Chapter 8: Old Sins Cast Long Shadows

"Hello there. What are you doing up so late?"

A little human girl with amber eyes and long dark wavy hair shrank back behind the door to the cockpit as the tall copper-skinned Deveronian man turned from the pilot's seat to look back at her.

"Can't sleep again huh?" he smirked as he took in the dark circles under the little girl's reddening eyes, which glanced down to her feet as she nodded in answer.

The Deveronian's smile softened as he beckoned her to come over. Timidly, and cautiously, like a frightened kitten, the child tiptoed over to him, head bowed subserviently to avoid looking him in the eye.

The Deveronian felt his gut clench uncomfortably at the sight. This poor girl still thought she had to obey every command even when she was still frightened out of her wits.

"Hey, it's alright. You don't have to be afraid. Everyone has trouble on their first night in space. I remember my first night I was so cold that my shivers made the whole room vibrate." He chuckled and was pleased to see the girl's posture relax a little, only for it to stiffen as he lifted her up onto his lap.

"Well since you're up you might as well help me pilot this hunk of junk. Here let me show you the controls-"

The little girl listened intently as he showed her all the buttons and levers of his station, occasionally swivelling around in his chair to show her the different parts of the cockpit. She had never thought space travel would be so complicated. Yet this man was able to rattle off everything he knew about his ship without even pausing for breath.

Then there was the great window in front of her, the expanse of it filled with inky black dotted with small tiny bright pinpricks of light. She had never seen anything that big before, so wonderous.

She was so awed by the sight she hadn't noticed the Deveronian had stopped talking and was watching her with a warm smirk of amusement.

He didn't know whether she was aware of it or not, but she was smiling. It was the first time he had seen her do so since he had first laid eyes upon her in that warehouse. It wasn't a full-blown grin, just a small upward quirk on the lips, yet it warmed his heart to see it there.

"Yeah, it's beautiful, isn't it? And just think, so many worlds out there that have yet to be discovered."

The little girl nodded; her eyes wide as she stared out into the vast void of space.

One day, she knew, she'd go there into the great unknown, and she'd be free.

"Holy crap!" Una grunted as she and Slyde fell backwards onto their rears alongside the panting form of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn.

The Nabooian's ship ramp had finally shut as they ascended into the heavens above Tattooine, and not a moment too soon.

"Looks like you lot have made some new friends huh?" Slyde muttered darkly as he helped an injured Una sit up gingerly.

"Quite" Qui-Gon muttered as he too raised himself up onto his elbows. "Thank you young one."

"For what?" Una grumbled clutching at her shoulder, which was bleeding badly from where the deflected blaster bolt had grazed it.

"For your courage." Qui-Gon reached out to help steady her as she swayed where she sat. "You pushed me out of the way when you could've let him land that hit. Then you stayed behind to help after making sure Anakin was safe even though you yourself were hurt. If that isn't bravery I don't know what is. So thank you."

Slyde grinned as Una flushed a dark red at the compliment turning her face away.

"Don't mention it. Besides, anyone would have done the same thing," she mumbled, grateful as a nearby door suddenly swished open and two figures raced in.

It was Anakin and Obi-Wan, the latter's face paling considerably as he caught sight of his master and allies sprawled on the floor of the ship's upper holding deck.

"Mister Qui-Gon, Mister Slyde, Una are you alright-Woah!" Anakin stopped in his tracks just before the three of them, his eyes staring wide at Una's bloodstained shoulder and hand.

"Don't worry Ani, it's just a scratch. Nothing I haven't dealt with before" Una sighed, her voice surprisingly soft and measured as she addressed the young boy.

"What was it that did this?" Obi-Wan frowned as he knelt beside her and inspected the wound. He almost did not believe his eyes when he had seen the red lightsabre first ignite from his spot cockpit viewport. He had been even more shocked to see Una's hands raised to push Qui-Gon away, only for her to unknowingly force him back with an invisible pulse of energy.

"I'm not sure. But it was well trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is it was after the Queen."

"What are we going to do about it?" Anakin looked worriedly between all the adults, who all exchanged nervous glances.

"It's your mission old friend. I'm just along for the ride" Slyde smirked at Qui-Gon when the latter quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Well then, since it's up to me, I suggest we should be patient and rest. But before that, Anakin Skywalker meet Obi-Wan Kenobi" Qui-Gon nodded between the child and the young padawan.

"Hi, you're a Jedi too? Pleased to meet you." Anakin grinned as he ecstatically held out his small hand to shake Obi-Wan's much larger one tightly.

"Likewise, young one, likewise" Obi-Wan smiled in faint amusement at the boy. Well…at least he was no Jar-Jar Binks and that was some comfort.

However, he could not shake off the strange tingling on the back of his neck as he let go of the boy's hand. It wasn't just the force, though it was unusually strong as it swirled about the boy, there was something…familiar about him yet Obi-Wan knew he'd never seen the boy in his life till this very day.

The last time he'd felt this way was when Una had strode into the council room aboard Nut Gunray's battle station back at Naboo. He hadn't been sure what he was feeling then…but now...

The Force called the three of us together.

He sucked in a deep breath to centre his racing thoughts.

For some reason, we three were fated to meet one another…to be connected through the force…our destinies entwined, but why?

