And that took even longer...

Enjoy!

Chapter 7: to the rescue

Anakin's force-presence led Obi-Wan to a building which had fallen into decay a long time ago. The paint was gone and the large door was rotten. Its glory days were long gone.

The streets were deserted, so Obi-Wan pushed the door open a little further. He heard a creaking sound and froze, but when no other sound reached his ears, he sneaked inside.

It took a while for his eyes to adjust to the darkness and even then he could only see the room he was in dimly. Well, it wasn't exactly a room. More a hall of some kind. Obi-Wan couldn't really tell.

The problem was that he had to make a choice now. There were two ways he could go. Despite the fact that he could still sense his friend, his senses weren't so finely tuned that he could tell the exact place where Anakin was.

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. He shouldn't be wasting time, but if he chose the wrong way, he could still be too late. Maybe it didn't matter at all. Maybe both ways led to the place Anakin was held.

He closed his eyes. Tried to empty his mind, let the Force guide him.

Left... something whispered. Obi-Wan wasn't sure if it was the Force or just came from his own mind, but he walked towards the left corridor.

Just when he reached it, he heard the door behind him creak. He pressed himself against the wall, heart pounding.

"Obi-Wan? I know you're here."

Obi-Wan let out his breath and leaned with his head against the wall. Qui-Gon. Damn. He closed his eyes and said nothing. Maybe the Jedi Master would just leave...

But he heard footsteps coming his way. Sighing and submitting to the fact he could not just run away, he stepped forward.

"I'm here, Ma... sir," he muttered.

He could only see the shape of his former master, but he could feel the disapproving eyes on him. He wondered what the Jedi would do. Send him back to the temple? Probably.

"Is Anakin in here?"

Obi-Wan frowned. Where did that come from?

"Yes, sir," he answered.

"Can you tell where exactly?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No..."

"Obi-Wan, you can't do this on your own. I've got an idea who might have captured Anakin and if I'm right, he's far too strong. To free Anakin, you have to create some kind of distraction."

"Why are you helping me?" Obi-Wan blurted out, confused.

Qui-gon sighed. "The thing is that if you let me help you, I want you to obey me completely. When I say 'hide', you hide. When I say 'run', you run. When I say 'go and leave me behind', I want you to do it without hesitation. Is that clear?"

Obi-Wan nodded slowly, still not completely comprehending. "I guess so."

"Yes or no. I can't have you doing anything stupid," Qui-Gon snapped.

Obi-Wan flinched. "Yes, sir."

"Good. Well, let's get going then." Qui-Gon strode past him and into the left corridor.

Obi-Wan turned around, waited a second and then followed him, a smile creeping across his face.

Anakin had been drifting in and out of sleep a while now and he couldn't tell how much time had passed. He was cold and hungry. Ow, how he'd loveto have a nice shower at the Temple, have some fun with Obi-Wan and go to a nice warm bed.

He heard a loud noise, but only groaned and turned on his other side.

"Get up!" A sharp pain shot through his chest and he sat up, gasping, not wide awake, but more awake than he had been for a while.

"Bastard," he growled.

Bruck only laughed.

"My Master likes to speak with you, so get up."

Anakin pushed himself to his feet and after a few tries he managed to stand. He glared at Bruck.

"Come."

Bruck walked out of the prison and Anakin followed, glad to be out of the small room. He eyed his surroundings as he walked behind the former initiate. He was in an old building. The light was dim and flickered and then. Bruck didn't seem to be bothered, so Anakin didn't say a thing and ignored it.

Bruck led him into a large room. One half was lighted and the other half was in shadows. Anakin could only see one corridor leading away.

Bruck walked to the one wall in the light, at the left of the corridor from where they had entered the room. Anakin stopped walking when he saw chains.

"Forget it," he mumbled angrily.

Bruck turned around and sneered. "You better come here quickly, Skywalker. My Master isn't pleasant when he's mad at you."

Anakin snorted. "Then you should watch out, Bruck, for I don't think he likes somebody hiding things from him."

"Here. Now."

"No."

Anakin heard a sound which was unmistakably a lightsaber being switched on. He froze.

"Listen to my apprentice, Kenobi, or else you'll regret it."

Anakin saw no point in disobeying, so he walked to Bruck, who chained his arms.

A person stepped forward. He was holding a red lightsaber, which lighted his face. His hair was pitch black and the man looked like a ghost. Anakin swallowed at the darkness around the man.

"Good. You'll notice, Kenobi, that I'm always right."

Anakin lifted his chin. "Are you?"

The man grinned. "Oh yes. Your dear master has come to rescue you."

Anakin snorted. "No, he hasn't."

"I can feel him," the man hissed. "He's here!"

"Well, it could be some Jedi has come here, but it isn't my Master. You can ask Bruck." Anakin had to force his voice to sound normal. Jinn had come. That meant Obi-Wan was here as well. Damn.

Bruck had gone pale as his Master's eyes turned on him.

"What does that scum mean?"

"Nothing Master, really!"

Anakin almost pitied him. "Well, sir, your dear apprentice has forgotten to tell you one small detail."

"Which is?" the dark man asked, turning to Anakin again. A shiver run down his spine, but he managed to answer.

"I'm not Obi-Wan Kenobi."

The man's eyes narrowed. He glared at Bruck, who shuffled backwards.

"Not Kenobi?" his voice sounded very dangerous.

"My name is Anakin Skywalker. I'm not the apprentice of Qui-Gon Jinn, but of Master Yoda himself."

Bruck backed away even further away. "I can explain!" he squeaked.

