Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay – I've always imagined it as a type of meditation for him.
Geri K – I think they will be fine if they stick together.
chibi heishi – Ben is going to have to develop some stubbornness of his own if he is to stand his ground with his new family.
Furionknight – Thanks
Lillafiore – I think that Obi-Wan would need to clear the air with Anakin. He is too close to Xanatos to bring an apprentice in that would upset the balance.
Hashslinginslsh – Thanks for reading.
beauty0102 – Glad you are enjoying the story.
Utuu - Thanks
Chapter 14
Xanatos stepped carefully through the darkened room, able to see thanks to Coruscant's nighttime assault of blinking and flashing lights. He carefully opened the bedroom door and approached the lone occupant. Obi-Wan stirred, shifting positions, but his breathing fell immediately back into the gentle rhythm of sleep. Xanatos reached towards the slumbering Jedi's shoulder, suddenly finding his wrist snatched and struggled against it. He jerked hard to free his arm from the unrelenting grip, unintentionally dragging Obi-Wan onto the floor only to have his ankle grabbed and feet wrenched out from under him before being pinned roughly to the floor by a knee.
"Xan?" Obi-Wan asked, now fully awake. "What are you doing in my room?"
Xanatos tried to answer, but only managed a pained, "Your … knee." Obi-Wan looked down to where his knee dug in near Xanatos' throat, supporting his weight and quickly pulled it up. The older Jedi gasped in air greedily before taking a few normal, even breaths.
Xanatos rolled to a sitting position as he reached up to rub at his chest. "I'll note for the future that you defend first and check for familiar presences later."
"I was sound asleep … what did you expect sneaking up on me?"
"I just hope Ben doesn't ever have a nightmare and seek you out in the middle of the night." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Get dressed. We're going out," Xanatos announced.
"Where? Ben and I are moving to our new quarters tomorrow and making final preparations for his braiding ceremony."
"I'll explain later. Don't worry; you'll be back before morning."
The pair made their way to the lower depths of Coruscant. Xanatos led them to a dingy, smoke-filled cantina that was surprisingly quiet for the number of patrons. He wasted no time taking a seat by the window where the discolored, grime covered plexiglass gave passable view to the outside walkway.
Are you going to let me in on what we are doing here now?"
Xanatos caught the attention of a passing cocktail waitress and ordered two drinks, gazing distractedly out the window until she returned with two small glasses of glowing blue liquor.
Obi-Wan raised his glass, eyeing it with irritation before setting it back down on the table. "If you dragged me out of bed in the middle of the night just to go drinking ..."
A look of mock hurt flickered across pale features as Xanatos finally tore his eyes from the outside walkway. "I only want someone to talk to while I watch and wait."
"A mission?"
"Of sorts."
"Anakin," Obi-Wan stated knowingly as Xanatos nodded. They both picked up their glasses and downed the contents in one gulp.
"He's shielded his end of our training bond, but I have it on good authority he'll be here."
"Whose authority?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Mine," Xanatos replied. "I never thought I would be using years of experience in surveillance to track my own apprentice. What's most disturbing is that the kid goes places in Coruscant I never dared to go when I was younger."
"That does say a lot." Obi-Wan grinned mischievously.
Xanatos scowled at the younger man and Obi-Wan paused, a look of deep concern and seriousness settling over his features. "Hold still."
"What?" Xanatos huffed out with irritation as Obi-Wan hovered inches from his head, examining him.
"I think … I see … some gray ..." He reached out towards the sleek ebony locks. Xanatos swatted his hand away animatedly as though waving off a swarm of insects and Obi-Wan laughed out loud, drawing the looks of other patrons.
"You laugh, now." Xanatos leaned closer as though about to divulge a great secret. "I'd be willing to place a wager on which one of us goes gray first."
"No bets." Obi-Wan said having learned not to bet against Xanatos. "Knowing you, you're probably already dyeing your hair anyhow."