Obi-Wan's thoughts were interrupted by a small grunt of pain.

He came quickly back to his senses, just in time to see Una struggle to lift herself up to her feet, her face unnaturally pale.

"Woah, easy Red you've lost a bit of blood there" Slyde muttered soothingly as he reached out and grabbed her to hold her steady as she wobbled dangerously where she stood. Then there was a clatter as her blaster rifle finally fell from her grip to the floor beside her as her injured muscles twitched and spasmed in pain.

"Here let me, I know the way to the infirmary" Obi-Wan offered and before Una could protest, he raised her up into his arms and began to carry her towards the lift that would take her down to the lower level of the ship.

"HEY! You smug bastard! Put me down right now or else I'll-"

"Yes-Yes you'll shoot me where I stand. I know, now would you please stop squirming otherwise I might drop you."

"You wouldn't dare" Una snarled incensed, nostrils flaring.

"Of course I would not. But how do you expect me to keep you from falling if you don't stay still?" Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. Honestly, the woman was as stubborn as a Loth Cat that didn't want to go for a bath.

Though she was a little shorter than him she was still strongly built. Unlike the delicate forms of the Queen and her handmaidens, Una had solid muscles stretched over most areas of her lean, lithe body, built up no doubt, over years of harsh training.

And now that she was feeling weak, most of those muscles were becoming more like dead weights in his arms as he reached the lift.

Once the doors had shut behind them Slyde began to chuckle.

"Well, I see the two of them are getting along swimmingly. Here" he held out a hand and helped a still exhausted Qui-Gon to stand up.

"This is nothing, you should've seen them when they first met two days ago. Thank you." The old Jedi muttered as he straightened up and dusted himself off. He was getting too old for all this excitement.

"Mister Qui-Gon sir?" Anakin asked his voice surprisingly timid.

"Yes, Anakin?"

"Are you sure Una's gonna be okay?"

Qui-Gon and Slyde's smiles both softened slightly at the earnest expression on the young boy's face as he glanced at the floor where Una had left a smear of her crimson blood behind.

"Don't worry kid, she will be." Slyde reached forward to ruffle Anakin's sandy locks "Una may complain a lot about the pain but she's a tough cookie. She's been through a lot worse than this and survived. You don't make it as a bounty hunter without getting yourself into a few scrapes"

"And you certainly survive as Slyde Crest's protégé without getting yourself into a lot of trouble I don't doubt" Qui-Gon smirked at his friend who rolled his eyes in fond annoyance.

"Hark who's talking. Your padawan must have nerves of steel to handle all the trouble you get yourself into."

Anakin grinned as both older men narrowed their eyes at one another. Though they both looked annoyed with one another, he could not feel any animosity between them. Indeed, it felt peaceful, like two brothers teasing one another.

There was a thudding of footsteps and Padme emerged from the doorway next to the lift, accompanied by her security Chief Panaka. The two of them looked worried.

"We saw the fight from the ship, are you all alright?" Padme reached out to pat Anakin down quickly while Panaka helped Slyde get Qui-Gon up to his feet.

"Una got grazed but my padawan is looking after her in the hold. Apart from that, I think we're alright apart from a few bumps and bruises" Qui-Gon put a hand on Anakin's shoulder before turning to a very tense Panaka.

"How is the ship faring? I take it our hyperdrive is working?"

"Everything seems to be fine. We jumped into hyperspace as soon as we cleared Tattoine's atmosphere and so far everything has worked out. But that's the least of our worries, just what the hell happened down there? Who was that that attacked you? And who the hell are you?" Panaka looked at Slyde suddenly aware of his presence.

"Slyde Crest, I'm an old friend of Qui-Gon's" Slyde held his hand out and Panaka shook it warily, only to tense as a strange warbling sound pierced through the air.

There was a pause as everyone turned to look for the source of the noise, only to find Anakin standing there sheepishly, one hand on his scrawny stomach.

"Sorry" he mumbled looking down at his toes.

Despite the tense situation, Padme couldn't help but smile warmly at the younger boy.

"Come now Ani. Let's get you settled in. We've got a long way to go till we reach Coruscant and you'll need your rest after today."

"Yes, some food and some rest sound like a good idea" Qui-Gon nodded at the younger woman as she led them all out of the room and into the galley.

"Almost there-Ah, here we are." Obi-Wan puffed as he finally reached the small infirmary and laid Una down on the slab gently as he could.

"Careful!" she winced as he accidentally rolled her on her injured shoulder. Behind them, she could hear the hurried footsteps of the small handmaiden that had helped patch her up the night before.

"I've got the bacta and the bandages." the young woman announced to the room at large before bustling over and barking in a commanding tone "Quick help me get her shirt and bra off so I can clean it quickly."

"Oh god, not again." Una groaned as Obi-Wan pulled her up to sit before reaching around to tug her jacket and suit top off.

"What's the matter? Never had a man undress you before?" he rolled his eyes sarcastically and was not disappointed when she scowled mulishly at him.

"Yeah, hitting me when I'm down, that's very mature that is." Nonetheless, she was compliant as he helped the handmaid pull down her suit, and then her bra top underneath, only to be stopped by Una's hand on his wrist.

"Hey, easy there junior. If you want the access codes to that area, you'll need to buy me dinner first-Whoa" she blinked as she felt her head spin.

