Chapter 3:

"You did what?" the scandalized and slightly angry voice of Mace Windu asked, after Obi-Wan and Anakin had explained their situation.

From the corner of his eyes, the ginger haired man saw his companion flinch and drifting closer to his side. "We searched for the Sith we were supposed to gather information about, without the troops, for the fog was too thick for those untrained in the ways of the Force. Eventually we escaped the fog and the Sith we were searching for appeared and talked with us. Or rather, he ordered us to leave this planet, but before he did that, he actually asked me to join him…" Obi-Wan hesitated and began stroking his beard, "He was acting rather strange for a Sith Lord, especially towards me."

Anakin nodded in agreement. The static form of Mace Windu rested his head in his hands and took a few deep breathes.

"Was there something else he said?" Ki-Adi-Mundi wanted to know.

"He mentioned the 'Sith Order' and that I should take a look into the Sith holocrons we have. It certainly is worrisome that he knew that these holocrons are in our possessions."

"Do you think he have a spy in our midst?" This time it was Plo Koon who asked.

"I do not think so, Masters. I cannot explain it, but I've got the feeling that it is nothing the like."

Yoda hummed thoughtfully, "Something else bothering you, there is."

"Yes Master," Obi-Wan nodded and let his arms fall back to his sides, "it's something else the Sith said."

"Speak then," the dark skinned Jedi encouraged.

"He told me that he knows me my whole life and as strange as it may sound, I feel connected to him. It almost feels like a bond. The Force urges me in his direction, but when I reach out to ask, it only urges me onwards."

"You share a bond with a Sith Lord?" Anakin exclaimed and took a step back.

"Of course not, a bond needs to be formed willingly by two individually and I never agreed to such a bond."

"Not necessarily it needs two willing beings to create a bond," the wise and green Jedi Master stated, "In mysterious ways the Force works, hm."

"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan asked, "Is there something the Council is not telling me?"

Yoda exchanged a glance with the dark skinned Jedi, who sighed and nodded in silent agreement. "When we found you Obi-Wan, your presence in the Force was tainted-"

"That's stupid and you know it. Obi-Wan has the brightest presence in the Force I have ever seen!" Anakin jumped to his former Master's defence.

"As I was saying," the bald Jedi continued, completely ignoring the younger man's outburst, "your presence was tainted by a bond you shared with another being. However, the person from the other side of the bond was nowhere to be found and till today we have no idea who it might be. The only thing we know it that the bond you share with this unknown being, was created by the Force itself and cannot be undone. Only when one of the two bonded people dies, the bond will be broken."

"Risk there is that when one dies, the other will too."

"Why did you never tell me and why haven't I noticed until now?"

"We shielded the bond as good as we could. The problem was that it was the dark side that came from it and it was starting to influence you. In order to stop it, we could your connection as good as possible, but even that was not enough. Sometimes something would leak into your mind… we guess this is the darkness Qui-Gon felt in you." Mace explained.

A heavy silence settled between the Jedi. Obi-Wan was processing what he had just been told. Anakin looked bewildered and unsure between his former Master and the other Council members, who were exchanging glances between each other. Only Yoda and Mace Windu remained relatively calm.

"You tell me that somewhere in the galaxy someone is running around, to whom I am bonded? And that there is a high risk that when he or she dies, I will die too?" His eyes narrowed in anger, "And do I understand it correctly that the Council did not see it fit to inform me in this matters?"

The Masters remained silent and Obi-Wan huffed in annoyance and left the room, without another word. Anakin was about to follow him, but the voice of the green and old Jedi Master stopped him, "Follow him, you should not. Time alone is what he needs. Time to think and to figure out what the Force has planned for him."

"Do you think that this other person could be the Sith Lord we encountered?" Anakin asked curious.

"It certainly would explain the tainted Force presence…" Mace Windu sighed, "You should leave this planet. Tell your troops to be ready to depart, you will travel to one of the neighbouring planets. Apparently a droid army was send there and the residents required Jedi help."

"I understand Master."

Mace nodded, "One more thing. Don't talk to anyone, not even Master Kenobi about what we just revealed. These information are confidential and should not get into the wrong hands."

"I understand Masters, may the Force be with you."

"And with you," replied the dark skinned Jedi and the connection was shut off.

Anakin promptly turned around and left the room to search for his wayward companion. He would need to tell the man about their new assigned mission. That and he wanted to offer the ginger haired Jedi Master as much comfort as he could, even though he wasn't sure IF he could. He himself would be furious to be let out on such trivial matters. He sighed, how he hated the Council…