Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay - Sneaky, yep that's one word for Sidious.

Jedi Angel001 - Believe me, Xan is kicking himself for not seeing this coming. And I think Anakin has learned not to sneak off... for now.

chibi heishi - Yes, Sidious has put Xan in a bind with what he has told Anakin. There will be fallout from this.

Chapter 17

"Absolutely not!"

Obi-Wan stared down the boy – his padawan- sitting across from him, who was already clenching his jaw in protest.

"Why not, Master?"

"Ben, Anakin is being held by a Sith. It's too dangerous for you to go," Obi-Wan said firmly. "I want you to stay here."

"I am your padawan now. Isn't my place at your side?"

Obi-Wan ran his fingers through his hair as his own voice and words came back to haunt him. How many times had he used that argument as an apprentice? How many times had Qui-Gon given in to that stubborn plea? And how many times had he ended up in the healers' ward because of it? His padawan was fresh out of the crèche, and he had not had time to prepare him for anything they might find beyond the Temple walls, and the boy certainly wasn't ready if they confronted a Sith.

"Padawan … I lost my master to a Sith."

"And I don't want to lose mine to one either," Ben countered.

Obi-Wan sighed deeply. "Padawan, look me in the eyes." Deep brown eyes brimming with determination met his. "If I ask you to leave or run at any point, you will obey without question."

"And leave you in danger ..?"

"Without question," Obi-Wan emphasized in deliberate tones, and Ben nodded his head. "Do you have your saber?"

"Yes, Master," Ben said.

"Come, then. Xanatos is waiting for us."

The plate covering the door's control panel sprung loose and hit the floor with an echoing clang and Anakin nervously looked around the room feeling his pulse begin to race. He was still alone and let out a sigh of relief. The one calling himself Darth Sidious had left him alone again after the last bout of taunting, alone with a multitude of thoughts and questions, and three dead bodies. He shivered, recalling the clouded gazes of the lifeless corpses lying nearby when he had searched the bodies for anything he could use as a tool.

He surveyed the wires beneath the control panel. Sidious had left him locked in the vast room, Force-suppressed; obviously assuming he would not be able to unlock the doors. Anakin was actually glad to be cut off for the moment. At least he was no longer suffocating in Darkness, and he didn't need the Force to unlock doors. Although he really wished he has access to even basic tools, he was making do with scraps of metal and various items he had found. He reached up with trembling fingers, bloodied with small abrasions from his struggle with the metal plate, and started picking through the wires. It should just be a matter of splicing and reconnecting a few wires and he would be free. He had done it many times before when necessary.

Anakin had thought long and hard about what the Sith had said concerning his master. It was true - Xanatos was not like other Jedi masters. The boy knew for a fact that his master tended to feel strongly, struggling often with his emotions as well as with demons from his past. He had never spoke of this to Anakin other than to say that he wasn't proud of his past and that he had left the Order for a time in his youth. Had he followed the Dark side? Had he fallen? Anakin eyed the dead bodies warily again. Had his master ever been capable of that?

All Anakin knew for certain was that he didn't want to stay and find out what the Sith had planned next. Despite the fact that this Sidious wanted him to believe his master was some horrible monster, Xanatos had never hurt him and had only shown him love and acceptance. He longed to be back at the older Jedi's side, in the safety of his presence. He considered the question, "Why did Xanatos hate the Dark side so much?" And, his answer was that even if Xanatos had at some point left, he came back to the Jedi for a reason. He hoped he would have the opportunity to ask about it.

He managed to splice the necessary wires, feeling elation that his freedom was close, when he heard a door open on the other side of the room. He began fumbling with the wires with increased urgency when he felt the collar drop from around his neck ushering in the dreaded flood of Darkness. The Sith lord let out an amused chuckle that shook Anakin to his very core.

"I will have to remember how mechanically inclined you are."

Undeterred, he made the appropriate connection and the door slid open. He turned, shooting a defiant glance at the shadow drifting towards him, before choosing to make a run for it. He took one step and felt a crushing grip around his throat that instantly brought him to his knees.