"Y'know what forget it, just get this damn patch on me before I pass out." She hissed as Obi-Wan caught her swaying body. "it should unhook at the back"

"understood" Obi-Wan muttered, his cheeks flushing despite himself as he quickly fumbled with the thick strap at the back.

Una likewise was feeling just as embarrassed, quickly covering her exposed chest with her hands once he pulled her bra-top from her body. However, the pain of her injury and her exhaustion prevented her from bombarding the padawan with her usual sarcastic snarky comments.

She managed to keep herself awake as Obi-Wan and the handmaiden made to strip her torso and clean her shoulder. Because she had been hit by a blaster bolt the heat had mostly cauterized at the centre of the point of impact. It was only the outside rim that bled nastily as Obi-Wan carefully wiped the skin down with a damp cloth while the handmaid prepped the bacta patch.

"You're lucky your suit protected you from the worst of the shot" he muttered softly to her as he gently dabbed at the edges.

"Yeah well…it still went through. There aren't many materials out there that can stop a blaster bolt" Una yawned, wincing as he accidentally pressed into the injury.

"Forgive me. I've never been that good with healing and medicine, not even when my master and I are patching each other up on missions."

"I'm guessing the two of you trouble magnets get into a lot of nasty scrapes then huh?" Una smirked and was surprised when Obi-Wan chuckled softly.

"Nasty scrapes is putting it mildly." he stood back to let the handmaiden secure the bacta patch and then stick it down with a bandage and tape.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked, keeping his gaze turned up to the ceiling to avoid looking at Una's half-naked state, even though she was covering her chest with her arm.

"I've been better" Una sighed as the young handmaid finished sticking the last wrap of bandage in place. "So doc what's the verdict?"

"It's Delia." The young handmaid sighed softly "You'll need to rest it off for the night, and maybe till we reach Coruscant where we can have a proper medic have a look at you. For now, I think everything should be okay, at least put let me fetch you something clean to wear after you bathe"

Despite herself, Una felt her cheeks flare like two hot supernovas

"Oh-oh no, you don't have to do all that-I'm sure I can survive one or two more days in these scraps-"

"It's no trouble really. The queen has plenty of clothes in her wardrobe that she is letting us borrow till we get to coruscant," The Handmaid, Delia, raised her eyebrows. "Besides, all of us handmaids were already going to wash our own robes tonight. You might as well add yours in."

"I suppose…if it's not too much trouble" Una mumbled, though she had a distinct impression that no matter how much she tried to rebuke the offer, she would lose…abysmally.

And so it was with a heavy sigh that Una relented, watching through tired eyes as the younger woman sternly asked Obi-Wan to keep a watchful eye on the patient as she fetched the clothes from the upper deck.

"There is a small fresher on your left, it should have a stool handy. You can use that if you wish to bathe. Or if you'd prefer to wait I can fetch one of the girls to help you to our fresher above?"

"Thanks, but no thanks. I think I can manage myself in here" Una flushed, horribly aware of Obi-Wan awkwardly shifting on his feet as the young handmaid bristled past him.

"Wow" Una muttered once the door had shut behind the girl. "Who'd have thought Naboo girls would be so fierce even though they're so tiny?"

"Sometimes strength can come from the most surprising of places" Obi-Wan murmured turning to look at Una, only to turn his back on her swiftly, his ears red with embarrassment.

"Oh-sorry-ah shit" Una cursed as she looked down at her body, which she only just noticed, was still topless.

Quickly, she scrambled for her bra top, only to fumble and drop it on the floor as her shoulder throbbed with pain.

"Here let me" Obi-Wan scooped the garment up and dropped it in her lap as if he were tossing a lump of hot coal at her, much to her amusement.

"It's a bra junior, not a bomb. Jeeze, why do men get so squeamish about these things?"

"Forgive me. As a Jedi one does not usually have to deal with such matters." Obi-Wan admitted pulling his arms out from his brown outer robe. "Here, you can use this till your medic returns with some clothes"

"Huh? What-oh…" Una's cheeks were now magenta as she felt him drape the garment around her shoulders.

"Uh, thanks." She mumbled as she pulled it over herself. The robe was comfortable, the fibres natural roughness worn away and softened by weather, sweat and detergent. She could see crisp clean lines from where it had been lovingly folded in the exact same way by careful hands many times. The very same hands that smoothed the back and shoulders gently, before pulling away abruptly.

"You're welcome" Obi-Wan murmured, his own ears as flushed as hers as he quickly walked to the other side of the small med bay. "And thank you as well…for what you did out there, you saved my master's life. If you hadn't pushed him out of the way when you did…"

"It was nothing. I just did what anyone would have done." Una coughed, trying and failing not to inhale the scent from his robes around her shoulders. It was a warm musky odour, surprisingly soothing even as she sucked in a deep breath.

There was a silence as Una stood shakily to her feet and walked over to a small doorway by the foot of the medical slab. As Delia had said, there was a small fresher stall with a toilet attached. Both had handrailings for ease of access, which Una used to lower herself onto the small stool inside the shower stall.

Once she was safely inside she began to strip off the Jedi robe and the remainder of her clothes.

"I'm going to leave the door open just in case. The fresher-room door I mean-I'll keep the shower shut of course. B-but the glass on this thing is so thick you probably won't see much anyway" She called out to Obi-Wan's stiff back.

