Thank you to the 12 people who reviewed the last chapter and I hope that you like this next arc. It's just a mission I made up because I didn't want to just follow the TV series and books for this arc although it is loosely based on Clone Wars: Gambit and Siege and when I say loosely, I mean VERY loosely. Also, I don't know if I mentioned this earlier but Ferus is still in the Jedi Order because the events of Jedi Quest never happened in this universe. Oh and again this is AU so don't get mad if some of the information on the planets are not accurate. Please review as they are much appreciated.

Chapter 18

Obi-Wan walked down the corridors of the Jedi Temple deep in thought. It seemed to him that he did that a lot lately considering everything that's already happened. With all that has occurred since the war began, Obi-Wan couldn't help but wonder if anything had truly changed. Shaking his head to clear those unwanted thoughts, Obi-Wan had to trust that the small changes he's made were changing the future into a better one, Obi-Wan glanced up to see where he ended up as he hadn't been paying attention when he started walking.

"Master?" Jenica's voice sounded and Obi-Wan glanced at the girl who had falling into step beside him apparently when he was deep in thought.

"Yes Jenica?" he asked.

"Can we do some training?"

Obi-Wan nodded deciding that training his new apprentice would help dispense the unwanted feelings of doubt that were beginning to plague his mind. He couldn't afford to doubt in his ability to change the future, Qui-Gon believed in him, the Force believed in him and Obi-Wan had to believe in himself if he was to succeed.

He led Jenica down the twists and turns of the Jedi Temple toward one of the training rooms incidentally running into his former apprentice and his apprentice. Obi-Wan stepped back to avoid colliding with Anakin. "Anakin," he greeted him.

"Master," Anakin replied. "What do you say about training together?"

"All right," replied Obi-Wan before he glanced at Jenica. 'What do you say, Padawan?"

Jenica glanced at Ahsoka before smiling. "I don't mind," she said.

"All right"

The two master/apprentice teams made their way toward one of the training rooms and slipped inside. Once inside, Anakin turned his gaze to his apprentice. "All right, why don't you and Jenica duel?" he suggested.

"All right, Master."

Jenica glanced at Obi-Wan who nodded and she stepped into the center of the room with Ahsoka while Anakin and Obi-Wan took up positions at the edge of the training room. Jenica ignited her blue lightsaber before holding it at a ready position and watching as Ahsoka ignited her green lightsaber. The two of them leapt at each other and Obi-Wan watched as the two of them sparred. He noticed that Jenica tended to fall back on the defensive but he knew that was only because she didn't have as much training as Ahsoka. However, her duel with Ahsoka proved that she was an exceptional duelist.

In the end, Ahsoka disarmed Jenica and pointed her blade at Jenica's throat. "I win, I think," she said smiling.

"Good duel," Jenica said calling her lightsaber to her hand with the Force; however, Obi-Wan heard the faint disappointment in his apprentice's voice and he frowned.

"It was a good duel," he said aloud. "Jenica, just remember that Ahsoka has had more training in lightsaber combat than you. It will take time for you to learn everything you need to know about lightsaber combat, even Ahsoka hasn't learned everything and her master tends to procrastinate as it is."

Anakin glowered good-naturedly at Obi-Wan. "I do not," he retorted.

Obi-Wan smiled. "My point is you don't have to be disappointment because you lost one duel. All you need to do is figure out what you need to improve on and begin working on those aspects. Do you understand?" he asked.

"Yes Master, I understand."

"Master Kenobi?"

Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder as a youngling at least eight years old with blonde hair entered the training room. "Yes youngling?" he said.

"The Jedi Council wishes to speak to you, Master Skywalker and your apprentices," the youngling said.

"Very well, thank you, youngling."

The youngling nodded before leaving the room.

Anakin stepped into the War Room and spotted Jedi Knight Siri Tachi and her apprentice, Anakin's biggest rival, Ferus Olin at her side. He narrowed his eyes but said nothing as he turned his gaze to the Jedi Council members that were gathered around the holoprojection console in the center of the war room.

"Intelligence has reported that a scientist by the name of Bant'ena Fhernan was captured on Taratos IV and given to Separatist General Lok Durd who plans on using her to build a bioweapon. Intelligence still doesn't know what kind of bioweapon it is but they do know it has been completed and they know Durd's base of operations is on the planet Lanteeb," Windu said.

