de-lurking to tell you what a great story this is! hope you update soon!

 

Author Announcement

I do have the next chapter finished, and it will be posted on 11/25/05 (Thanksgiving for us Americans).

I will be sending out PM's from now on to alert my readers when a new chapter is posted.



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Jaira Hmmm. Guess I'll check back later...

Yep, check back on Thanskgiving Day, it'll be here.


usher-lover de-lurking to tell you what a great story this is! hope you update soon!

Well, thanks for de-lurking. I'm glad you're enjoying the fic. It'll be updated in just a few days.

 

Can't wait to read the new post!

 

I'd like to be added to your PM list.

 

it's black friday up! please?

 

I just found this today, and it is excellent! I would love to be added to your pm list.

 

I thought I had reviewed this before, but I guess I didn't...I will give you a full one when I have more time!

 

[hl=black]ah...its december 10 and still no update and plz add me to ur PM list. plz plz plz continue with this.[/hl]

 

Author Announcement


I am back everyone. I had a family emergency over the Thanksgiving holiday and have been out of town. I arrived home two days ago. I will be posting this weekend. I checked in periodically, but now I'm back and the new chapter will be up Saturday.



Thanks for sticking with it.

 

Looking forward to it.

 

Woohoo!

 

Hello all--Below is the next chapter of this fic. It comes way later than I had planned, but DRL and the holidays have been kicking my butt recently. Family problems and other issues came up, but all is good now and I'm back.

Thanks for sticking with the fic. I have learned not to predict when each post will be, but I'm hoping for them to be at least one a week. We'll see. Enjoy the next chapter.





Chapter 6

“What are we going to do, Master?” Anakin asked as they boarded a transport headed for the Senate.

Obi-Wan took his seat. He folded his arms into the folds of his robe and sighed deeply. “We’re going to be cautious, Anakin. We can’t afford to let Palpatine know that we suspect anything. If he is being controlled by a Sith, or if by some stretch he actually is the Sith Lord, we have to be extremely careful.”

Anakin sat down as the transport began to move. He closed his eyes and stretched out with his senses. He easily found the Chancellor’s presence in the Force. The man was calm, but satisfied. Anakin could sense no darkness at all around the Chancellor.

“Nothing?” Obi-Wan asked gently.

Anakin shook his head. “The Force is clouded again, Master. It doesn’t feel any different to me now than it ever has. I don’t know why it…it seemed so different for a time the other day.”

“I think it was our imagination, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said practically. “Despite our clouded perceptions, there is no way we could have spent the last ten years under the rule of a Sith Lord and not known it.”

Anakin nodded slowly. “I was just so sure.”

*******************************************************************

Blue and yellow sabers clashed above the heads of the combatants. Sweat beaded on their foreheads as they danced around one another, their sabers twirling masterfully.

“You can’t win, my apprentice,” Master Siri Tachi playfully taunted her student.

Ferus Olin, nearly an entire head taller than his master, knew that she was right. Even at twenty-one years of age, he’d managed to beat her in their practice duels only twice. “I can fight until the end, my Master.”

Siri attacked, her blue saber arcing high before coming down at Ferus’ shoulder. The young man dodged her strike and rolled to his left, coming up on the balls of his feet to parry her next strike.

“Now where did you learn that move?” Siri asked, impressed.

Ferus smiled as he once again attacked. “From Master Obi-Wan. He showed me a few tricks a while back.”

Siri switched to a one-handed grip on her saber to deflect a low strike from Ferus. Twisting away from her attacker, she launched herself into the air at the same time swinging her saber in a downward motion, just grazing Ferus’ shoulder as she flew over his head.

Ferus turned, knowing that his master would be behind him, and was stunned when he didn’t see her. The next thing he felt was the heat of her saber against his neck. He lowered his head and took a deep breath. “I fail to understand how you manage to beat me every time we spar, Master. You beat me just hours ago, and now you’ve done it again.”

Siri laughed softly as they both reattached their sabers to their belts and went to get a drink of water. Ferus sat down on a bench and wiped his sweaty brow with a towel while he waited for her answer.

“You’re over-eager, Ferus,” Siri said easily. “You want to win so badly that you make careless mistakes. It’s part of the reason you’ve lost this tournament to Padawan Skywalker in the past. Until recently, your skills have been more developed than his.”

Ferus nodded, taking in her instruction. “What happened recently to give him the advantage?” he asked curiously.

Siri sat next to her apprentice as she took a sip of her own water. “Geonosis, primarily. There is no greater teacher than experience, my apprentice. Anakin Skywalker now possesses experience that you lack; just as Obi-Wan has experience that I lack. They’ve learned over the years how to work as a team. Our missions have largely been diplomatic in nature and have not included the need for practical fighting as their missions have.”

“How does one overcome an opponent that has this type of advantage?” he then wanted to know.

Siri shrugged. “Hard work, practice, and don’t become overconfident in your own abilities. Remember that circumstances have dictated that Anakin change his style of fighting. It will no longer resemble what you remember from previous tournaments. He’s had to use his saber to defend himself in real combat, and that drastically changes how he duels in practice. React passively and defend to start, learn his new style, his new motions and tactics, and then adjust your own style to match him.”