Anakin clawed at his neck as though his mere hands could free him from the invisible grip. Black spots began to cloud before his eyes and unconsciousness closed in on him as his body cried out. The grip let up and he greedily sucked in air, massaging his throat.

"Come back into the room."

Anakin stayed on his knees seething, angry that he had been robbed of his hard-earned freedom. With a distraction, he still might be able to make a run for it. He concentrated, drawing the Force around himself and turned, unleashing a Force push against the Sith lord.

The Sith raised his hand, standing still, only the edges of his cloak swaying as though merely caught in a stiff breeze as he blocked the anticipated attack. He let out a menacing cackle.

"So weak," he crooned, as he lifted his other hand. "Just like your master and all the other Jedi," he sneered.

Anakin huddled into a defensive ball, sensing the surge of Darkness right before the blue lightening he had hoped to never see again tore through his body. He curled in closer on himself, electricity surging through him until the Sith finally decided to stop.

"Now, come back."

Anakin whimpered as he dragged his body back to the middle of the room, now feeling utterly spent and exhausted. He rested on his side, drawing his knees up to his body. "Not weak," he whispered.

"Now … the matter of your master … I seem to have underestimated him," Sidious said calmly. "He now has search parties all over this part of Coruscant."

"Told you he'd come for me."

"I never doubted that he would find you. However, at the rate he is moving; he will be here by nightfall. Which leaves you with a choice – come with me and I will leave him and your friend, Obi-Wan alone, or stay here."

"I'll stay," Anakin said.

"It's your choice." Sidious began to leave, only turning to say. "But, I'm afraid I can no longer guarantee their safety … or yours."

Obi-Wan watched Xanatos as he continued on their search through Coruscant. His padawan brother, intently brooding, continued on as though there were storm clouds hanging over his head. Despite his assertion that he could handle this, Obi-Wan could sense that his emotions were still in an extreme state of chaos. Xanatos suddenly paused, gazing off into the distance. "I can sense him."

"So can I," Obi-Wan said, noticing the same fiery presence in the Force like clouds had moved away revealing a particularly bright star in the night sky. "Why would the Sith all of a sudden let us sense him?"

"Oh, it's likely a trap," Xanatos said in a wry tone. "Just like opening the training bond was."

"If it's a trap, should we still go? Shouldn't we call one of the masters and let them know?" Ben asked.

"That takes time," Xanatos said, grinning. "Anakin is there now and we don't know when we might be cut off again." With a swish of long dark robes, Xanatos increased his pace towards the waiting beacon in the darkness with Obi-Wan and Ben trailing in his wake.

It was a simple old warehouse, abandoned from the looks of it. It should have been overrun by now, a haven for vagrants and others wanting to hide their unsavory deeds. Perhaps those in the area, even if they couldn't sense the choking Darkness, knew to stay away. The building was absolutely empty … except for the blazing Force presence of Anakin Skywalker.

A figure, wrapped tightly in his dark cloak, crouched down on the opposite side of the street, hidden perfectly behind a stack of crates. When he wanted to hide, Xanatos, with shields pulled tightly around his presence, could become invisible. He had once bet Obi-Wan that he could even hide from Master Yoda and allowed him to choose the time and place. The small master had passed right by Xanatos' hiding place in one of the Temple gardens; mere inches away from his mediation spot, never sensing a thing. That was a good bottle of Corellian ale … and Obi-Wan had never wagered against him since.

Xanatos studied the building through the Force, trying to make out a distinct presence in the Darkness, searching for anything that resembled the shadow he had sensed at the funeral on Naboo. But, he determined no other presence besides Anakin. It was sheer discipline that kept him from rushing in to claim his apprentice.

He heard the scrapping of a set of boots against duracrete and a slight smile slipped across his features. Ben, like Anakin, had a lot to learn about stealth. Fortunately, anyone hearing him approach would be quite shocked to come face to face with the older, quieter Jedi at his side.

"What did you find on your end?" Xanatos asked.

"It looks like there are multiple entrances – no guards."