"As you wish" he replied, but the tension in his shoulders quickly dissipated as he made to sit down on the medical bed, running a hand through his short auburn locks.

Through the corner of his eye, he caught sight of her long bare uninjured arm reach down to place his folded Jedi robe on the floor next to the remnants of her own suit and her underwear. Her red jacket, on the other hand, remained exactly where he had left it next to him when he had been helping undress her…

He sucked in a deep breath as he turned his gaze up to the ceiling as he did his best to ignore those familiar but strange sensations in his lower gut.

Biology. That's all it was. No matter how much one tried to temper their base urges with meditation, it always found another way to let itself be heard.

But Obi-Wan had dealt with such impulses before, and he would do so again, and continue to do as long as he followed the Jedi path. No matter how frustrating and annoying it could be sometimes.

He was roused from his thoughts as Una's voice called out to him.

"Alright Junior, I'm done"

"What?" Obi-Wan blinked. How could she have finished so fast?

His question was quickly answered as Una stepped out of the fresher, clutching his dark brown outer-robe tight around her as she made to fold up her jumpsuit and jacket.

"A credit for your thoughts? Seriously, you've been staring into space for ten minutes you know?" she quirked an eyebrow as she made to close the toilet seat and sit down.

"Forgive me." Obi-Wan shook out his head as he turned to face her. "I was trying to clear my thoughts. Today has been very…exhausting, to say the least"

"You're telling me" Una snorted as she began brushing out her wet hair. It fell down to her mid-back in long thick dark waves, streaked here and there with shining strands of silver.

"Damn…getting more grey. By this rate, I'll look like an old woman in two years" Una grunted as she twiddled with one grey strand as it fell in front of her face.

"I suppose premature greying runs in your family?" Obi-Wan folded his arms and Una shrugged.

"Eh, don't know and honestly, I don't really care that much"

Obi-Wan frowned. Somehow, he really doubted that very much.

However, he didn't have any opportunity to press topic any further as she made to ask:

"So…looks like we've got ourselves a Sith chasing us huh?"

"I beg your pardon?" Obi-Wan's eyes were as wide as saucers now, all embarrassment forgotten as he stared at her.

"That thing that attacked us, he was a sith, right? After all what else can he be with the black robes, menacing stature and a red lightsabre, am I right? I mean another Jedi wouldn't be trying to kill us, and even if they were they'd probably try to pretend to be friends then stab us from behind once our guard was down"

She spoke this horrible statement so bluntly and casually that all ideas for rebuking practically flew out of Obi-Wan's head.

When he finally did compose himself, his voice sounded odd and strained.

"I honestly do not know. You are right. Our attacker does fit the description of a Sith but…"

"But?" Una prompted.

"But the Sith have been extinct for over a millennium" Obi-Wan folded his arms and began scratching his chin thoughtfully. "If that was one we faced today, then how could they have returned without the Jedi Order knowing? Especially one so strong in the dark side…"

"Well, maybe they weren't extinct" Una shrugged "Maybe they went into hiding, bided their time."

"Maybe, but from what I've read in the history books, patience is not a virtue valued on the Dark Side" Obi-Wan frowned, his arms tightening around himself as a strange wave of anxiety gripped him.

"Yeah, but those history books only go back one thousand years." Una said softly. "and I don't know about you, but a thousand years is more than enough time for an old dog to learn new tricks. Besides, you'd be amazed at what skills people can gain when their very existence hangs in the balance."

"I'm not sure whether that comforts me or not" Obi-Wan snorted sardonically and Una rolled her eyes.

"And you think it comforts me?! Three days ago I barely knew a thing about you Jedi and now look, I'm sitting here injured and half-naked under a padawan's robes, talking about a Sith assassin that's been on a…a homicidal…a homicidal killing…spree…" she trailed off her eyes widening with horror.

"What? What is it? What's wrong?" Obi-Wan stepped forward as Una pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head with a groan.

"Oh, Gods…oh gods…shit, I can't believe it. I bloody hell cannot believe it. This is getting too weird now even for me." Una breathed, looking back up at Obi-Wan with renewed fear as he quickly knelt down beside her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"What's weird?"

"I-I can't say…you'll probably think I'm insane-"

"Why? What happened?"

Una looked into the padawan's grey-blue eyes warily. She seemed to be weighing something in her mind, yet her uncertainty didn't last for very long as she sucked in a breath and steeled herself steadily.

"Look…before I say anything, just promise me you won't freak out because I'm not sure what the hell is going on myself"

"Alright…" Obi-Wan stiffened uncomfortably, his stomach churning uncomfortably.

"Okay…so you know that Qui-Gon and I only caught up with Slyde today just before that Pod-race right?"

"Yes." Obi-Wan nodded hesitantly.

"So, just before the races, Slyde took me aside and told me that there had been a series of assassinations being carried out in the underworld. Not the usual gang-shank and leave in a gutter kind of thing but real brutal murders carried out by an absolute psychopath. And to top it off all the guys getting killed had some association with the Trade Federation."

"Yes, he mentioned something like this while he was helping me set up the hyperdrive." Obi-Wan nodded "and from what we've all just seen I think we can safely say we now know who the culprit is…though I still have no idea as to how he found us so quickly when my master and I were shielding our force signatures from him…"

"Yeah…about that…" Una shook her head not meeting his eye. "I think…I think that's my fault."