Ferus was quiet as he absorbed everything she had told him. He sighed and took another breath. “He’s also taller than I am now.”

Siri laughed. “Yes, he is. Anakin has become quite physically powerful as well in the last few years. I’m certain he uses his height and physical strength in his dueling as well.”

The two sat in the training room for nearly an hour discussing the upcoming tournament. Every strategy they could think of, they went over. Even if they didn’t triumph in the individual brackets, they were determined to win the tandem-fighting bracket.

*******************************************************************

“The Jedi have arrived, Chancellor,” the young aide informed his boss.

Chancellor Palpatine smiled. “Please send them in.”

Obi-Wan led Anakin into Palpatine’s office. Both men had spent their brief time waiting to be escorted into the office by stretching out with their senses to ascertain if anything was amiss. Both were disappointed when they found nothing out of the ordinary. Inside the office was a different story. The spacious office was torn apart. Chairs were strewn all around. Curtains had been slashed.

“Master Kenobi, Padawan Skywalker, I’m glad you were able to come,” Palpatine began. “I know my request was a bit unusual, asking for Jedi by name.”

Obi-Wan kept his face neutral. “We’re glad to be of service, Chancellor.”

Palpatine smiled, and then looked over at Anakin. “My Anakin, you certainly have grown since I saw you last.”

Anakin cleared his throat before speaking. “It’s most kind of you to notice, Chancellor.”

If their reactions were less than what he expected, Palpatine didn’t show it. He moved back around to his desk and sat down. “I’m sure you’re both wondering why I need Jedi protection. Perhaps when you see this, you’ll understand.”

Both Jedi turned to face a large data screen as Palpatine put a data card into the reader. Within moments, a terrible scene that looked like something out of a horror holofilm appeared on the screen with the words, ‘if you aren’t careful Palpatine, this will be you.’

“Do you have any idea where these threats are coming from, Chancellor?” Obi-Wan asked.

Sighing, Palpatine shook his head. “No, none at all. I’m sure there are people out there, other politicians even that I have angered with my policies since I was elected Chancellor. But I cannot imagine who would go to these lengths to…”

Anakin noticed that the older man seemed very rattled by the recent events. Obi-Wan and he shared a look of concern.

“Chancellor, I can see from the interior of this room that whoever is behind this is certainly willing to go as far as needed to ensure your death,” Obi-Wan told the older man. “You have my assurances that Anakin and I will do everything in our power to ensure your safety.”

Palpatine looked relived. “Thank you, Master Kenobi. I was afraid that even the Jedi might not be able to ensure that.”

Obi-Wan met the Chancellor’s eyes with his own. “Well, to be fair Chancellor Palpatine, I’m afraid that we can’t do it here. It’s obvious that this office, maybe even the entire senate hall is vulnerable to attack. Thankfully you weren’t here last evening when they staged their attack, but you may not be as fortunate the next time.”

“What do you suggest, Master Kenobi?” Palpatine asked innocently.

“I’m going to recommend that you be allowed temporary haven within the Jedi Temple,” Obi-Wan said with steely calm.

 

No! Bad Obi!

 

Thanks for the PM, great chapter Can't wait to see what happens next!

 

What is Obi-Wan playing at? HM? need more soon?

 

yay, an update! and thanks for the PM cool update, and its making me wonder what Obi is up to

 

I am so glad you posted!

This is a wonderful story, and I am very happy to see it continue.

I really enjoyed this last post. Siri and Ferus' discussion of Anakin was wonderful, and I have a feeling that Obi-Wan is up to something suggesting that Palpatine stay at the Temple. Perhaps all the Jedi together will sense something...

I look forward to the next part!

And thank you for the PM.

Ani-maniac

 

Jaira No! Bad Obi!

Very bad Obi. What is he thinking?


serendipityaey Thanks for the PM, great chapter Can't wait to see what happens next!

You're welcome, and thanks. Next chapter soon.


ZaraValinor What is Obi-Wan playing at? HM? need more soon?

Hmm, chances are he has a plan. More soon, I promise.


usher-lover cool update, and its making me wonder what Obi is up to

Thanks.

He's definitely up to something. Or is he?


Ani-maniac I am so glad you posted!

Me too. I was missing being able to write.

Siri and Ferus' discussion of Anakin was wonderful

Thanks. I'm hoping to flesh out their relationship a bit more than what we saw in the books.

I have a feeling that Obi-Wan is up to something suggesting that Palpatine stay at the Temple. Perhaps all the Jedi together will sense something...

Now there's an idea...having all of the Jedi trying to figure Palpy out.

I look forward to the next part!

And thank you for the PM.

Next part soon, and you're welcome.

 

i have been away for a long time...so i have re-read all parts!!! yay! go me! i just wanted to say thank you for PM me!

as for obi-wan inviting palps....well....obi-wan could have a plan...but that could be a BIG if.....who knows? i don't but you do probably

 

Oh yes still reading! Wonderful update!

Thanks for the pm!

 

Thanks for the PM!

Well at least Obi has his suspicions, better than he had in the original

Let Palps reside in the Temple? LOL! That's gonna go over well! If anything perhaps Palps will have a continual upset tummy by being around all that 'goodness'

Great chapter!