"Really?" the man stepped forward. His hand tightened around the still activated lightsaber.

"They're friends. He and Kenobi. He'll come for him. And then Jinn will come as well!"

"You pathetic scum!" the man growled. Anakin felt him use the Force and Bruck slammed to the ground.

"But it's true!"

Anakin struggled against his bonds. How ever much he hated the boy, he couldn't let him be slaughtered like this.

The man lifted his lightsaber. It hummed softly. The it started to come down.

"STOP!"

Anakin looked up, surprised, as an other, deeper voice joined his.

The man stopped his saber a few inches from Bruck's face. Then he turned to the corridor.

His stood with his back to Anakin, so Anakin couldn't see his face, but his voice sounded calm as he spoke.

"Qui-Gon. I was expecting you."

"So I noticed," Jinn said as he stepped forward. His face was blank. "Let the boy go, Xanatos."

And everything fell into place. Anakin wanted to slam his head against the wall, but didn't do it because it would attract too much attention. Also it would hurt. Badly. Jinn's famous turned apprentice. Of course.

Xanatos laughed. "He came to me."

Anakin glanced at Bruck, who was still lying on the floor. The boy slowly crawled backwards, away from his 'Master'. Xanatos didn't notice.

"Well, my dear Master, even if he isn't your apprentice, it would still hurt you when I hurt him, wouldn't it?"

Xanatos faced Anakin, who found it suddenly hard to breath. His heartbeat quickened as the red saber was pressed against his throat.

"Xanatos," Jinn warned. His voice sounded slightly tense.

Anakin looked up into Xanatos face. It was the first time he could get a good look at the Darksider. Handsome face, black hair and dark eyes, like deep waters. But in those waters lurked a monster.

Anakin shivered. He tried to push the fear away, let it go into the Force, but it didn't work. The biggest fear he had faced till now was a slight tension about being punished or not. Now he looked in the eyes of death. The eyes of a man who would kill him just to hurt Jinn. He felt sick and looked away. He closed his eyes, praying he would be killed.

I don't wanna die! His mind screamed.

He heard a sound. A lightsaber being ignited. He open his eyes slightly and glanced at Jinn. Though he couldn't see the saber itself, he could see the green glow lighting up Jinn's face. Relief sored through him.

Xanatos had turned around again. A few seconds passed, then, acting as one, the two men jumped forward, their sabers hissing on impact.

Anakin watched them with wide eyes. He had never expected Jinn to be so quick and graceful. The old Jedi danced around Xanatos, giving him no chance to deliver his strong blows.

Anakin was caught up in the spectacle and he didn't notice someone was coming till he heard a third saber being turned on. He looked away and right into a very familiar face.

The lightsaber blurred and suddenly he could lower his arms. Anakin gritted his teeth as blood returned to his arms.

Obi-Wan quickly cut the bonds between his hands.

"Come on," he whispered as he disignited his saber and he ran away.

Anakin stumbled after him, but soon his legs remembered how to run and he sped up.

Obi-Wan took the entrance Jinn had entered the hall from and didn't stop till he had turned a corner.

Anakin panted heavily as he looked into the worried eyes of his brother.

"Are you all right?"

Anakin just nodded, suddenly too tired find a witty answer.

"Thanks," he whispered hoarsly, tears of exhaustion in his eyes.

And Obi-Wan hugged him. Anakin let all his defences go, all tension of being held prisoner, all the pain. The moment seemed to last forever, till...

"How cute!" someone sneered. Immediately Obi-Wan stood between Anakin and Bruck, saber ready.

Bruck laughed. "You have guts, Oafy!" Anakin saw a maniacal glitter in his eyes.

"Watch out," he mumbled to Obi-Wan.

"Go away, Bruck," his brother said calmly.

Bruck laughed again, then jumped forward, a lighsaber suddenly in his hand.

Obi-Wan met him head on. Both fighters weren't as skilled as the two in the hall, but to an untrained eye the duel would seem quite dramatic.

Anakin didn't stand still to watch, but sneaked round them, so Brucks back was turned to him. He looked around and his eye fell on a stone that worked itself loose from the old wall.

It wasn't a very glorious thing to do, but he didn't want to stay in that place any longer. He grabbed the stone and aimed it at Bruck.

The stone hit the former initiate on the back of his head and he lost conscience before he hit the ground, leaving an confused Obi-Wan.

His blue eyes found Anakin's and he shook his head.

"Let's go?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan nodded, but then hesitated. "Should we..." he said, looking at Bruck.

Anakin shook his head, stepped over the boy's body and pushed Obi-Wan softly away from him.

"He tried to kill you and we have to get out of here," Anakin said. "He'll weigh us down."

Obi-Wan sighed, then nodded.

"Come."

He led the way and after a few turns and twists they were outside. Anakin felt immense relief to be outside again and was slightly surprised they were on Coruscant. But the best place to hide is the closest spot to your enemy.

He turned at Obi-Wan, who was looking with a worried expression to the entrance of the building. Anakin could immediately follow his friends strain of thoughts.

"Is there a speeder or such near here?" he asked.

Obi-Wan looked up and nodded. "Yes..."

Anakin grinned. "Good. Then I'll go fetch it and we can leave as soon as you two are finished with that Darksider."

Obi-Wan frowned, then realisation dawned on his face. "You're sure?" he asked worriedly.

Anakin suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "Yes. Go and save that master of yours."

Obi-Wan grinned and walked away. He stopped at the entrance and looked back.

"Thanks..."

"Just go already!"

Obi-Wan sped away.

It was only then that Anakin realised his brother hadn't told him where exactly the speeder was.