again, getting the same annoying result each time. Soon, his wrists were covered with little red burn marks. Alex didn't notice, nor did he care. He pulled his knees to his body, and tried to slip the cuffs off with his feet. The Converse soon had brown scorch streaks on the white rubber.
The teen cursed under his breath, and was about to try it again when the shimmery pink wall disappeared. In walked a strange robot, with a series of box shapes forming its body. "The count would like to speak with you," it said in a monotone voice. The robot held out an appendage, with a metal disk. A blue holographic image appeared on the disk. It was the elderly man, with his cape. This time, Alex could see his regal-looking uniform, of a tunic and pants, with boots to complete the ensemble. On his belt hung the cylinder.
"What do you want?" Alex spat, proceeding in his plan to free his hands from the cuffs.
"I wanted to talk to you, young child."
The image flickered as he spoke, his voice distorted by the device. "About a proposition. However, I would like to know how you are enjoying the accommodations."
"It's lovely, thanks." Alex knew that sarcasm wouldn't help him at all, and in past experiences it only got him into a bigger pickle, but he was in a sour mood already. "I could live here the rest of my life."
The man folded his arms, a line of impatience stretching across his face. "That is good to hear."
"Can I go home, please?" said Alex. "My guardian is very worried about me, and I wouldn't want her to think I was dead."
"Oh, don't worry. We already took care of that." A sinister smile replaced the irritated expression. Alex felt sick to his stomach. What could this old man possibly do to Jack?
"I suggest you cooperate, or the stakes will be worse." As if he'd read his mind, the man offered another smile. Alex shuddered. "What do you want with me, then?"
"Simple." The man took a deep breath. "Not too long ago, a conflict arose in our galaxy. Worlds fought other worlds, in a battle to gain dominance and reign over the many systems our sentients call home. In the center of it all," he looked Alex in the eye for his next two words, "the Republic."
"Galaxy? Republic? Systems?" Alex was spouting with questions. "Where AM I?!"
"Settle down." The man held up his hands. "You are no longer on Earth. You are in a new galaxy, with a new life. My apprentice," he said, showing Alex the cylinder, "will learn to fight well."
"YOUR apprentice?" Alex was dumbfounded at the idea that he was in another galaxy. It'd take YEARS and YEARS of travel to leave the Milky Way!
"You see, there is my offer. Become my apprentice. I am running low on assassins, and my current one isn't as good as she used to be. It is a good offer. I wouldn't decline it if I were you."
"I can't," said Alex. "I've already promised myself I wouldn't get involved in this type of business anymore. I have to go home. Now."
"You haven't considered your housekeeper, have you?" He chuckled. "Jack, isn't that correct?"
"What did you do to her?" Alex struggled harder, but failed at freeing himself from the bonds. "I won't join you if you've hurt her!"
"I'll give you two hours, Rider. Two hours to decide." The hologram stood, letting his cape spin as he disappeared. Alex shouted after him, but it was too late.
"Think wisely," said the droid, as it left the cell. Alex sat back down with a huff, and began to curse everything he could think of.
As the battalion leaders conferred over plans, Anakin Skywalker let out another yawn. It was getting late, the sun had set, and the men were already filing into the mess hall for dinner. The young Jedi general had grown impatient of watching his old master trace another pathway through Crystal City streets. At his side, the older Jedi's commander watched the routes made by his hand, mentally taking note.
"We should probably start from this checkpoint," Obi-Wan Kenobi pointed at the lobby of an abandoned office building, "and wait there. Take some of the heavy equipment with us, and station it around the building..."
Anakin yawned again, and the clone commander's head whipped around to face him. Like his general, Cody was attentive, and deeply engrossed in the attack plans. He seemed a little aggravated at Anakin's lack of interest, as the Jedi was certain the commander was giving him the best 'pay attention' glare he could manage.
"Anakin?" Obi-Wan inquired, pausing in his never-ending planning. "Are you alright?"
"I'm okay, Master."
"Are you sure? You look a little tired to me." Obi-Wan gave him an amused chuckle. Anakin smirked. "Well, seeing as it is past dinner, and I haven't gotten a bite to eat yet..."
"Go ahead, Anakin." The bearded Jedi gestured to the doorway. "I could hear your stomach growing, Cody. Why don't you accompany him?"
"Yes, sir." The clone commander respectfully saluted his general, and caught up with Anakin.
"He wasn't kidding. I heard your stomach, too." said Anakin, attempting to start a conversation with his Master's commander. Cody wasn't much of a small talker around Anakin, but the Jedi figured he could get the commander to warm up.
"Jack!"
"Huh." Anakin chuckled, wondering what it was he'd just heard. It was a small, far off voice, screaming for a name he didn't know. The slightest nagging of the Force told him otherwise.
"Sir?" Cody stopped walking.
"Who is Jack?" Anakin muttered, scratching the back of his head.
"I don't know," said the commander.
"Jack! Don't-"
Anakin frowned. The voice had grown frantic, begging for this Jack to do something. The nagging at his Force senses increased, until-
A boy lay against a metal wall. His hands were bound. A bruise decorated the left side of his face. His eyes were closed, as he mouthed the words in a silent plea.
"Jack...no..."
It was in a bank, in the Separatist territory of Crystal City. Not too far, but Anakin couldn't go waltzing in there.
The boy needed his help.
And he was in the middle of the Separatist camp.
Anakin had done stealth missions before. He could sneak in and rescue the poor lad, and bring him back to the Republic barracks. From there, he'd probably be sent to Coruscant to find his family, or to the orphanage of Bespin. Either way, it was a better fate than being in Separatist hands.
"You go on without me, Cody." Anakin waved the commander off, turning away to form a plan. He'd need a speeder, and his lightsaber.
Jack sat in the hard plastic chair, digging her fingernails halfway into her skin. The officer scrawled away at a file, recording the desperate American's words. She would reach out for a tissue every few minutes, and dab at her face until it was unusable, and toss the object into the trash.
At his side stood Alan Blunt. Much to her surprise, he'd scurried over as quickly as he could, supervising the officer and Jack's tale.
"Is that all, Miss Starbright?" said the officer. Jack nodded.
"This seems unusual." Blunt laced his fingers together, calmly observing the scene. "We haven't been able to track down anyone who may have a grudge against the Rider boy. A possible theory is that an associate, of someone, could've taken him." Of course, he couldn't list the names in front of the police officer or Jack. Not without making them sign the Official Secrets Act (though Jack had already done so).
"Then start looking!" said Jack, gripping the armrests of the chair. "Surely you can start a search for Alex!"
"I'm afraid that isn't possible at the moment." Blunt stiffly replied.
"Isn't possible?! Do you have any idea how this feels?!" Jack screeched, jumping out of the chair. "Do you know how it feels to have a loved one taken away? Do you?"
"Settle down, Miss Starbright." the officer said, scribbling away at the files while tapping on the computer.
"Obviously not. You aren't a caring man." Jack pointed an accusing finger at Blunt. "I'll bet YOU took Alex, and sent him off on another mission!"
"Settle down." Blunt repeated the words of the police officer. "We would've told you if Alex was on a mission."
"You're nothing but a bunch of liars, anyway." Jack sank into her chair, covering her face with her hands. She sat there for several hours longer, quietly sobbing whilst Blunt made a few calls.
Next: Anakin starts the rescue mission.