Obi-Wan stared at her in alarm. What the hell did she mean it was her fault? Yes, she was force sensitive but before the attack, her presence had always been quiet, like a soft hum in the background. Only he and Qui-Gon had been able to sense her and that was because they were in close contact. There was no way otherwise for another to sense her presence unless…unless…

His heart sank as he remembered her tear-stained panic-stricken face from that afternoon as she had backed away from him.

Oh, no. Oh no…kriff this is worse than we thought.

He thought, his gut sinking even further as she continued to speak:

"After Slyde told me about the assassin, we joined Qui-Gon and the others to watch Anakin race. As we were watching I…I…I don't know what happened I must have glazed out because of the heat or something because suddenly I couldn't see the viewing screen anymore. I was back in the desert and I was looking…I was looking at him-the guy that just attacked us. He was there at his ship, pacing up and down in front of it and muttering like a madman. Then suddenly he stopped and turned around and…and he saw me"

Now Obi-Wan felt his gut all but disappear.

"He saw you? As in he saw you there in front of him like you saw him."

"Yeah, he saw me. He even spoke to me" Una muttered darkly. "He said 'found you'. I didn't have a clue what to do after that because the race was finishing and Padme was shaking my shoulder and cheering because we had won. Then I was just so busy helping with picking up the parts and stuff that I didn't think about what I saw…not until…until…"

"Until you spaced out as we were moving the hyperdrive" Obi-Wan finished for her.

Una nodded, still refusing to meet his eye.

"I'm not sure what happened. It was like when I was at the races. One second I was lifting up that damn hyperdrive and looking into your smug mug, the next I was staring out over the desert watching your master fight with that shadow, in…in the exact same way, we saw them fight just now. And then, then we weren't in the desert, we were in some room. Qui-Gon was still fighting that guy but…but…this time he…"

Una shook her head, shuddering as she recalled all too clearly the sight of a red lightsabre piercing through the old Jedi Master's chest.

No…no way would she tell anyone about that, least of all the Jedi's apprentice. That would be just too cruel even by her harsh standards.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she barely even noticed Obi-Wan rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he mulled her words over in his head.

"Sorry, forget what I just said. It's stupid, I know its stupid. I mean, what I saw-It's not like I'm some Jedi oracle who can see into the future or something-god can you imagine how screwed up my life would be if that were the case-"

"Una"

Una stopped and looked down. Obi-Wan was gripping her shoulder gently. From it she could almost feel, like tiny ripples in water, waves of calm, soothing energy wash over her as he said:

"Take a deep breath"

She inhaled deeply and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"God what's wrong with me?" she sighed. "Rambling on like a scared loth cat. I swear this damn shoulder really has done a number on me."

"Perhaps, though I think it's safe to say we've all been put through the wringer today." Obi-Wan murmured, pulling her hands away from her face carefully.

Now he was a lot closer to her in the light, he was suddenly struck by just how young she truly looked. Was this really the same snarky crude bounty hunter he'd just met two days ago? Wearing his robes and with her hair down and loose about her shoulder she looked more like a scared Jedi padawan learner.

And in many ways, that was exactly what she was.

A fledgling force-sensitive on the cusp of discovering her true potential for the very first time.

Anakin Skywalker was a child and thus he would adapt far quickly to his new way of life. He had yet to grow up and cement his values, but Una…Una…

Obi-Wan could only imagine how frustrating and terrifying such an event like this would be for a woman like her. She who had grown up her whole life so certain, so sure of who she was and what she was capable of. Now once the truth was out in the open her whole world would be rattled off centre.

"Excuse me?"

Una flinched in shock and Obi-Wan quickly leapt to his feet, his hand flying to his lightsabre on autopilot, only to stop dead in his tracks

Delia the handmaiden was back holding onto something long soft and white in her arms

"Sorry to interrupt but I have your change of clothes and a pillow and a few blankets"

"O-Oh, thanks. That's very kind of you." Una mumbled, shooting a furtive glance at Obi-Wan "I guess we'll have to finish this chat another time Junior"

"Yes, I suppose we shall. In the meanwhile, I should inform my master and your mentor about your wellbeing, no doubt they'll be anxious to hear about your condition. I shouldn't be too long. My Lady." Obi-Wan stood aside to let Delia through bowing slightly as he made to exit the room.

Once the door shut behind him, Delia turned back to Una and sighed, her usually stern young face suddenly dreamy and full of longing.

Una smirked and rolled her eyes.

Oh to be a young hormonal teenage girl. It obviously did not help that Obi-Wan was good looking in his own posh, polished, gentlemanly way. And to top it off he was a Jedi, and from what she could recall, Jedi were not allowed to fall in love and form attachments as per their code.

Nothing quite like a forbidden fruit to tempt the imaginations of poor young innocent girls…well not quite innocent.

Una snorted to herself, remembering her own teen years not too long ago. She may not have given herself up so easily but that hadn't stopped her from dreaming up some steamy and raunchy fantasies of her own in the darkest corners of her mind.

It was in such a dark corner that a small devious little voice decided to pipe up and sneer oh-so-helpfully.

Such a shame he's a Jedi, he does have a nice face.

