It had been a week since Anakin went to the Mandalore Sector and lost contact with the Republic. The Republic also got the news that Spar, the leader of Mandalorian Protectors and a clone of Jango Fett, had become the new Mandalore, taking the title of Mandalore the Resurrector. Shortly before this, recording showed that Duchess Satine, the leader of the New Mandalore were making secret allies with the Jedi and violently attacked the commandos when she was discovered by the them. Thus she went exile and had lost all support within the Mandalorians.
In the office of the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, Palpatine had invited Anakin's master and wife, Obi Wan and Padmé to discuss the plan to rescue Anakin.
"A few days ago, I received a message from Duchess Satine. She said that she and Anakin were trapped in a planet in the Mandalore Sector called Akaan. " Paplatine started to elaborate what the information he got. Even though his also looked a little bit sad, but still remained a calm tone. "But Anakin was injured. And she told us, there was a Sith and a witch on that planet, both were causing threat to them."
"It seems that the Mandalorian Protectors set a trap to get rid of Satine from the beginning, and so they would get the perfect reason joined the CIS," Anger could be seen from Obi Wan's face, "As for the Sith, that must be Darth Maul, he had returned and fought me recently. "
Standing beside him was a petite pretty girl, she was Senator of Naboo and Anakin's wife, Padmé, her face was full of anxiety: "He's always like this, never hesitate when others need protection, no matter how dangerous it is."
Palpatine tried comfort Padmé:"Anakin had come to me to say farewell before he left, I believe he will return safely." At this moment, he did not look like the Chancellor of the Republic, but more like an old man who was worrying about his child, "He is a young man full of enthusiasm, always wants to protect and help others. I remember when he left, he was full of confidence. The Duchess was also very grateful when she mentioned him. "
"I believe I am the best choice to lead this rescue operation, "Obi Wan intended to settle the plan as soon as possible.
"Do we have to discuss it with the Jedi Council?" Palpatine carefully asked.
"No, I already talked to them, I'll take a few elite clone troopers, as well as a friend I trust to rescue Anakin and Duchess Satine." Obi Wan had already done a lot of arrangements after he came back.
Palpatine nodded, "That's good, Master Kenobi."
"Let me go with you," Padmé eagerly demanded, "he is facing great danger, the consequences of late moment is difficult to imagine. "
"I'm sorry but I think it's not a wise choice, Senator Amidala," Before Obi Wan respond, Chancellor Palpatine spoke out, "The Mandalorians were going to join the confederation, they won't be friendly against the JedI Knight and members of the Republic and won't accept any diplomatic proposal.
According to the message I received from the Duchess, there were Sith Lords there. Dealing with them is not your strong point, and we shouldn't send too many people there. "He was sincerely looking at Padme, "I am not a Force user, but I believe that Anakin's enthusiasm and strength will help him to save the day."
"I agree with the Chancellor," Obi nodded, "But Padmé is right, we can not waste any time. "
Padmé went silent, she really wanted to go and rescue Anakin, but Palpatine and Obi Wan were right. In this kind of situation, it difficult for her to keep calm like they did.
"You have my word, go pick the finest soldiers and the most useful equipment," Palpatine shook his hand with Obi Wan, "As the Chancellor of the Republic and Anakin's friend, it's my responsibility to do my best to help you rescue him. If any problem occurs, contact me immediately, I will use all the forces I can spare to help you. "
Obi Wan thanked the Chancellor and went to pick the soldiers and the equipment. When he was about to aboard the ship. Padmé came to see him.
"Promise me, bring Anakin back safely." Padmé gazed at Obi Wan, tears dropped from her eyes. Once elected as the queen when she was just thirteen, she was usually quite independent and strong, but now her love was in great danger, she could not control her emotions.
Before Obi Wan could answer, they heard someone pretended to cough, then a pale bald woman walked out from the shadows. It's a piece of cake for her to sneak here. "Then we will go to rescue that boy?" She then prodded to Padmé, "I am sorry that I didn't meet with you earlier, but I was afraid that the other Jedi probably would not welcome me."
Obi Wan told the clone soldiers that Ventress was no longer their enemy. He also briefly introduced her to Padme, especially about how Ventress rescued him from Maul and Savage.
"Although we were defeated by them last time, but with these elite troopers' help, we won't have problem against Maul alone. Anakin will come back safely." Obi Wan was full of confidence, he gave Padmé a look, then boarded the spaceship with Ventress and the clone soldiers.