"Infiltrate Durd's base of operations, find the location of the bioweapon and Doctor Fhernan the six of you will. Capture Durd, destroy the bioweapon and rescue the doctor, you must," Yoda added.

"Sounds like a capture, sabotage, rescue kind of mission," Anakin mused. "So why did you want to see all six of us?"

"It is possible that the bioweapon has already been moved," said Windu, "and this mission is already going to be three parts long. There is no telling where the bioweapon is not to mention how much resistance you will be met with. One team will be in charge of rescuing the doctor, the second with capturing General Lok Durd and the third will be in charge of finding and, hopefully, destroying the bioweapon," said Adi Gallia.

"Doesn't sound too bad," Ahsoka said.

"Don't jinx us, Snips," Anakin said smiling at his apprentice before glancing back at the topographic version of Lanteeb brow furrowing. "Durd might be expecting us to intervene if he knows we know about the bioweapon, which I don't think he does."

"It is possible he does though," said Obi-Wan caressing his beard. "That means the mission will be harder if he does."

"It might be also pretty obvious if all six of us infiltrate the base at the same time, Masters," Olin said inclining his head respectfully.

"What do you suggest, Padawan?" Siri asked turning her blue gaze to her apprentice.

"I would like to respectfully suggest we enter at three different times in three different places."

Anakin didn't like it but Olin's plan was a good one.

Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed before he nodded. "That might be best," he agreed before he touched the console and the topograph rotated to reveal a closer view of the compound that was Durd's base of operations. "As Intelligence didn't seem to give us a more detailed map of the compound, we're going to have to figure out where to infiltrate the compound. It would probably be best to discuss that en route."

"I agree," Windu said. "It would also be best if you six leave now."

"Yes masters."

The six Jedi walked out of the war room and toward the shuttle that would take them to the Resolute. Ahsoka fell into step beside Anakin at the rear of the group. "Do you think it's smart to send in six Jedi to complete this mission?" she asked.

Anakin shrugged. "Not really but Master Windu is right about one thing. We have three separate objectives we need to accomplish and I doubt two teams would be able to accomplish all three objectives."

Ahsoka frowned before nodding in agreement.

"All right, we should probably decide who's going to tackle which objective," Siri said in the conference room onboard the Resolute. Her apprentice was standing at her side examining the other members of the six-person team. Obi-Wan, her closest friend and the man she still loved, was standing beside her while Anakin and his apprentice Ahsoka stood across from them.

"All three objectives are very important," said Obi-Wan. "That being said, I suggest Anakin take care of finding and destroying the bioweapon. He knows how to hack into computer systems and he's very good at destroying things."

Anakin, flushing slightly, glowered at his former master but Siri could see amusement in his azure eyes.

"Ferus and I can focus on rescuing the doctor," she said.

Obi-Wan was silent for a long moment. "Jenica hasn't had much experience on the field, Siri. Perhaps it would be best if she went with Ferus to rescue the doctor," he suggested.

Jenica glanced at her master. "Master, I can handle myself," she said.

Obi-Wan looked at the dark-haired apprentice. "Yes I know you can, Jenica," he said gently, "but rescuing the doctor isn't going to be easy. I am suggesting this so that you may learn from Ferus. He is a Senior Padawan on the verge of becoming a knight and I'm sure he can teach you some things without actually teaching you. Not only that but, depending on how long this war lasts, you may end up on missions by yourself."

Jenica was silent for a long moment before she nodded. "You want me to experience what being on a mission without you would be like while at the same time learn from someone who isn't exactly teaching me. Learn through observation," she said.

Obi-Wan looked faintly surprised. "Yes, that's exactly right. Very good Padawan," he said.

Jenica beamed.

"So does that mean you and I'll team up to capture General Durd?" Siri asked.

Obi-Wan glanced at her. "It would appear so," he said calmly and Siri nodded although, on the inside, she was thrilled with the chance to work with her friend again. She firmly told herself it wasn't because she would be working with the man that she secretly loved.

Her heart said something completely different though.

"All right. Now then, we need to decide on how we're going to infiltrate the base while keeping in mind that Durd might know we're coming," Obi-Wan added before he activated the holoprojection console and the map of the base on Lanteeb reappeared. "While it isn't as detailed as I would have liked, it does show us some places to enter the base."

