Thank you to the 10 people who reviewed the last chapter and I hope that you like this chapter, which will cover the first part of "Friends and Enemies" with Siri drama and Anakin/Ahsoka bonding tossed into the mix. I was going to include "The Box" in this chapter but this chapter ended up being longer than I thought it would be so "The Box" will be covered in the next chapter. Reviews, as always, are much appreciated.

Chapter 43

Several days had gone by since the funeral and, by this time, Siri had gotten control of her emotions. At least, that's what she kept trying to convince herself but her hormones were going crazy and she would become emotional at random moments. During the last several days, Siri had been having mood swings that confused Jenica, who was appointed to her as her apprentice. At first, Jenica didn't notice because she was still coming to terms with what happened to Obi-Wan, but after a while she began to notice something was off. However, it would appear she had other things on her mind.

"Master?" Jenica said quietly.

Siri glanced at the girl. "Yes?" she said. She hadn't been called Master since Ferus was knighted so it would take some getting used to.

"I can still feel him."

Siri frowned. "Who?"

"Master Obi-Wan, I can still feel him," Jenica said quietly eyes wide. "I don't know why I didn't feel it before but…the master/apprentice bond between us is still there. I am sure it was supposed to have been broken when my master died and yet, I can still feel it."

Siri's eyes went wide as Jenica's words, as logical and intelligent as they were, hit her and she quickly reached out with the bond she shared with her husband, the bond that formed months earlier on Lanteeb. And there it was; although hidden, it was pulsating as brightly as the day it was formed.

Obi-Wan Kenobi was still alive.

"He's alive," she whispered. "Obi-Wan's alive."

Jenica's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I'm going to go tell Anakin. He should know," Siri said.

"I'll come with. Ahsoka might be with Master Skywalker and I think she'd like to know," Jenica said quietly. "But if he's alive then why…?"

"I don't know, Jenica, but at least he's alive." Without another word, Siri left her room and headed toward Anakin's room. She came to a stop at the door and knocked on it; it opened to reveal Ahsoka.

"Master Tachi, what brings you here?" she asked.

"I need to speak with your master. Is he here?" asked Siri.

"Yes, I'm here, Siri. What is it?" Anakin asked walking up behind Ahsoka.

"Anakin, I can still feel him. He's still alive," Siri cried.

Ahsoka looked confused.

Anakin looked at Ahsoka. "Ahsoka, I meant to tell you that Barriss contacted me twenty minutes ago. She wants to talk to you," he said.

"And you're telling me this now?" Ahsoka asked frowning.

"Hey, I forgot."

Ahsoka glared at him but left the room. Jenica moved to follow but stopped when Anakin told her to. "But Master Skywalker, I have to tell Ahsoka…" she began.

"It can wait," Anakin said. "Who's still alive, Siri?"

"Obi-Wan! I realized that he has to be alive because the bond between him and Jenica never broke," Siri explained; she couldn't say that the bond between her and her husband never broke but she was pretty sure Anakin could figure it out.

She was also confused when she noticed Anakin wasn't surprised or ecstatic to learn that his master, the man he considered to be his brother, was still alive. It hit her like a ton of duracrete being dropped on her head. Anakin knew!

"You knew?!" She demanded angrily.

Anakin looked away.

"What do you mean?" Jenica asked confused. "Master Skywalker, is Master Tachi right? Did you know?"

Anakin was silent. "I need to contact Master Yoda and Master Windu," he said pulling out his comlink.

"What? Why? What's going on?" Siri shouted before she burst into tears. "Why won't you tell me anything?"

"Calm down, Siri…"

"Don't tell me to calm down!" Siri flared angrily.

Anakin stepped back out of striking zone before he turned on his comlink. "Master Windu," he said into it.

"What is it, Skywalker?" Windu's voice asked.

"We've got a slight…problem."

"Problem?"

"I don't want to explain it over the comlink."

"Very well. Master Yoda and I are on our way. Windu out."

Anakin put the comlink away before placing a hand on Siri's shoulder and guiding her to the form couch. Siri sat down glaring at Anakin while Jenica sat down next to her looking really confused.

Siri folded her arms across her chest. "What's going on?" she demanded.

"I can't say anything until Master Windu and Master Yoda get here," Anakin said.

"But why?"

"I made a promise."

Siri glared at him before she started to sob again. Jenica put an arm around Siri's shoulders in an attempt to comfort her but it wasn't working.

Mace and Yoda made their way into the apartment at that moment before walking into the living area of the room. "So what's this about, Skywalker?" he asked.

"I think we forgot to take into account Jenica's bond with her master, Master Windu, Master Yoda," Anakin said.

