Saga A Shrouded Path (Obi-Wan, Xanatos, Anakin - Prequels AU) - FINALLY Chapter 63 Updated 03-21-09

The_Slilent_One - I think there is a part of Anakin that will be a bit envious but also a part of him that would want to wait for his master.

Valairy_Scot - I think Yoda has his moments of being gentle and caring. He just needed more of them.

ratna - Thanks. Anakin's foundation is more stable here and than in canon but he is still in a precarious position with Xanatos away and whatever else this evil author may choose to throw at him.

OBI-LOVE - Thanks so much. Ben has his work cut out for him.

obsessedwithSW - It is probably even harder for a master to let go during war time when it is so dangerous.

mujapple-juicey - Thanks for hanging in there waiting for posts.

JediMaster_Jen - I think the time approaching knighthood and balancing obedient padawan with developing the skills needed to be an independent knight would have to be hard.

wolf_kenobi - I think the best thing Anakin will have going for him is that no matter how close he gets to Palpatine, he is not friends with him and has a general distrust of him. Hopefully, that will be enough.

Force_Chick - It was promising that Anakin was not pleased at being dragged to tea with Palpy.

Itachi-Uchiha - I know. I have to keep reminding myself that the boys aren't thirteen years old any more. I think you will like the next post.

Gkilkenny - Ben has gone from being a bit insecure in the beginning towards being a little overconfident now. He needs to find some balance.

Ocelotl_Nesto - Someone needs to sense that something is up with Palpy. It is ashamed in canon that the Jedi didn't know until way too late that they were being played.

diane - Ben is going to have his work cut out for him. I wonder if he will still think he's ready.

Jaira - LOL. It's hard to see him grow up.

PadawanKitara - He's not so little any more.

Broken_Circle - Anakin probably really did want to punch Ben. Ben should learn at some point that being in the right position doesn't necessarily make you the right person for the job, but he knows they need to get someone close to Palpatine.

bek - I don't think Anakin would want to be knighted until Xanatos is there with him. And yes, Xanatos would likely loose his mind if he knew how close Anakin had been to Palpatine.

Jedi-Master-Jurron - Thanks for the up.

VaderLVR - Thanks.

Independence - I am sure Anakin will feel something but he is still wanting his master back right now.

 

Chapter 63

As the last of the vultures, the remnant of an ambush on their fleet, exploded in space, Anakin let out a deep rush of breath. Unfortunately, the battered Separatist battleship had escaped into hyperspace, leaving only the stragglers behind for them to mop up. While a tentative victory, it had been an effective diversion and had cost them in clones and fighters.

?I think that?s the last of them,? Anakin heard Ben say over the comm. ?Intervention, confirm.?

?Confirmed, but we are picking up a reading on long-range sensors.?

?Can you be more specific?? Ben inquired

?No, Commander. It might be anomaly. Our sensors took some damage.?

?Send us the location,? Anakin ordered. ?We?ll check it out.?

?Yes, General Skywalker.?

?What about backup, Anakin?? Ben chimed in to Anakin on a private channel. ?We are down several fighters.?

?We jump in and jump out if we find we are in over our heads ? a quick scout mission,? Anakin assured him.

?We better run it by Master,? Ben said before switching back to the fleet. ?Intervention, is General Kenobi available.?

Anakin decided that he liked the Ben that had dragged him into the Chancellor?s office a little bit better. His fellow padawan had reverted and had been too cautious since returning to field duty. Still, if Ben wanted to adhere to the chain of command, two could play that game.

?The general is briefing the Jedi Council. Should I interrupt ??

?No that won?t be necessary,? Anakin cut off abruptly. ?Inform General Kenobi when he is free that we are checking on a sensor reading.?

?Yes, General Skywalker.?

Knighthood had his benefits ? even if it was fake knighthood, Anakin had to admit. To the clones, he was a general and they would follow his orders.

?What do you think you are doing, Anakin?? Ben asked over private channels again.

?Checking out that sensor reading. We wouldn?t want the Intervention to fall victim to another ambush.?

?It?s not your decision to make,? Ben protested.

?Last I checked, I outranked you,? Anakin beamed.

?For now,? Ben murmured.

?Good, follow me,? Anakin called triumphantly as he indicated for what remained of Gold Squadron to fall into formation.

?Why does it seem those words always mean trouble?? the elder padawan grumbled.

?I think the last time, it was you who got me into trouble,? Anakin taunted back.

?Now if you really want to keep score?? Ben said

?That won?t be necessary.?

?I thought so.?

The fighters made the small jump to the supplied coordinates. As they returned to normal space, a large ship loomed in the distance. ?Don?t tell me that?s another battleship,? Ben said.

?Artoo, what can you give me?? Anakin murmured as data started flash across the screen on his consol.

?I think they see us.? A string of Huttese curses slipped from Ben?s lips as vultures started to pour from the ship.

?Where did you learn language like that, Padawan Itires?? Anakin chided with a snicker.

?Where do you think, Knight Skywalker??

?And what would Obi-Wan say??

?That you have always been a bad influence on me?? As the fighters broke formation, Ben murmured wearily, ?Here we go again.?

****
Xanatos reached up and wiped the sweat from his brow, stopping to cast a glare towards his opponent. Dooku seemed barely winded, staring down his chiseled nose as Xanatos crouched once again into a defensive position.

?I am surprised Qui-Gon allowed such poor swordsmanship from his prized pupil ? then again, he pampered you and therefore raised you to be soft.?

Xanatos straightened, a sneer stretching across his face. He had never been good enough for his master?s master. In Xanatos? youth, Dooku had even gone as far as to call him a disgrace to the line of Yoda. His anger flared with a cascade of memories, likely the purpose of the taunt. The Sith wanted him angry.

