Floating above the strangely advanced looking planet Obi-wan stood next to his former padawan on the bridge. With fingers pressed against his temple and forehead he let out a long suffering sigh as Anakin began to babble about some old myth or other from Tatooine. He had always tried to let Anakin hold on to some of his childhood, as he hadn't wanted to strip the poor boy of his usual coping mechanisms, but the horror story he was spinning was making the younger of the vode quite nervous.

"Anakin, that's enough." The young man turned to give him a sour look and opened his mouth to argue. "You are scaring some of the men and in any case none of this is relevant as we don't even know if this is the 'mysterious' planet of your myth or not. This is quite a ways from Tatooine after all." He lowered his voice carefully, not wanting to make the men feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Some of them were only shinies, new to the Negotiator, and didn't yet realize that things like fear were emotions they were allowed to have and even show.

Standing next to him, looking over the preliminary scans they'd done on the planet, Cody leaned towards him slightly in a silent show of support. Obi-wan hid a smile and turned his attention to Ahsoka. "What do you think, padawan? What is the force telling you?" The young Togruta nibbled on her bottom lip, looking between he and Anakin for a moment before she answered.

"I don't feel any hostility or any warnings in the force, master, but there is something… weird." Anakin turned to regard his padawan carefully.

"What is it Ahsoka?" Closing her eyes Obi-wan could feel her reaching out to them and happily reached back. There was a faint sense of joy in the back of his mind that was not his own and he smiled.

'This is what I feel.' She sent along their bond. A wave of strange sensations along his head and down his back made him shudder slightly in surprise. It was not unpleasant but it was certainly surprising. 'What about you Master Obi-wan, what do you feel?' Shifting from foot to foot he let out a small huff. He really wasn't sure if he wanted to share or not but it couldn't hurt to get their impressions.

'I will admit it is a little strange and might not translate over properly.' He warned them before sending what he had been feeling since they entered the system. It was like hearing a song all the way to ones bones. A vibration that was filled with patience, promise, power, and fierce protectiveness. The sensation felt right, like the force brushing against his mind to comfort him when he needed it most.

'Gah! What even is that?' Anakin asked as he distanced himself slightly from the shared sensations. Obi-wan tried not to feel hurt at the sense of rejection and quickly withdrew his impression of the feeling.

'I'm not sure, Anakin, what are you sensing?' The young knight took a moment to breathe past his momentary discomfort and Obi-wan was quite proud of him for it. He knew his former padawan still had control issues but considering his strong connection with the force he did not begrudge him.

'It's like… like a storm.' The sensation from Anakin felt like the crackle of lightning and the gentle humming of the hyperdrive at the same time. Both strong yet gentle and all over very warm.

'What does it mean that we all feel something different, masters?' Obi-wan withdrew from their mental exercise and blinked a few times to clear his mind.

"I'm not sure. It could be that we are sensing different parts of the planet or even echoes from a time long past. We will have to investigate if we want to know more." Turning to Cody he smiled. "Have you found anything promising yet Commander?" The man inclined his head and motioned to the holotable.

"We've found what looks to be a temple of some sort. There is a large energy signal that appears to be in a dormant state. If we're going to start anywhere it should probably be there." Looking down at the strange building he slowly nodded.

"Hmm, we'll have to be cautious with who we send. Obviously there is something strange going on in the force here so at the very least I will be coming along on any scouting missions." Cody's helmet tilted toward him in a manner that made Obi-wan feel sheepish. It was half incredulity and half chastisement.

"Sir, the last time you 'felt something strange' in the force and went down to the surface of a planet we had to put you in a bacta tank for two weeks." Anakin scowled at the memory. It had not been a very good time for any of them.

"Even so, I insist." The discussion went on for some time and eventually he got his wish. Even if it wasn't quite how he wanted things to go.

"Cody, it would be inadvisable for you to come to the surface with us. You are the Marshal Commander. We can't have three Generals, the good Captain, and yourself down on the surface. What would happen to the chain of command if something went wrong?" Of course when said Captain, Commander, and Anakin all disagreed with him he couldn't exactly say no.

In the end both the alpha teams of Ghost and Torrent were sent along with Cody, Rex, Obi-wan, and Anakin. Ahsoka was ordered to stay on board just in case. Thankfully Anakin agreed with him on that much.

"We'll be fine, Snips. Take care of everyone for us while we're gone." Ahsoka crossed her arms over her chest but relented. She gave them each a hug before they left and Obi-wan smiled warmly at her. She'd come such a long way in such a short amount of time. He was so proud of her.