Yoda's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Correct you are. Knew we should have that know the truth Padawan Narak would because of the bond," he said.

"Will someone just tell me what the blazes is going on?" Siri screamed.

"Calm down, Siri," Anakin said again.

Siri glared daggers at Anakin. "And how dare you keep this from me? He's my...one of my closest friends and you didn't tell me Obi-Wan was still alive even though you knew all along," she cried; she was thankful she was able to stop herself from calling Obi-Wan her husband.

"Instructed Skywalker to say nothing we did. Insisted on it, Obi-Wan did," Yoda said.

Siri started sobbing. Why would Obi-Wan keep such a thing from her?

"Since they already know, Master Yoda, then they may as well know the entire story," Anakin said.

"Correct you are, Skywalker. Your Padawan where is?"

"I sent her off to find Barriss. Once she realizes Barriss didn't want to talk to her, she'll be back though. So we should probably make this quick."

"But why? Why can't we tell Ahsoka?" Jenica asked.

"It is already dangerous enough that you two know," Mace said. "It's not dangerous for you, no, but it is dangerous for Obi-Wan. He's on an undercover mission right now; one vital to the safety of Chancellor Palpatine and the entire Republic. And the more people who know that he is still alive, the less likely the mission will succeed. That is why it is imperative that no one but who is in this room knows the truth."

Siri narrowed her eyes. "So Obi-Wan faked his own death to go on an undercover mission?" she asked.

"Yes. Volunteered for this mission, Obi-Wan did," Yoda said. "Honestly, surprised I am that discovered the truth earlier you did not, Padawan Narak."

"I don't know why I didn't. I guess I was in shock and when I finally came to terms with Master Obi-Wan's 'death', releasing my grief into the Force like my master taught me, I realized our bond never broke and I thought it was supposed to break when the master died or something," Jenica replied still looking a little confused.

Yoda nodded. "Usually, break the master/apprentice bond will if one or the other dies," he said. "Knew we should have that happen this would; knew Obi-Wan should have as well."

"Well, what's done is done," Mace said. "Siri, you and Padawan Narak must promise to never speak a word of this to anyone including Padawan Tano. As I said before, the more people who know, the less likely Obi-Wan can complete his mission and the more danger he will be in."

"I won't tell anyone anything, Master Windu," Siri said suddenly calm and collected.

"Neither will I," Jenica said.

But I'm still not happy with you, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Siri thought angrily, even if I am relieved beyond belief that you are still alive.

The freighter Obi-Wan, Cad Bane and Moralo Eval were in went past the atmosphere of Nal Hutta. Obi-Wan was moving at speeds that would allow him and his 'allies' to ditch the ship before the authorities found them. Naturally, Bane was going to have something to say about that but it didn't really matter what he had to say.

Bane moved forward to between the pilot's and co-pilot's seat. "We're coming in too fast, Hardeen, are you trying to kill us?" he demanded.

"They'll be waiting for us at every spaceport. We have to ditch the ship," Obi-Wan replied.

Bane sat down. "You mean you're going to intentionally crash us into the swamp," he said incredulously.

"That's exactly what I'm going to do," Obi-Wan said.

"He's right," Eval said. "We have no choice."

"Get ready for a fast exit," Obi-Wan said. The ship went down rapidly slamming into the ground and sending large pieces of the ship flying in all directions.

The swamp was quiet as the ship finished crashing and swamp creatures flew overhead. It had crashed nose first into the swamp and so Obi-Wan, Eval and Bane had to climb upwards to get out of the ship through the other half the ship where the boarding ramp had once been.

"Nobody can trace us here," Obi-Wan said once on top of the ship as he dusted himself off. "The swamp will swallow the ship up."

"So we leave no trace of our crash," Eval said also dusting himself off. "Moralo Eval likes a man who plans ahead." He walked away and Obi-Wan and Bane followed him to solid land near where the ship was sinking.

"You do have a plan?" Eval asked looking at Obi-Wan.

"Yeah, I know Nal Hutta. We can get a new ship at Bilbousa Bazaar. But this time we buy one otherwise we'll have the authorities back on our tail," Obi-Wan replied before he started walking again.

"Not so fast," Bane said. "We need to ditch these prison fatigues. We'll have a bounty on our heads for escaping and I don't like to stand out."

The two criminals, and Obi-Wan, made their way into the Bilbousa Bazaar immediately causing the local to stir. Obi-Wan kept an eye on them as well as on the local security while coming up with a way to contact Mace and Yoda and tell them to cancel the manhunt while at the same time preventing Bane from trying to ditch him again.

"Local security," Eval said glancing at the security officers. "Keep moving."