"Goddamnit" Una cursed herself.

Ugh! That's it! After this is done I'm getting myself to a club, I'm gonna get pissed off my ass drunk and I'm gonna get myself laid.

"Escaped? What do you mean they escaped?"

It was the dead of Coruscant night, though that hardly made a difference to the great metropolitan planet, which buzzed with life and neon sings almost all hours of the day.

Yet none of the artificial light reached the dark office of Darth Sidious, who was sitting alone in the shadows with an open holo-communications channel at his desk. There on top of the finely polished metal surface, a small six-inch-high flickering blue hologram of a figure garbed all in black was kneeling with his head facing down in a mixture of anger and shame as he growled softly:

"It was the Jedi master my lord. He engaged me in combat to give his apprentice and the Queen time for their ship to take off. I was about to overpower him and take my chance when the Bounty Hunter woman shot her blaster at me."

"And pray tell how a mere lowly hunter can injure a powerful sith lord such as you with only a crude blaster?" Sidious sneered maliciously, his lip curling with as he saw his apprentice bristle ever so slightly as he said quietly:

"Master…the woman is a force sensitive."

Sidious paused. Well, that was unexpected, to say the least.

"A force-sensitive?"

"Yes. And a strong one at that. Not only did she use the force to aid her blaster fire, but she also used a force pulse to push the Jedi Master away from one of my attacks. She was also able to sense my presence from afar, and unconsciously project herself across that very distance."

"I see…" Sidious leaned back in his black tall backed chair pressing his pale fingertips together thoughtfully "Yet she didn't shield her mind from yours?"

"No Master. I do not think she could." Though he tried to hide it, the corners of the younger sith's black and crimson mouth were curled in a sneer "Once the connection was made she became as open like a book to me and I was able to find the Jedi's location very quickly. Her emotions run hot and she has proven to favour drawing on the dark side for strength even though she does not know it."

"I take it the Jedi are now also aware of such facts?"

"If they weren't before they certainly would be now Master," the younger sith said solemnly. "I had been hoping to lure her away from their side, draw her confidence and recruit her. I believe with her knowledge of the underworld and her training she would have been a most useful tool for us."

"I don't doubt she would have been" Sidious scowled, fists clenching. It was just his luck the Jedi got to this potential asset first.

But all was not lost yet. For now, the woman was on her way to Coruscant with the queen, most likely accompanied by the blindingly bright vergence in the force. Oh yes, the hunter would have been a most useful tool for his vengeance against the Jedi. But this force of power, this bright light that travelled with her…what a weapon it would be. He could destroy entire planets with it, crush empires and raze galaxies to naught but the stardust from whence they were born.

"I am disappointed in you Darth Maul" Sidious growled softly to the smaller hologram, beady eyes flashing in the dark. "So far you have failed to recapture the Naboo Queen, and you have revealed yourself prematurely to our greatest enemies. However, considering this most valuable information you have provided I shall be merciful and postpone your punishment for the present. Instead, I grant you a new mission. Head to Naboo and keep an eye on that Nemoidian slime Nut Gunray. Make sure he sticks to the plan and does not put one toe out of line. I will continue to push forward our agenda's here on Coruscant and contact this young Bounty Hunter. There may be a chance she can help us turn things around in our favour before it is too late."

"Yes, Master" Darth Maul nodded, his tense shoulders relaxing just a fraction as he stood to his feet. "I shall do as you ask. All shall be as you wish."

And with that the small hologram flickered off, leaving the Lord of the Sith alone in the darkness of night.

Obi-Wan's mind was racing as he strode purposefully through the ship.

So this was how the assassin had found them. Slyde had informed Una about him, and Una in her fear and wariness had unconsciously sought to locate the threat, only to have it open her own mind to it instead.

Her fear must have been shining like a beacon to such a creature embedded in the dark side of the force.

He scowled to himself as he lost himself in his thoughts which slowly but surely found themselves tinged with anger and frustration.

An image flashed over his mind. It was a dark figure, eerily like the one that had just attacked his master. Except in place of the black and crimson face, Una's stared out, glaring and wrathful, her catlike amber eyes now a fiery yellow ringed with fiery red.

Obi-Wan shuddered. No. Una Crest may have been an emotional and hot-headed woman but she wouldn't be lured by the dark side. Despite her attempts to seem roguish and tough, she had a strangely rigid sense of justice drilled into her.

This is my own anxieties taking hold of me. I must let it go if I am going to think clearly.

He took a deep soothing breath as he walked through a door into the ship's lower deck common room.

In it he found Slyde sitting with his legs crossed in meditation on the floor, his long trench coat draped over a nearby chair with his boots placed neatly at its feet.

"Ah, if it isn't my old friend's gallant padawan," Slyde smirked, though his yellow eyes were wary as they peeked open to watch the younger man step in. "You just missed your master. He's taken Anakin to the galley to find something to eat. Speaking of food and rest, how is my Una? Is she alright?"

"We have applied a bacta patch to the wound. It should be adequate until we reach Coruscant. Once there we can have a Jedi healer take a look at her"

"A Jedi Healer?" Slyde's voice was casual but his jaw was uncomfortably tense "You're taking Una to the Jedi temple?"