The past weeks had been the same. Dooku had not allowed the Jedi out of his sight. Guards escorted him everywhere through what was likely a Separa

 

Fantastic post! Once again a wonderful chapter!

 

Oh, my, full bore into the war we are. Very exciting chapter.

 

Well done. A very entertaining post.

Action all round.

Dooku is devious, so watch out Xan.

 

You know me so well. Delicious. My two favorite men (other then Obi of course)in close quarters. Life is good. Thank you.

 

Now we're getting into the real pile of BLEEP. I hope both Xanatos and Ben survive each in one piece. Great update!

 

that was a great post!

I like the envy, but edge for Skywalker... chance taking

Vos interaction was well done...

 

Very good post. Does Xan really have any idea of how much trouble he's potentially in? I just hope he doesn't do a too good a job of being all sithly and forgets which side he's supposed to be on. Life seems to be getting interesting all round

 

Superb update!

?Now you should get out of here before someone decides to check on me.?

Vos stood, eyeing Xanatos warily as he started for the door. ?Be careful to not get in over your head.?

?That is the goal, isn?t it?? Xanatos replied pointedly.

?I will be forced to deal with you if you become a threat.?

?I would expect nothing less,? Xanatos acknowledged. ?And the same holds true for you.?

 

Xan is playing a very difficult game. One unwise move and he'll be discovered. Even if he did get back, the Council won't be happy to hear he's training as a Sith. More taint.

Great job.

 

Great updates, can't believe I missed some of those...

I hope the council Knights Anakin at the same time, it not I fear the anger will be difficult for him to handle
and may lead to a new path.

 

I love the banter between Anakin and Ben.

Xanatos as a Sith?! I just hope he can walk the tightrope.

Ben rushed off, leaving Obi-Wan and Anakin behind. This was Ben?s trials, of that Anakin had no doubt. It left him with a surprising pang of envy, which he quickly squelched. While he knew he surpassed Ben in skill on many levels, his friend had a maturity, control and sureness of himself that Anakin still lacked. Tatooine had showed him that. Ben was already a knight, and this was just a formality. This is the mature Anakin that everyone wishes he could have been in canon. Wonderful job showing that.

?I will be forced to deal with you if you become a threat.?
?I would expect nothing less,? Xanatos acknowledged. ?And the same holds true for you.? I am ever so glad they both have backup willing to do what is necessary.

Wonderful chapter.

 

I am FINALLY CAUGHT UP!! Wow! What a great AU story. Please put me on the PM list, if you still have one...

I have always wondered what would have happened if things had been slightly different. Keep up the good work!

 

forgot about Vos- I hope Xan isn't getting in too deep

 

Awesome! the dialog at the end was particularly good

Great work

 

Xanatos is now the official apprentice of Dooku. I don't think thats a good thing for Xanatos and there will be a confrontation with Ventress for sure. I'm sure Dooku is only using him for his own means.

I still fear Anakin will have to confront Xanatos. It won't be pretty.

Quinlan Vos appearing at the end of the chapter was a nice twist. I hope he can be trusted...

 

Hmm, a Sith apprentice. This will make for some great future confrontations.

 

Quin and Xan in the same fic, could there be anything better? I hope those two can keep each other in line.

Poor Obi-Wan, worrying about his padawan's trial. Obi and Anakin will need one another to keep their minds from wandering to Xan and Ben and wondering if they're all right or what mess they may have gotten themselves into. I hope Xan knows what he's doing in becoming Dooku's apprentice.

 

Moving this up!

 

Let's just hope Xan 'll be stable as good ol pie!!!!!
OMG, Ventress... a head... ... AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

i just spent three whole days reading this and I am hooked! And i SOOOOO love Xanatos in this! PLEASE continue writing!!!

 

Xan and Quinlan in the same chapter... yum. I loved the interaction between them - I could just imagine Xanatos looking irritated and Vos not caring one whit. And Xan training as a Sith... dangerous territory. Up!

 

BUMP!

 

Jedi-Master-Jurron- Thanks!

Valairy_Scot- Yes, full swing into the war.

Gkilkenny - Yes, Xan needs to watch out.

Itachi-Uchiha - Xan and Vos together could mean lots of trouble.

OBI-LOVE - I would like for them to come out of this in one piece also.

Ocelotl_Nesto - Anakin is quite the risk taker.

Darth_Nellie - Xan is just beginning to have fun. Hopefully, he will remember what side he is on.

VaderLVR - Thanks for reading.

diane - I have to feel sorry for Xan right now. He is doing what the Council is asking of him, but to do it properly, he will have to do things the Council would not approve of.

Kivas - The problem is that knighting Anakin at the same time as Ben will leave Xanatos out of it and that's the last thing Anakin wants.

Independence_1776 - I like Anakin showing a bit of maturity even if it will be hard for him to see a friend knighted. He needs to wait for Xanatos.

Jedi_Trevor_GulDan - Thanks for catching up on this and sorry this next post was so long in coming.

PadawanKitara- Keeping from going to deep will be Xan's constant worry.

The_Slilent_One - Thanks.

Milteck- Trust is going to become a big issue in Xanatos' world. He will eventually meet Ventress and Dooku is going to start testing his loyalty. Xan is going to have to get creative.

Jaira- It sure will.

bek - I think that Obi-Wan and Anakin are going to grow very close over the various trials to come.

mujapple-juicey - Yes, Xan needs to stay stable.

jtechorca - Thanks for catching up on this and sorry this next post was so long in coming.

Broken_Circle - There is a whole lot of room for things to go wrong with dangerous guys in dangerous circumstances.