"And here I thought you would be sympathetic company." He reached forward pulling at Obi-Wan's golden locks. "I could actually see you as more of a white-haired old man anyhow."
They both settled back into their seats, Obi-Wan looking slightly more disturbed than before. Xanatos looked longingly into his empty glass as he twirled it in his fingers. "You still have doubts, don't you?"
"No doubts about Ben at all." Obi-Wan began to tug at the hem of his sleeve, rubbing the reddish brown fabric through his fingers. "Maybe the doubts are about me." He looked up to meet Xanatos' deep blue gaze. "What if I fail him? What if I get him hurt or killed?" Silence reigned for a moment and then Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "What if I orphan him?"
"We could play with 'what-ifs' all night long." Xanatos smiled sadly, having suspected that losing his own master was somewhere at the root of Obi-Wan's doubts. "Those are all questions I ask myself. I suspect any master asks them."
"Do you ever regret taking Anakin?"
"Don't you start too." Xanatos sighed, shaking his head. "I will admit that the prospect scared the hell out of me – the first time you left me alone with him was terrifying. But, I can't imagine life without him now. A warm smile spread across his face. "And, I think I finally figured out why Qui-Gon asked me to train Anakin."
"Because you understand him?"
"That, but also … punishment … retribution … take your pick." Xanatos grinned at Obi-Wan's expression of utter shock before directing his gaze back out the window. "By leaving me an apprentice nearly like I was, he is assured I get a taste of the hell I must have put him through." Xanatos grew silent, withdrawing into himself more. "But ironically, I think I truly understand and appreciate Master more than I ever have before." While it might have disturbed someone else, Obi-Wan was used to the elder Jedi's brooding moods and silence. He wasn't surprised when he spoke again after a few moments, changing the subject.
"I was thinking … since you will be around and our padawans both have life days coming up, we should take them to Tusam IV. We haven't been in a long time."
"Not since we went with Master last," Obi-Wan said. "You might need a refresher on what Ghermant leaves look like."
Xanatos scowled before the edge of his lip lifted into a smirk. "It would be good for Anakin and Ben to be away from the confines of the Temple together and get to know each other more."
"It would."
"Speaking of Anakin …"
Both Jedi watched as the boy strolled down the alley, all but passing right by them without a care in the world.
"What do we do?" Obi-Wan asked.
"We wait."
Obi-Wan felt an ebb of warning in the Force as a group of tall, thick humans approached Anakin. He quickly rose to his feet. Xanatos caught the sleeve of his robe and jerked him back down into his seat.
"Xan, don't you see what's happening?" Obi-Wan's eyes went from Anakin to Xanatos and back again, and he stood once more, straining against the older Jedi's durasteel grip on his robe.
"Of course I do," Xanatos replied calmly. "It's time he learned not to sneak out."
"What did you do?" Obi-Wan asked in disbelief, falling limply into his chair as the gang surrounded Anakin and begin to corral him away from the main street.
"Dex helped me set it up. They won't hurt him only shake him up a little … give him pause to think." Xanatos pinned Obi-Wan down with his gaze, fully aware the younger knight did not approve. "Because he is still so young, we have only been sent on simple courier missions. That will change soon and I can't afford to have him pull this sort of stunt when we are in more hostile circumstances."
Obi-Wan moved to get up again. "Now I'm worried about them. He might only be eleven, but he can still do a lot of damage with a saber."
Xanatos sighed deeply as he unclipped a small metallic cylinder from his belt. "It will also teach him to keep this with him at all times." He held the saber hilt in his line of sight. "This weapon is your life," he stated in a passable imitation of their late mentor.
Obi-Wan groaned. "Tell me you haven't used that one."
"Oh I have, and believe it or not - you will as well."