"I wouldn't expect any." Xanatos sat back on his heels, looking at the building as though he were trying to see through the walls.

"Do you sense anything other than Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Darkness, obviously, but nothing distinct. I actually don't think the Sith is in there. We should move in now."

Xanatos heard his friend let out a slight sigh and turned to catch sight of Obi-Wan crouching close to Ben. The bob of curls as Ben nodded his head at Obi-Wan's whispers reminded Xanatos that the pair shouldn't be here. Getting Ben a haircut had been on Obi-Wan's agenda for the day. It also reminded him of boxes sitting in both their rooms that should be in their shared quarters by now. But, he was thankful they were with him.

"Are you ready?" Xanatos asked, and Obi-Wan nodded his head. "Let's go."

They slipped through the shadows with saber hilts in hand, finally making their way through a door that led to a narrow corridor. The passage emptied into a large room, and as they approached they could make out four still forms. Xanatos instantly recognized the one in the center to be Anakin. He moved nimbly ahead, pausing at the entrance, holding his two companions back with his hand.

"Stay here," he mouthed to Obi-Wan.

He stepped forward on his own and made a quick evaluation of the room, checking the other entrances and the three dead bodies, before calling out. "It's all clear – there's no one else here.

Obi-Wan entered with Ben trailing on his heels, and Xanatos went right to where Anakin laid on his back on the ground.

Xanatos kneeled down stroking a hand down the side of his padawan's face to assess his injuries. The boy flinched at his touch, moving his head to avoid it and Xanatos sent a calming wave of warmth through the Force that caused him to still.

"That's it," he whispered

"How is he?" Obi-Wan appeared over his shoulder.

"He's injured," Xanatos said, running his hand over his apprentice's tunic, releasing the first stirrings if anger at the burned flesh beneath charred holes. "Let's get him back to the Temple."

He lifted Anakin, pausing at the ominous 'click' he heard the moment the boy's weight was lifted from the ground. "What did I just set off?" he hissed in annoyance.

"I don't know," Obi-Wan said. "If it were a bomb, we'd be dead or sensing a lot more agitation in the Force."

"Let's not wait around then," Xanatos said as he cradled Anakin close to him. The boy reached out almost instinctively and clutched his mentor's tunics in his hands. Xanatos turned towards the exit and hurried forward, stopping abruptly at the last minute to avoid a force field that had snapped into place. Turning, he leaned his back against the wall and let out a string of curses under his breath. Obi-Wan made a quick round of the room, finding the other entrances sealed as well.

"We should have seen that one coming," Xanatos spat out angrily.

"I know." Obi-Wan quickly pulled out his comlink, frowning as he tried to make a transmission. "It's jammed."

"Master, what do we do?" Ben asked hesitantly as the two older Jedi paused.

"We wait." Obi-Wan placed a hand to his apprentice's shoulder. "We comm'ed Master Unduli's team when we reached this location. They will come looking for us here if we don't check in soon. Right now, let's look around and see if we can find another way out."

They returned to the center of the room and Obi-Wan shrugged off his cloak, allowing it to pool to the floor, and spread it out so that Xanatos could lay Anakin on it. Xanatos raised an eyebrow and looked down at his unconscious apprentice. "You should be honored Anakin," he said as he pulled his own cloak off and tucked it around the small form. Anakin cuddled into the warmth.

"Do you need another?" They turned around to see Ben, clutching his own cloak in his arms. Xanatos accepted it, folding it to slip beneath Anakin's head. It wasn't that it was necessary, but Ben was a part of the team and needed to feel useful.

"Ben, would you mind sitting with Anakin while your master and I take a look around? I don't want him to be alone."

Xanatos knew there was a possibility of other traps and had gotten a good enough look at the bodies nearby to know that it would be best for Ben to stay put. While the eager, new padawan might have protested if Obi-Wan had made the suggestion, another master asking for help was an entirely different matter. Obi-Wan nodded his thanks.

"Yes, Master Marojni."

"Please call me Xanatos, Master Xanatos if you feel you must use an honorific. Just don't use my surname."