"These appear to be tunnels beneath the compound," said Siri pointing toward the bottom of the map. "And they extend into the forests surrounding the compound. One of us could go through there."

"That might be the best way for Ahsoka and I to enter the compound," Anakin said. "Since we're going to have to be the ones to find the bioweapon, it might be best to enter where the droids won't think to look for us and it looks like it leads into a communications room, which might be my best bet at finding where the bioweapon is."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I agree," he said. "Ferus and Jenica can enter through the forest as well but not the tunnels. Look at this spot." He pointed toward the wall that was surrounded on both sides by tall trees. "If they're careful then they can get in that way."

"And hopefully not trip any alarms," Siri added. "Obi-Wan and I can probably sneak in through the back so long as we go while it's dark. There are ventilation shafts there that we can sneak through."

Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "We will rendezvous here," he pointed to a spot in a clearing about five kilometers north of the compound. "If everything goes according to plan."

"And if it doesn't?" asked Anakin.

"Improvise. You're good at that Anakin."

Anakin's cheeks flushed again and he glowered at his former master but Obi-Wan merely smirked in response.

"We'll leave at different times too," Obi-Wan said turning his attention back to the topograph of Lanteeb's surface. "Anakin and Ahsoka will leave the Resolute first after it takes up position in the shadow of Lanteeb's moon. That's where it will be staying so as to not alert Durd that we are there. Ferus and Jenica will follow half an hour later and Siri and I will go half an hour after them."

"That sounds best," Siri said.

Obi-Wan probably wouldn't admit it out loud but he was glad of the chance to work with Siri again. He just had to make sure nothing happens that will take her away from him. He lost her the first time around and he was determined to not lose her this time around. Naturally, he wasn't impulsive like his former apprentice so he wouldn't do anything without thinking things through entirely and he wasn't obsessed with protecting Siri.

Siri probably wouldn't be happy if she ever got the feeling that Obi-Wan was trying to protect her. While she had learned to control her impulsiveness and worked better with others now than she ever did in the past, Obi-Wan knew that some things would never change with her.

Obi-Wan decided he need to do something to distract himself so he decided to go to the hangar bay and check on his apprentice who had decided to join Ahsoka and Anakin in prepping the Twilight for the journey to Lanteeb's surface. He made it to the archway leading into the hangar bay when Siri stepped in front of him nearly walking into him.

"Oh sorry Obi-Wan," Siri said stepping back. "I didn't see you there."

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "Something on your mind, Siri?" he asked.

Siri sighed. "No, nothing's on my mind," she replied.

Obi-Wan's eyebrows rose again. "I can sense that you're lying," he said keeping his voice calm. "So what's the matter? You should know by now that you can always talk to me if you need to."

Siri looked away. "It's nothing important," she said before she stepped around Obi-Wan and walked quickly down the corridor.

Obi-Wan watched her go wondering what was going on with his friend before he made his way into the hangar bay and over to join his apprentice and Ahsoka who were standing just inside the cargo hold of the Twilight.

"Everything all right?" he asked coming to a stop beside the boarding ramp.

"Everything's fine, master," Jenica replied glancing at Obi-Wan before inclining her head in greeting.

"Where's Anakin?"

"Making sure everything is functioning properly, Master Obi-Wan," Ahsoka replied.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Good idea," he said. "Are you ready for the mission, Ahsoka?"

Ahsoka nodded. "It shouldn't be that big of a problem. Like you said, Master Skywalker's good at destroying things," she said.

"I heard that," Anakin said walking into the cargo hold.

"It's the truth," Obi-Wan said smiling faintly.

Anakin snorted but his eyes glittered with amusement. "Well, the Twilight's ready to go so I've got nothing to do until we reach Lanteeb. Do you want to duel or something, master?" he asked.

What a part of Obi-Wan really wanted to do was go check on Siri and figure out why she wasn't talking with him when something was obviously bugging her but the rational part of him told him that if Siri wanted him to know what was bugging her then she would tell him. That being said, Obi-wan decided to take Anakin up on his offer.

"All right," he said. "I have nothing better to do."

"I am going to beat you this time too, master."

Obi-Wan snorted. "Perhaps," he said.