Down on the planet's surface they kept on their guard, lightsabers in hand and senses alert. They traversed the strange landscape, an odd mix of cold steel and organic life that was growing between the cracks. So far they had sensed no other lifeforms and it was eerily quiet, making the poor troopers jumpy.

The temple itself was, in a way, quite beautiful. Every inch of its surface had been carved with intricate designs that seemed to flicker with light if one stared long enough. It was almost like the temple was only sleeping and was just waiting to be awoken. There was a feeling of power thrumming through their feet as they approached, gaining in power the closer they came to the entrance. It was a good thing they'd left Ahsoka, he was certain that the sensation would have been too much for her adolescent montrals to handle. Hesitating a moment he turned to Anakin.

"I wonder if this is the sensation the force was warning your dear padawan about." The blonde looked at him thoughtfully and nodded.

"It's a good thing we left her on the Negotiator."

"Indeed. I wonder if-" As they were talking the troopers who had taken point suddenly froze, guns up. They had passed what at first looked to be small embellishments on the sides of the wide thoroughfare and it appeared to have triggered some sort of defense mechanism. Large canons rose out of the ground and Obi-wn felt his heart stutter in his chest. Behind them he heard the same groan and hiss that preceded the guns and sure enough another set were rising from the ground behind them.

"Run! Toward the temple!" Turning he blocked a couple of shots with his lightsaber and grit his teeth at the strength of them. They were nothing short of heavy artillery and he knew if they remained out in the open they would all be killed. Somewhere behind him he could hear Anakin deflecting the bolts back at the guns and flinched when an explosion sent a wave of force into his back.

Thankfully the guns were old and slow, their shots going wide after years of disuse and the vines that had wound around them over however long they had been left to rust.

Plastering himself against the wall he looked over at Anakin who was frantically searching for something along a wall. "What are you doing?" He called over, ducking so the guns couldn't get a bead on him.

"Trying to find some way to shut the door!" Obi-wan rolled his eyes and reached out with the force. The half open doors let out a low groan and his foolish former padawan finally got the point. Together they shut the large metal doors and felt relief pour off the troops.

"Kix, is anyone injured?" To everyone's surprise no one was hurt more than a few nasty scrapes and bruises.

"Now we just have to find a way out of here." Anakin supplied cheerfully. Obi-wan sighed, he felt a headache coming on.

"Sirs? I'm getting some strange energy readings." One of Anakin's ARCs said, holding up a datapad. Obi-wan recognized Echo and smiled.

"Have they changed from before?" Anakin leaned over the trooper's shoulder, looking at the datapad with interest. The man held the datapad a little higher so his general could see and Anakin made a noise that was somewhere between 'that looks interesting' and 'I'm a little worried about that.' Obi-wan had gotten very good at interpreting the random noises his former padawan made, especially during his teenage years.

"I think the guns had their own secondary energy source, the temple itself still looks inactive. Although… that energy signal we were getting before has… moved." Well that didn't bode well at all.

"Moved where?" The trooper looked down at his datapad for a moment before taking off toward the far side of the enormous hall. He walked along the far wall for a moment before reaching above his head and pressing his hand against it. A panel lit up then went dormant again.

"There is energy gathered here but it seems to be on standby, cycling through different states. Almost like a pulse." Curious Anakin walked up next to the ARC and reached out. The moment his hand touched the panel it lit up and changed from a dull yellow to a deep blue. A door about three times the size of a baseline human shot open and small lights flickered along the floor, as if encouraging them to move onward.

"I… okay I have no idea why that worked." Echo and Anakin shared a confused look for a moment before the trooper began scanning the wall, the panel, Anakin, and the open hall. The man frowned as he tapped away at the pad, his tongue sticking out slightly in concentration.

"I have no idea either. Do you think it has something to do with the force, General?" Both of them looked at him and Obi-wan had to hide a small smile. Anakin was standing right there and yet…

"Perhaps. I didn't feel Anakin use the force but it may be that this place can sense force sensitivity and only responds to someone powerful enough to meet some unknown parameter. Maybe I'll give it a try next time. For all we know it will only respond to Anakin." Everyone looked at the blonde and he felt curiosity, awe, and even a low-key suspicion. But the men had been through enough strange force happenings that he didn't comment on their wariness.

"Want to see where this goes, Obi-wan?" Anakin gave him a mischievous smirk and he sighed.

"Well, I don't see any other way forward, do you?" His former padawan held up his lightsaber in response and the grin widened when Obi-wan gave him the look.

They followed the halls carefully, Obi-wan and Anakin taking point. Echo occasionally mumbled something or other to himself before calling out directions or new information from his scans. They were getting close to the energy signature. Finally they came to another closed door and Echo quickly pointed out the panel. Anakin pressed his hand to the wall but nothing happened. He looked over at Echo who frowned and did another quick scan.