"Yes. We are" Obi-Wan folded his arms stiffly "She agreed to divulge information on the Trade Federation's actions to both the Jedi Council and the Supreme Chancellor in exchange for her safety and monetary compensation"

"I see…" Slyde sighed heavily as he looked the younger man up and down thoughtfully. "You don't like me that much, do you kid?"

"I hardly know you so I am in no position to make such a conclusion. However, you are my master's old friend and I trust his judgement." Obi-Wan responded smoothly.

"Che, well you certainly have a way with words." Slyde smirked "However you didn't answer my question. You don't like me, and don't bother with the flowery prose-" he added when Obi-Wan opened his mouth again to speak. "I am not a member of the council, and I don't have the patience for such small talk"

There was a silence as blue eyes met the sharp gleam in the older Deveronian's yellow ones, the lattermost barely blinking as they pieced straight through the former as if staring into his very soul.

"No. I don't like you." Obi-Wan replied bluntly folding his arms to hide the small shiver that ran down his spine. "Or rather, I don't like your dishonesty"

"My dishonesty?" Slyde's hairless brow rose coolly.

"Una is a force sensitive like yourself." Obi-Wan clipped "And yet you have kept her in the dark about her true nature. Why?"

"Because she would've become dangerous," Slyde responded simply as he stood to his feet and made his way over to the cabinet where he pulled out a metal tumbler and a canister of amber coloured liquid.

"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan frowned in confusion and Slyde rolled his eyes.

"You've met my daughter. Do you honestly think the uptight life of a Jedi would have suited her at all? She is full of emotion and passion. The Jedi way of life would have destroyed her spirit, as it almost did mine, and in the end, she would have been lost to the dark side. I was not going to let that happen on my watch… not again…"

He took a swig of his drink and gave a derisive snort at the shocked look on the younger Jedi's face.

"How far along are you in your apprenticeship? Several years? You'll be going for your trials soon I'll bet. Do yourself a favour and take a leaf out of your master's book, don't put your blind faith in the Jedi council. They don't always have the answers, and they aren't always right."

Slyde paused the thudding of feet grew closer. Obi-Wan looked to the door and saw Qui-Gon enter the room alone, looking exhausted.

"I've just left Anakin and Jar-Jar in the care of Padme and the other handmaidens for now." He said as he trudged into the hold and all but sank into a nearby chair. "I take it from your presence that Una is alright?"

"She is doing fine, Master. Only we might have a problem laying low for the time being."

"What do you mean?" Qui-Gon frowned worriedly and Obi-Wan sighed.

"I have just spoken with Una. She has just admitted to me that, through no fault of her own, that she established a mental connection with the assassin that just attacked us earlier today."

"A connection? What do you mean a mental connection?" Qui-Gon's eyes widened as both he and Slyde straightened up, alert and anxious in their seats.

"Well, she didn't tell me all the details. But from the sounds of it, she sought his presence out unconsciously and accidentally projected herself to him twice. Once at the racetrack and the second time here at the ship when we were carrying the Hyperdrive."

"Projected? But that's-that's impossible-" Slyde ran a hand over his bald horned head.

"She's never had visions before?" Qui-Gon asked sharply and Slyde shook his head.

"No. I know she's had small flashes of precognition here and there like any other Jedi youngling. But as far as I know, she's never once had a full-on vision, let alone two in such a short time period."

"not even when she was asleep?" Qui-Gon asked sternly.

"I suppose that is possible." Slyde conceded quietly "Though I happen to know for a fact that many of her nightmares stem from her childhood on Nal Hutta. If she has seen strange visions in her sleep before she's never told me."

"Only because I thought I'd sound crazy if I ever told you about them, old man." A voice suddenly snarled from behind Obi-Wan's back.

All three men turned around in their seats, their guts dropping as Una Crest stepped into the room.

She was now dressed in a rather femininely cut long plain white nightdress with a matching white silk outer-robe over the top, Obi-Wan's brown robe tucked neatly in her arms.

Her amber eyes were almost slits of fury, her teeth gritted so tight it was a miracle they weren't cracking and breaking in her mouth as her nostrils flared. The only thing that was missing from the picture was her long dark wavy hair catching fire as she stalked over to stand in front of Slyde.

"All this time…you knew. You knew exactly what I was, what I was going through. Yet you kept your mouth shut" Una's voice was quiet, but the bubbling rage underneath was so hot it would out scorch an exploding volcano as she hissed: "Why?"

Slyde's eyes shut and he sighed deeply as he looked at Qui-Gon, who nodded wearily but nonetheless got to his feet.

"I think we should take our leave."

"Oh no-no-no Master Jedi, please don't leave on my account" Una sneered at Qui-Gon, amber eyes flashing. "In fact, why don't you and Junior stick around. You might as well hear what's going to be said, especially if my old man's going to spill it to you anyway."

"Una please don't, this is not the place for this. I was waiting for the right time- Slyde's voice was stern as he reached out to put a hand on his shoulder, only for it to be swatted away sharply.

"Oh, don't start that rancor-crap with me Slyde." Una snapped angrily. "You've had plenty of times and places to tell me the truth. In fact, you've had twelve years. I'd say that was more than enough time to tell someone the truth, wouldn't you agree Junior?"

She added, roughly chucking Obi-Wan's brown robe to him, which he caught, though he stayed silent as he kept a close watch on her as she rubbed her injured shoulder and snarled at the ground.