Anakin was out of their line of sight now and Obi-Wan sat rigidly in his chair. The Force was agitated, full of turbulence as Anakin grew more fearful with his situation. Xanatos squeezed his eyes shut, trembling slightly, and Obi-Wan realized he was anything but enjoying his apprentice's distress.
"We should go for a rescue now," Xanatos finally said, nearly jumping from his seat. They rushed into the alley and got a few steps away from the cantina when Xanatos suddenly stumbled. Obi-Wan didn't have to ask why the older Jedi's face went pale. He had felt Anakin's Force presence disappear as well.
"We didn't discuss suppressing him," Xanatos said picking up his pace. He traveled the corner in seconds only to arrive in an empty alley.
Xanatos had always been a pillar of strength, so to see the Jedi collapse onto his knees in a desperate attempt to not unravel left Obi-Wan standing speechless. The struggle with emotions was visibly etched onto his friend's face from clenched jaw to trembling lips and the war waged in the Force was stifling.
Obi-Wan walked to where the alley dead-ended, glancing in both directions. He was drawn to a pile of rubbish and debris, kicking at it randomly and was met with two clouded, lifeless eyes. He cleared further and found another body.
"Xanatos!"
The Jedi master was at his side in seconds, composed if not tense, hopeful he had found something.
"That's the one I made arrangements with," Xanatos whispered in forced, deliberate tones. He reached up and ran fingers through his hair, tugging in seething frustration.
"Xan, we've both been here before." Granted it was on the other side with them being the ones kidnapped. "He's only Force suppressed. If …"
"I know … if whoever it is wanted him dead, they would already have killed him." Xanatos looked up at Obi-Wan with hollow eyes. He had lots of enemies – the Jedi had lots of enemies – and Coruscant was a large place. "Who has him?"
Anakin struggled against his bindings, furious at the collar locked tightly around his throat and the blindfold blocking his sight. Never in his short life could he remember a time when the Force was not there. He hadn't been able to put a name to it until Qui-Gon had entered his life, but the warmth and Light had always been within grasp.
Xanatos had explained the concept of Force suppression before their first mission together emphasizing that he should not panic if it ever happened. The Force was always there even if he couldn't touch it. But, he hadn't been prepared to be cut off from his master. He had caught a brief flicker of concern – a brief promise that he was coming before the bond had been blocked and it gave him hope.
The speeder stopped and he was dragged roughly from the back and slung over someone's shoulder. He resisted the urge to kick and scream, instinct telling him that he wouldn't have been taken to somewhere where that would be helpful.
He was deposited on a cold hard floor and the blindfold was removed. His eyes did not have to adjust as the lighting in the vast circular room was dim. Something emerged from the shadows in the corner. The figure was heavily cloaked, but Anakin could discern it was a man because the bottom of his face hung below the covering of his hood.
His captors backed away, nearly cowering as the figure approached gliding like a dark specter across the floor. "As promised," one of them finally mustered the courage to choke out.
"And you will be properly compensated." There was a vile sneer to his tone that left even Anakin knowing something was terribly wrong. The figure turned its attention to him.
"Welcome Young Skywalker – Chosen One. I have been expecting you."
"Who are you?" Anakin asked. "What do you want with me?"
"Perhaps I should kill you and be done with it, as the Jedi believe the Chosen One is destined to destroy the Sith … destroy me." Thin lips pulled up into a twisted smile.
"I believe we can do away with this." Sideous raised his hand and the collar at once fell away from Anakin's neck. Anakin reached out expecting to take in the comfort of the Force; instead, he inhaled deeply from the putrid stench of Darkness that obstructed the currents of Light surrounding him. Just as the Light always bombarded him calling for his attention, the Darkness seemed to tug at him, dragging him into its thickness. Before it could drown him, he quickly found the beacon of his mentor's mind, joyfully grabbing for it.
"Yes, by all means, contact your mentor." Anakin, too busy trying to find Xanatos, didn't hear Sidious' taunting whisper. "He must be frightfully worried about you."