Ben nodded his head with a slight smile, taking a seat on the ground next to Anakin.

Xanatos and Obi-Wan first made another survey of the doors, stopping in front of the one with a missing panel. Xanatos grabbed at the wires, lifting them up. "That's Anakin's handiwork," Xanatos said, allowing a sense of pride in his apprentice to color his words. "Unfortunately, the force fields appear to be separate from the door controls so these wires won't do much good."

Obi-Wan pivoted around, walking over to crouch down by one of the bodies and Xanatos neared. Obi-Wan looked up in question. "His throat was crushed, but I don't see any finger marks."

"He was choked through the Force, same as the body back there." Xanatos moved across the room, stopping by the third. "This one is more disturbing."

"He was killed by a saber, obviously. But, what are these burns?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Force lightening. Anakin has the same burns."

"Do you think Anakin was a witness to all of this?" Obi-Wan asked, eyeing the two other bodies.

"I'm certain he was," Xanatos said numbly, remembering the fear he had sensed from his apprentice. He didn't want to think about all the Sith had shown Anakin and how he might have harmed him. He just wanted to get him home. "I guess I am thrilled in a way that the burns and control panel show he was resisting whatever happened."

"I shouldn't have brought Ben." Obi-Wan shook his head. "He's not ready for this."

"He's stronger than you think. At his age you were battling draigons and pirates …"

"And I could do that because I was secure in the knowledge that Master was at my side."

"Where do you think he draws his security? You're at his side, just as Master was at yours." Xanatos rested a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "And I'm here also. We're going to get out of this."

Obi-Wan fingered the holes burnt into the corpse's clothing. "Did you ever ..? " He paused, stifling his curiosity of something unnecessary. "Nevermind"

"Shoot lightening from my fingertips?" Xanatos chuckled, completing the thought. "Hell, no. Compared to a Sith, I was a complete novice in the Dark side … a baby."

"Master Ma … Xanatos." The gentle call of his name drew Xanatos' attention. "I think he's waking up."

Xanatos was there in a matter of steps kneeling on the floor over his padawan as he stirred, blue eyes clouded with confusion finally looking up at him.

"Master?" he mumbled.

"Yes, Anakin. I'm here," Xanatos soothed.

"I thought I was dreaming," he replied sleepily before trying to sit up abruptly. "I want to go home. Will you please take me home?"

Xanatos smiled as he saw Obi-Wan grab Ben's arm and pull him gently out of the way so that he and Anakin could be alone.

"I want that more than anything, but we're in a bit of a situation."

Semi-lucid eyes widened a little.

"It's okay. It's nothing Obi-Wan and I can't handle. Just rest now."

Xanatos sat down cross-legged on the floor and pulled the pile of robes and padawan into his lap. Anakin nuzzled against him.

"I need to ask you something very important, Padawan. Do you sense anyone in your mind, at all?"

"No." Anakin hid his face. "He's gone."

Taking a deep hesitant breath, Xanatos let down his shielding, and probed at the training bond without further hesitation. With Anakin no longer Force suppressed and no interference from the Sith, Xanatos could finally see that the bond was traumatized, but not completely severed. Xanatos flooded it with the Force feeling it surge to life. Anakin reached out to him from the other end and then drew back suddenly with a surge of concern and fear.

"What is it?" Xanatos asked, not wanting to push too quickly in touching his apprentice's tender mind.

"You're angry," Anakin said. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left the Temple."

"Shhh," Xanatos soothed. I'm not angry at you, Padawan. I'm angry because I let someone hurt you." He let out a frustrated sigh. "And, I'm angry because I made a mistake that has us all trapped here. But, I'm not angry at you."

"Master," Anakin said groggily, trying to choke back a sob. "I don't want to be the Chosen One anymore."

Xanatos' heart about broke at the desperation in the words, an emotion mirrored across their bond.

"All I've ever asked you to be is Anakin, okay? And that's all I want you to be."

Anakin nodded. "Tired …"

"Then you should rest, Padawan. I'm not going anywhere."