"That's the correct spot alright, not sure why it's no working now." As the two of them were talking Obi-wan stepped closer to the door and placed his hand against it, trying to get a feel for what was behind it through the force. What met him was was the sensation of singing and he jerked back. Only Cody noticed as everyone's attention was either on Anakin or watching the hall for possible danger.

"General?" Cody asked him quietly, cupping his elbow as if to steady him. He could feel the man's concern for him and smiled reassuringly.

"It's nothing, Cody. Just…" Something was calling out to him in the force. Stepping up to the wall he reached up and pressed his hand to the panel. Time slowed and he felt a shiver as something flowed through him. Whatever it was it felt intelligent, almost sapient, and it was judging him. There was a sound like a bell and the door shot open, making the men behind him jump and point their weapons at the opening. Obi-wan felt eyes on the back of his neck and tried to ignore it as he cleared his throat.

"Shall we?" Rex and Cody shared a look, their buckets only turning toward each other a fraction but it was enough.

They all piled into the room and marveled in awe at just how absolutely massive it was. Pillars went high into the ceiling and were lost in the murky darkness above them. On the ground the lights continued to pulse, as if drawing them further inside. All around him he could feel the song rising and falling in a slow rhythm he could feel in his bones. Anakin stood back, near the wall, and grimaced.

"What the kark is that shrieking sound!?" Rex, Oddball, and Wooley also winced and stayed back near the door, looking highly uncomfortable and possibly in pain.

"But… wait… you don't hear the singing?" Echo asked, eyes wide as he and Cody fell into step behind Obi-wan. A moment later Tup scuttled forward, body language hesitant but also curious.

"Shrieking? Singing? What the hell Rex? Echo?" Fives barked. The rest of the troops looked between the two groups carefully, confused and not noticing anything out of the ordinary.

Like a man possessed Obi-wan felt a pull toward the center of the chamber. Something sparked in the air and lights began to slowly flicker to life. Echo looked at his datapad. "The power source is somewhere in this room… the energy levels are rising. I think it's waking up." There was a spike of wariness from Cody as he pulled his carbine up and pointed it past Obi-wan, determined to protect his general.

The middle of the chamber floor opened and Obi-wan paused, yet he did not sense an ounce of danger. Something slowly rose out of the hole in the floor and Obi-wan stepped forward into the abyss. "Gener-" Cody reached out to him but stopped, as if sensing the same thing Obi-wan could. A feeling of acceptance and safety enveloped him in the force and as he planted his foot a set of stairs rose to meet him.

Climbing the staircase he left the others behind him as the singing became louder, notes he could not hear before becoming clearer. Stepping onto the platform he looked to the golden object floating in what appeared to be some sort of stasis field. Before he realized it he had crossed to the center of the platform and was reaching out to grasp the golden thing, which sparked and glimmered as his fingers curled around it. The singing rose to a crescendo and without warning- stopped.

Whispers from foreign voices entered his mind but his body locked in place. He was unable to release the steadily glowing object nor could he walk away. There was a pressure behind his eyes and it felt as if someone was pressing against his mental shields, demanding he open himself to them. He begged the force for guidance and received a wave of comfort-reassurance-safety. Hesitantly Obi-wan Kenobi let out a shaky breath and just let go.

A thousand lights exploded behind his eyes and forced him to his knees. Tears ran down his cheeks as his mind filled with a burning light that scoured his every thought and deed. By the time it was finished he was left sprawled on the cool metal floor, mentally exhausted and feeling as if someone had forcefully separated his soul from his body.

'We have seen the truth of your spark, the strength of your spirit and depth of your love. Long have we waited for a bearer such as you. Rise, Kenobi Prime, and reassure your people that you are safe.' Twitching as the voice faded the world outside suddenly reasserted itself and he finally recognized the voices calling to him.

"Sir? General? Obi-wan!" Rising from the cold floor he stumbled to the edge of the platform and let out a low groan.

"I'm fine Cody, how are the men?" Blinking at the humanoid form that had rushed up the stairs to meet him he stalled in confusion.

The being before him certainly reminded him of his dear commander, at least the armor was mostly right and the goldenrod designs were all where they should have been… and yet at the same time the being standing before him was entirely foreign. Two amber lights shone from beneath a visor and he blinked at the familiar pattern of a scar curling down the left side of his commander's face.

"I think we may have a problem, General." Obi-wan let out a sigh as Anakin's panicked voice reached him from the main floor.

"Yes, I believe we do."

AN: I have a rough outline of an idea for this but I doubt I will write much of it at all. Unless someone wants to help me with plot/research.