"All these years I thought something was wrong with me, that I was…unnatural somehow. And yet you were just like me and you never said a word. Just what else are you hiding? Are you even Slyde Crest? Or was that a lie too?"

"Una-" Slyde tried reaching out again but Una had now rounded on Qui-Gon.

"You're one of his oldest friends, yet you're a Jedi. Was he a Jedi too? Is that how you two know each other? Were you both Jedi knights together? Well, were you?"

Qui-Gon glanced between the angry distraught young woman and his oldest friend, who was so wracked with guilt that it leaked from every pore of his being.

He wanted desperately to deny the claim. To tell Una that her father figure had not lied to her. That he was everything she believed. However, to do so would be wrong, and Qui-Gon knew deep down that it would fix nothing in the long term. In fact, it might make everything worse.

So he sucked in a deep breath to steel himself as Slyde made to speak.

"…Yes…I was a Jedi."

The whole hold was silent as a grave as the last syllable fell away from the Deveronian's mouth. Obi-Wan shut his eyes as he felt sharp pain echo through the force from where Una stood.

This was not the pain from her injury. This was an ache from her heart. Obi-Wan could almost hear a part of it being torn as if he were listening to a piece of material being loudly ripped apart right beside him. He opened his eyes as a thud and a crack hit his ears and was quick to see Una's fist retract from where Slyde's pointed face had been.

The devil horned Bounty Hunter meanwhile had fallen back into his chair, clutching at his nose, which was streaming jet black blood. He kept his yellow eyes fixed on the ground beneath him as a flurry of white material made to stalk away, followed closely by a pair of brown booted feet.

"Sorry Old Man not this…time…ugh…"

She trailed off her eyes suddenly drooping shut and her body suddenly falling limp right onto Qui-Gon, who quickly grabbed her before she could slide off him onto the floor.

He knew it was underhanded, but the Force suggestion had been the only way to calm her racing panicking mind. Even now he could feel the force simmering back down from the crescendo it had reached when her temper had snapped.

"Obi-Wan, take her back to the medical room and keep a close eye on her. Give me regular updates on her condition." He commanded, and his Padawan quickly stepped forward to take the unconscious woman from him.

"You think our assassin might try to force his way into her mind at this distance?" Obi-Wan grunted. Barely a couple of hours ago he had carried this being across the damn, ship. Now here he was doing so again.

"It is possible if he's wasted no time in following our course," Qui-Gon said, a stern glint in his eye. "If he does it will be up to you to shield her until one of us reaches you two."

"I understand master. And if she should awaken?"

"Then do what you can to keep her calm and in the room. If she does want to move about, stay close by her."

"Something tells me she won't take too kindly to being tailed so closely, Master" Obi-Wan snorted, though inwardly he wondered how painful one of her punches to his face could be. If Slyde's face was any indication, Una's fists must have felt like iron.

With a careful hold and a deep sigh, he carried her out of the room, wondering for the umpteenth time that day how he and his master had managed to get into this whole mess.

Once the door had shut behind him Qui-Gon walked back over to Slyde who was holding a raggedy neckerchief to his still bleeding nose.

"Are you alright my friend?"

"Am I alright?" Slyde snorted his voice both muffled and nasally as it issued from under the cloth. "I've lied to my kid for twelve years of her life and been punched in the face because she hates me for it. How in the Force do you think I feel right now?'

"She doesn't hate you" Qui-Gon rolled his eyes slightly at his friend, patting his shoulder gently as he passed him by on the way to the glass of water on the table. "She's just scared. Her whole life she was secure in knowing what she was. Now she's having to rediscover herself and everything she is while being dragged into a conflict that's been possibly centuries in the making. Just give her time"

"I would if we had any" Slyde grunted sourly. "Can't you feel it Qui? This Sith apprentice is just the first pebble to fall in the avalanche. It won't be long till we have to fight for our lives and this time I get the feeling the Jedi will be very hard put to it indeed."

He pulled the neckerchief away from his grim face for a moment to take a swig of his drink.

"All the more reason for us not to give in to our worry" Qui-Gon nodded quietly "Una is young. You still have time to train her to protect herself from what is to come. And she will need you more than ever if the Sith do return. Speaking of training, how do you know this being we just faced is the Sith Apprentice and not the master?"

"He was too eager" Slyde muttered darkly as he pressed the neckerchief back onto his nose "He was fighting aggressively to win the battle, but not smart enough to win the war. But that doesn't matter. I'd bet my horns that whoever his master is, they're going to be one of the deadliest adversaries the galaxy has ever faced."

"I fear you may be right." Qui-Gon murmured, his voice trailing off as both he and his oldest friend fell into a grim silence and stared out of one of the small windows into the dark skies of space.

Anakin Skywalker tossed and turned under his blanket. The lights had been dimmed so he Qui-Gon and Slyde could rest undisturbed in their small designated quarters, but he could still see their silhouettes moving slightly as they breathed deeply in their sleep.

Anakin himself had done his best to mimic the two older men. However, despite being deathly tired from the exciting events earlier in the day, he found himself unable to drop off to sleep.

Instead, his mind raced around as fast as his pod-racer, zipping between one thought, then another.

Where were they now in space? Were they close to Coruscant (wherever that was)? