Chapter 17: Tracking through visions

Anakin sat down on Satine's bed, the mattress sagging under his weight as he let his thoughts drift.

"What have you done Obi Wan" Anakin said to himself again, looking out the balcony door and letting the breeze drift in and blow his hair. He stood up and looked outside, the sun was high and the warm air was drifting down his back and heating his face. The sound of grass blowing round in the wind echoed round his head. There was a small knock at the door and Anakin heard footsteps echo round the room.

"Satine. Are you here?" a woman's voice sounded round in the room and Anakin walked back into the warm room to be met with brown eyes staring into his. Padme stared at Anakin as his face turned pale at her coming into his sight.

"Ani what's wrong?" Padme asked, her concern building up in curiosity.

"Ok, Satine has been kidnapped by someone and Obi Wan has gone to find her" Anakin blurted out, his anger rising up.

"Ani, calm down. Obi Wan will come back with Satine and they'll both be fine" Padme said gently, placing her hand on his back.

"But Obi Wan's still injured from fighting that red haired chick" Anakin said, getting a small frown from Padme.

"I'm sure you will figure something out General Skywalker" Padme exclaimed, looking round for anyone and kissed him gently on his lips, letting him relax in her grip and his arms hold her waist. They broke apart and Padme glided out the room, turning her head one last time and blowing a kiss to her secret husband before swishing her hair and walking away.

Anakin sat onto the floor, the same spot where Obi Wan had sat just about an hour or two ago and meditated.

A dark room. Just dark. No light. Shackles held a man to the wall, his pants pouring out from his chest, the laughter, and the maniatic laughter of a woman sounded in his ears as he watched the light draw from her eyes, the fire. The fire of torture on an innocent man who continued to cry in pain. On the floor a woman was begging for her to stop, causing the laughter to stop and the red haired woman to whip round and slap the other in the face. The red haired woman left the room and the man fell to the floor, his cries of pain unbearable to hear as he tried to stand, but found he couldn't. Then the images changed. Obi Wan's face came into his head, the blood matted beard, the pained blue-grey eyes followed him as he slowly came out and watched him meditate in the dark room beside Satine, and then the messages came to his head.

'Anakin help.' That was the first.

'Obi Wan where are you?' Anakin thought to himself through the vision. He saw Obi Wan exhale a long waited breath and turn to Satine, his mouth moving so he was obviously saying something.

'I don't know, we're in a dark place, there's no light.'

'I can see that Master'

'Thank you so much for the sympathy Anakin' Obi Wan snapped.

'Ok, ok sorry. Seriously though where are you?'

'Like I said, I don't know. See if you can track either mine or Satine's force signature and you should be fine'

Anakin heard something stumble into the room and noticed two battle droids walk in, one of them grabbed Satine roughly and held her arms, the other moved over to Obi Wan and held what looked like a collar.

'ANAKIN TRACK US NOW!' Obi Wan sent it through their bond so quickly he had no time to react. He felt the bond become weak and sensed nothing more than a dark room with people inside.

Anakin snapped his eyes open, the strong bond Obi Wan had sent him was still there, weak but still there. He knew now he wouldn't be able to track Obi Wan, he could no longer sense him, see the little light that he so often saw on the top of his head shining like a light bulb. But Satine's lit in his head. She hadn't got a force-restricting collar so he could sense her position.

In his head he followed her, down each corridor, each twist, each turn he followed. He came to a silver door and the droids threw her into the room, the light streaming into the room. At the side there was a wooden bed, a thin mattress covered it and a small blanket covered that. He watched as she looked round and headed for the window. 'Yes look out, look out' Anakin thought to himself joyfully as she looked outside and showed him the world. The trees were rotting away; the vegetation was dying round him, the sun born down the room and droids were walking everywhere. He saw Satine sigh and the door opened to show the red haired woman walk in.

"Enjoying your little stay on Alderaan Duchess?" she asked.

Satine spat at her and turned her head from her.

"Thought so" she snapped and walked from the room.

"Alderaan, their still on kriffin Alderaan" Anakin shouted out to himself causing the door to open and a guard to walk in.

"Excuse me Master Jedi, who's still on Alderaan?"

"The Duchess Satine and Master Kenobi" the guards face turned to shock as he watched him pace the room.

"Tell Senator Organa that I've found the Duchess and Master Kenobi immediately and that I'm going to find them" Anakin said, heading for the balcony and jumping out the window. He landed onto the grass, rolling to his feet and started to run through the trees. He felt the wind rush through his hair as he followed the tracks from Obi Wan's boots, following each broken branch, each twig and each grass patch. He came to a small clearing, a small pond shimmering out of the corner of his eye. He walked over to it and looked into the water. He saw his reflection looking back at himself. A small slip of blood was resting at the side of the water and a strand of auburn hair was lying in the dirt. There was a big patch of grass that was crushed in the clearing. Anakin moved over to the patch and noticed more auburn hair strands where on the ground and Obi Wan's lightsaber was sitting on the ground. Anakin picked it up and wiped the dirt from it, igniting it to see it flicker off. He saw more footsteps leading further into the forest and followed them, lighting his lightsaber so he could see his way, the blue lightning the path of the footsteps into the darkness. Out from the darkness after a long trek a large building came into view, the droids walked round holding their blasters close to their metal chests. Anakin pulled out his comlink and contacted Senator Organa.

"Senator, I believe I've found the place where Obi Wan and Satine are being held" he said.

"That's great Master Skywalker. Should I send reinforcements?"

Anakin thought for a bit, looking at the strong hold and watched the droids swap roles.

"Yes, bring in a squad of Clones but make sure they don't storm the hold until I've found Satine at least"

There was a silence at the other end, Bail was obviously thinking up the options.

"Why the Duchess Satine first?"

"Because she is pacifist and doesn't fight. Also I know Obi Wan may still be able to fight for himself"

"Yes Master Jedi I'll send them for you and leave them to you" The communication cut off and Anakin slowly moved towards the compound, taking care in not bumping into any droids. He drew out his lightsaber and sliced through two droids, watching them drop to the floor and headed for a rusty back door. He heard it creak open as he pushed on it hard and walked inside.