"In his dreams," Jenica whispered to Ahsoka who chuckled.

Anakin, overhearing them, glowered at the two apprentices before he unhooked his lightsaber from his belt and walked away from the Twilight before closing the boarding ramp and Obi-Wan followed him lightsaber already in his hand.

Anakin ignited his lightsaber and Obi-Wan ignited his before master and former apprentice began dueling.

Siri had been very determined to prove she could accomplish any challenge placed before her and that often caused her to come into conflict with her fellow Jedi when she was a Padawan. It was Obi-Wan who taught her to be prudent and patient but still she maintained some semblance of her determination and impulsiveness.

And yet she couldn't figure out a way to accomplish the challenge that was currently placed before her; her heart.

Her heart was challenging her to admit her feelings and tell Obi-Wan that she still loved him as she did when they broke off their relationship back when they were younger. She knew it was against the Jedi Code but after Obi-Wan saved her life after Magus nearly killed her on Azure, she realized that she couldn't get rid of the love she felt for Obi-Wan any more than she could stop the sun from setting each night.

And that was making the upcoming mission more challenging than it should be. She could take care of herself and she knew Obi-Wan could take care of himself but after everything that they've both been through since the war began, including the torture Obi-Wan suffered when Asajj Ventress captured him on Jabiim, Siri feared that something bad would happen while they were on Lanteeb.

Realizing that she was feeling fear, she quickly grasped it and closed her eyes. Slipping into a meditative trance, Siri released her fear into the Force and told herself to focus on the matter at hand namely the mission. She couldn't afford to get distracted or the plan would fall apart and she didn't want to risk that.

Siri reached deeper into the Force for the calm serenity that she hoped would help her at the very least push her conflicting emotions to the back of her mind and was surprised when she heard a faint whisper in her mind.

Love can ignite the stars.

Siri frowned unsure as to why those words had come into her mind or why they seemed to be spoken directly to her as if by someone who was in the same room as her. As the room she was sitting in was currently empty, that couldn't be the case so Siri wondered if, perhaps, the Force was trying to speak to her.

But why would the Force say that to her?

Siri reached deeper into the Force hoping to find the reason why those words were whispered into her mind but the answer eluded her as if the Force, itself, was hiding the answer to her unspoken question. That was odd because Siri could feel that those words were extremely important and yet the Force wouldn't tell her why they were important. Was it because the Force wanted her to figure it out for herself?

Siri decided that that was likely and she decided that she would keep those words in mind just in case they became more important later on.

Pulling herself out of her trance, Siri uncrossed her legs before standing up and walking to the portal in her room to gaze at the mottled lanes of hyperspace that shot past. A knock sounded on her door and she, sensing her apprentice's Force signature, walked over to the door before opening it with the Force.

Ferus inclined his head in greeting. "Good morning master," he said politely. At twenty four years of age, Ferus had grown into a very mature and brilliant Jedi and Siri had known for a while now that it was time Ferus became a Jedi Knight. However, with the war, Siri hadn't had a chance to speak with the Jedi Council. She resolved to speak to the Jedi Council when the six of them got back from the Lanteeb mission.

"It's morning already?" Siri asked.

Ferus nodded. "Admiral Yularen said that we are almost at Lanteeb," he said.

"All right. Why don't you go find Jenica and get ready to leave? Half an hour after Anakin and Ahsoka, remember?"

"Yes Master." Ferus turned around before walking away and Siri, once she got everything she would need, decided to go find Obi-Wan all the while attempting to get her emotions, which were still conflicted despite everything she did, under control.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: that was the introductory chapter. The next chapter is where the action is going to pick up including some brief Siriwan snippets

Darth: how brief?

Harry: a word!

Sirius: a sentence!

Anakin: a paragraph!

Severus: sadly enough, Black is probably right.

Harry: (faints)

Sirius: so you finally admit I'm right?

Severus: don't get used to it Black. (Climbs into Sirius's flying motorcycle and flies off)

Sirius: THAT'S MINE! (Takes off after Severus in Mace's mustang)

Mace: (Scowls)

Blaze: (chuckles) Well, like I said the action will pick up in the next chapter and I really hope I did a good job on this chapter considering I typed it while I was both sore and sick. Please review and I will post chapter 19 as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it'll be anytime soon.