"Your padawan Skywalker and that Duchess stayed together for so long, you don't even worry about that?" Ventress asked half-jokingly on the way.
Obi Wan did not answer, but gave her an angry glance, motioned her not to go on with this. Her stupid words already let him feel uncomfortable, Padme was not far away from them. If she heard it, then the already broken-hearted woman might just go crazy.
"You Jedi are really dull." Ventress ignored that, "Just try to avoid and supress those emotions because 'they will lead to the Dark Side' rather than face them. "
"At least a hundred times better than the Sith." Obi Wan didn't want to waste time to argue with Ventress.
"Do not be so sure, some of your JedI's discipline are worse than the Sith'," Ventress didn't buy it, "However, that Skywalker boy is quite different ... "
Obi Wan then ignored Ventress and switched his attention to the clone troopers. They must get to the Mandalore Sector as soon as possible.
"Lord Maul?" On the night of the planet Akaan, Another conversation between the two Sith Lords started.
"Yes, Master," Fear would only appear in this Sith Lord's horrific face when he stood before his master, even if it's just the hologram.
"I can feel the great disturbance in the Force, it appears that a number of fights have occurred on this planet, I believe your task is done right?" Darth Sidious asked.
"Almost, I already achieved victory against Skywalker, but that woman ambushed me and messed up everything," Maul didn't dare to deceive his master, he knew it would be foolish to not report the truth, "More than one powerful practitioners of the Dark Side came to this planet to interfere, one of them was wounded by me so he won't be a threat for a while, the other never stopped cause trouble to me when I tried to finish my task, he is also hiding from me, it's hard to get a direct confrontation with him."
"We are the only two Sith Lords in the entire galaxy, nothing should be able to oppose us, none of the other Dark Jedi should even dare to display their feeble skill before the true masters." Sidious was quite disappointed, "If you can not complete the task and bury these vermin in this planet, then you will no longer be eligible to wield the title of the Sith." He put special emphasis on his last sentence, anger could also be felt from those sibilant words.
"I understand, I will never live up to your expectations, Master." Darth Maul replied with great fear.
"In addition, your sworn enemy, the Jedi Obi Wan was heading to this planet and attempt to save his padawan. Lord Maul, release all your hatred, get rid of this troublesome Jedi once and for all. As a Sith Lord, only revenge can wash out the shame of defeat. "The conversation ended here.
It was a good news to Darth Maul, compared to find the hiding unknown Dark Side. It would be much more exciting to kill Obi Wan's lover, padawan and Obi Wan himself together.
Perhaps, he should carefully consider which one should he kill first, depend on which one's death would make the other two the most painful.
Satine could not remember how long they had been here. She could not leave the ship because she had to take care of Anakin. Fortunately, she was well prepared, there was enough food in the ship.
Anakin's body was strong, with the help of the Force, he recovered quickly, but he still hadn't regain conscious.
Satine suspected that Sith probably used some force trick to his mind, or those green mists caused it? She knew nothing about Force so could not get an answer. She hated this, wanted to save loved ones but could not do a thing.
Although she grew affection to her protectors, but she didn't really like to be protected by other people, actually, she wanted to be the protector.
The establishment of the New Mandalore was for this goal, although now this dream had already been shattered. But she would not give up to protect Anakin.
She felt that blue glow of the Force that once gave her some familiar feeling was trying to say something to her, but it seemed really difficult to for them to communicate.
Anakin's mind was still chaos, but with the help of the Force and his own will, he still could sense what was going on in the ship. He was very grateful to this woman for what she did for him in such difficult situation.
This reminded him of his mother. Shmi was just a slave, but still raised him with great care under multiple slave masters.
"Thank you, lady. You remind me of my mother, she raised me up in very difficult environments." Despite still didn't recover most of his memory, but he was still eager to convey his thanks to this woman. "When I fully recover, I will do anything for you."
Then he started again, use his will to find his memories and try to regain conscious, just like he once wanted to grow up quickly so he could protect his mother and loved ones.
After heard these words, dumbfounding expression appeared on Satine's classical beautiful face. She wanted to say something to Anakin but and swallowed it back and chuckled, then the Duchess put her lips upon Anakin's forehead then kissed him.
Outside the spaceship, ghostly green mists almost formed a symbol of some ritual, under that husky voice's incantation, but scattered before it was complete. That husky voice murmured: "Damn, time is running out, but I will not fail …"