They started moving again until they reached the shop where they would get new outfits, gear and equipment. Obi-Wan was silent, contemplative, the entire walk thinking over what happened the first time.

"We'll get some new gear and equipment," Bane said as they made their way up the ramp to Pablo's Pawn shop. "Pablo's Pawn Shop has everything a bounty hunter needs and more." They made their way into the shop before searching around for gear and equipment.

Obi-Wan wasn't picky at all; he just got what was best suited for the person he was pretending to be. Bane was looking through the hats after having changed into his outfit. "Now all I need is a new hat," he said before he picked up one of the hats that looked nearly identical to the one he normally wore.

"You know, if you're trying to blend in, your hat will make you stand out," Obi-Wan said picking up the helmet he had worn the first time.

"I don't like to hide under a helmet," Bane said walking over to join Obi-Wan and Eval.

"Is there anything else you desire?" Pablo the Rodian asked walking over to join the trio. "New ship?"

"Your choice of weapons is lousy, Pablo," Bane said pushing Pablo back. "Where can I get some quality blasters?"

"Well, I wouldn't be too picky while on the run like you obviously are," Pablo said.

Obi-Wan grimaced inwardly; this was starting to spiral downward as it had the first time. "Perhaps it would be best if we got our weapons elsewhere," he suggested before things went out of control.

"You're right. Let's go," Eval said.

Bane glared at Pablo before transferring his glare to Obi-Wan before turning around and stalking out of the ship. "Thanks for the hat," he growled over his shoulder as he left.

Eval left with him and Obi-Wan sighed inwardly before looking at Pablo and handing him some credits. "For your troubles and I would appreciate it if no one knew we were here," he said.

Pablo looked a little surprised but he took the credits. "No one will," he said.

Obi-Wan, unsure if he could trust the Rodian, decided not to worry about it as he left the pawn shop to rejoin Eval and Bane. Bane glanced at him but said nothing for a moment before he said, "If Pablo calls security then they will be looking for three of us. We should split up. You go get a ship and we'll go get the weapons."

"Fine, just don't think about double crossing me or you're going to have to find your own way off Nal Hutta," Obi-Wan said.

Bane glared. "Fine, just be quick," he snapped before he and Eval moved off and Obi-Wan put his helmet on to hide his face and went off to find a ship.

He went to the shipyard and easily found the ship to use before, just in case, stuck the tracking device on it. He glanced over his shoulder before folding his arms across his chest as Bane and Eval came back. "So you did decide to double cross me," he said matter-of-factly.

"Bane doesn't want to split his fee for breaking me out of prison," Eval said after they paid the shipyard dealer. "And also, he despises you."

"I'm not going anywhere without my reward," Obi-Wan said curtly.

"This is between you two," Eval said before he entered the ship.

"Here's your reward. I'm not killing you." The disorienting spray shot into Obi-Wan's eyes and a kick sent him flying to the ground.

Muttering a few choice Huttese curse words he learned from Anakin under his breath, Obi-Wan watched through blurry eyes as the ship blasted off. You aren't getting far, Bane, he thought before he dashed off to find the security guards and the hutts.

He found the leader of the security force outside Gardulla the Hutt's palace. "Excuse me, I would like to speak to whoever is in charge here," he said.

The Nikto guard Obi-Wan remembered was the one that interrogated him stood up. "You are one of those that has a rather large price on your head," he said as the Gammorreans stood up. "But there were two others with you."

"Yes and they double-crossed me but I put a tracker on their ship. I'll give you the frequency."

The Nikto narrowed his eyes. "Very well, give us the frequency," he said.

Obi-Wan gave it to them easily before watching as the Niktos and the Gammorreans left to find the ship.

Cad Bane was flying the freighter Hardeen got for them while he listened to Eval speak with Count Dooku's hologram at the back of the ship.

"Yes Count Dooku," Eval was saying to the hologram. "I'm sorry I was delayed. I'm free now. I'll try to reach Serenno as soon as possible."

"No more excuses Eval. Time is running short," Dooku's hologram said.

"Yes Count Dooku. No more excuses," said Eval before he disconnected the transmission and walked over to sit down in the co-pilot's seat.

"You said it yourself, Eval," Bane said, "You're free now. I want my money."

"After the weapons and the ship, I have very little credits left. You'll be paid when we reach Serenno," Eval said.

The ship suddenly shuddered violently as blasterfire slammed into it. Eval grabbed the console to steady himself. "What is this?" he demanded. "Who's attacking us?"

"The Hutts!" Bane growled.

"How'd they find us so quickly?" Eval protested.

"Hardeen trying to even the score," Bane growled just as more blaster fire slammed into the back of the ship and Bane growled when he noticed that the engines were fried. "The engines are fried. We're going to have to turn back."

"Their ship will crash soon on Nal Hutta. Be there to capture the fugitives," the voice of the Nikto pilot in charge of the attack on the freighter said. The Nikto nodded before gesturing to the Gammorrean and he left.

"You found the ship like I said," Obi-Wan said to the Nikto guard. How he ended up in the dungeon like the first time was basically because the Nikto guard wasn't going to let him escape. Naturally, he really didn't expect to just be able to walk away because of the bounty on their heads. That was why Obi-Wan called off the manhunt the first time. "Our deal was that you would let me go now."

"The deal has changed," the Nikto said.

Obi-Wan sighed and, once the Nikto's back was turned, used the Force to free himself and call a rod to his hand before proceeding to knock the Nikto out. Well, it went differently but the results were still the same, he thought making his way out of the dungeon beneath Gardulla the Hutt's palace.

Once he was in a spot where he could speak to Mace and Yoda without getting caught, he contacted them. "This is Ben. I'm sorry for being out of communication but the situation has become tenuous," he said. "Although it looks like things are going to be on track soon. I need you to remove the bounty hunters. If I can win over Cad Bane then I can learn more about Eval's plot but there can't be more complications. So no matter what you hear, don't contact me or send help. Oh and one more thing, I will need enough credits to buy a new ship."

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine resisted the urge to narrow his eyes at the hologram of Mace Windu, one of the Jedi he liked least of all. "Why are you removing the bounty on the three fugitives?" he asked. He already knew one of the three fugitives was Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was also one of the Jedi that he disliked the most, but the Jedi council didn't know that.

"If they're free to move then they could lead us back to Eval's operation," Windu replied.

"Very well, keep me appraised," Palpatine said before he disconnected the transmission and looking at Anakin who was gazing out through the viewports eyes narrowed as if he was replaying what he just heard about Kenobi's supposed killer. Despite how much Anakin Skywalker had changed, changes that Palpatine did not like and had a feeling was due to whoever was meddling with his plans, he knew that Anakin was close enough to Kenobi to actually react with anger to Kenobi's killer wandering free.

"Are you all right, Anakin?" Palpatine asked false concern in his voice.

Anakin shook his head. "Just trying to come to terms with the fact that I can't do anything while my master's killer walks free," he said.

"The Jedi Council must not trust you enough to control your feelings enough to go after Hardeen," Palpatine suggested.

"I can come to terms with it, your Excellency, but I know I have to be patient. Even though the Jedi have called off the hunt, Hardeen will still get justice," Anakin replied.

Palpatine narrowed his eyes; that did not sound like something Anakin would say. It just goes to show that Anakin had changed a lot and Palpatine did not like it; if only he could find out who was meddling with his carefully laid plans.

"Nevertheless," Palpatine said calmly deciding on a different approach to get Anakin to react in anger. Perhaps if he knew of where Hardeen was then he might change his mind about going after him, "I have it from a reliable source that the fugitives were last heading towards Nal Hutta. I am sure you are angry with Hardeen but you cannot deny your feelings, Anakin. They are what make you special. If you believe you can stop this plot against me, I trust you."

"I thank you for your trust but I'm going to leave it up to the Council and, by your leave, I am starting to get hungry so I'm going to go get something to eat," Anakin said with a slight incline of his head before he turned around and left the office.

Palpatine stared after him. Now I really must find out who is causing Anakin to change so much, he thought, before I lose what influence I have cultivated.

Obi-Wan sat at the café in the Bilbousa Bazaar watching as Bane and Eval entered the Bazaar before he sipped at his drink. "Back so soon?" he called down to them.

The two of them looked at him before making their way over to join him.

"Let me guess," Obi-Wan said swirling his drink around in its glass; he really was having fun playing the bad guy, "you missed me." He sipped at his drink again as Bane ran up to him, grabbed him and proceeded to toss him into a table.

"Kill me and you will never get off Nal Hutta," Obi-Wan warned the bounty hunter.

"Moralo Eval is running out of time and patience. Let the man talk," Eval said pulling Bane off Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan rubbed his throat as he sat up. "Look, I've got a ship," he said. "You've got the Hutts on your tails so you make me a partner in everything."

Eval sighed. "Your deal is accepted," he said turning away.

"No, first I want to know where you got the credits to buy a ship," Bane said stopping Obi-Wan from following Eval.

"You thought you left me for dead," Obi-Wan retorted tossing Bane's hand off his chest, "but the Hutts owed me a favor."

"So you had them shoot us down," Bane growled stepping forward only for Obi-Wan to push him back a few steps.

"You would have done the same thing, Bane," he said. "The way I see it, we're even now."

"Now that we're all friends," Eval growled, "get me off this festering stinkhole."

When they reached the ship, Obi-Wan decided to tell Bane of the split in the fee he got from saving Eval from prison. "So about your fee from Eval, a 50/50 split sounds fair to me," he said.

Bane glanced at him. "Over my dead corpse," he said.

"Don't tempt me," Obi-Wan replied following Bane into the ship.

Their next destination was Serenno. The place where the biggest of all the challenges Obi-Wan faced during his undercover mission the first time, and the time now, would take place; the Box.

"Barriss didn't want to speak with me," Ahsoka said as she blocked a slash aimed at her side before thrusting her blades toward Anakin's chest but they were easily blocked by Anakin's blade.

"My mistake," Anakin said with a shrug. "I thought that's what she said. I guess I heard wrong."

"Must be old age."

Anakin scowled good-humoredly before he proceeded to disarm Ahsoka while she was distracted. "I win again," he said. "Not bad for an old man, huh?"

Ahsoka snorted calling her lightsabers to her hands. "Rematch?" she asked.

Anakin grinned. "Sure thing," he said and the two of them began to spar again.

After sparring for the majority of the day, Anakin deactivated his lightsaber. "I think that's enough for one day," he said. "Want to go to Dex's?"

Ahsoka smiled. "Can Jenica come with?" she asked.

"Ask Siri. I don't mind."

Ahsoka nodded and the two of them walked toward Siri's apartment where Jenica was staying with Siri since Siri was her temporary master while Obi-Wan was undercover. They reached the apartment and Ahsoka knocked on the door. The door slide open and Jenica stepped back.

"Master Skywalker, Ahsoka, what brings you two here?" she asked.

"We were wondering if you'd like to come to us to Dex's Diner," Ahsoka said.

"Sure, let me just ask Master Tachi. You're welcome to come in," Jenica said before she walked over to join her master while Ahsoka and Anakin walked into the apartment.

"Master Tachi, can I go with Ahsoka and Master Skywalker to Dex's Diner?" Jenica asked.

Siri glanced at her. "Fine by me but bring me a nerfsteak, a sweet pie and some Jawa juice," she said.

"Nerfsteak and sweet pie? That's an odd combination," Ahsoka said.

"I don't know if Dex's serves that, master," Jenica said.

"But that's what I want," Siri protested tears filling her eyes.

Anakin saw another mood swing coming on. He had talked with Padmé about Siri's pregnancy, after getting permission from Siri, and Padmé warned him that pregnant people were very emotional, sometimes had mood swings all the time and had weird food cravings. She said that she dealt with it when her sister was pregnant. She also warned Anakin that the mood swings would occur whenever they felt like it; it was different from one pregnant woman to the next.

So, upon seeing the mood swing coming on, Anakin hastened to reassure her. "We'll get you that, Siri," he said. "We'll be back as soon as we can."

"Hurry up. I'm hungry," Siri shouted angrily.

"We're going, Siri, we're going," Anakin said and the three of them left Siri's apartment.

"What's the matter with Master Tachi, master?" Ahsoka asked.

Anakin looked at his apprentice with a raised eyebrow. "How the blazes do I know?" he asked.

Ahsoka chuckled. "Let's go get something to eat," she said.

Anakin nodded in agreement and the three Jedi left the Jedi Temple before heading over to the speeder and taking it down toward Dex's Diner.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: I know I said I was going to combine "Friends and Enemies" with "The Box" but I realized that this chapter would end up being like twenty pages if I did both episodes so I decided to put "The Box" as its own chapter

Darth: I liked it

Blaze: yup so did I

Harry: IT WAS AWESOME

Severus: will you ever learn to not scream every time you talk, Potter?

Harry: NO

Anakin: Obi-Wan's going to be in sooo much trouble when Siri gets a hold of him

Siri: (ignites lightsaber and glares at Obi-Wan)

Obi-Wan: uh, can it at least wait until after the "Crisis on Naboo" episode?

Siri: fine but only until then (deactivates lightsaber)

Obi-Wan: (pulls out flaming machete)

Palpypie: hi

Obi-Wan: (slams flaming machete into Palpypie's head)

Anakin: how'd you know he was there?

Obi-Wan: (shrugs) I sensed his presence

Anakin: ah

Blaze: please review and I will post the next chapter, which will definitely cover "The Box" as soon as I possibly can. Since I posted this chapter early, I will try to get the next chapter up by Friday night and, if all things go as planned, the chapter covering "Crisis on Naboo" will be up by Sunday night.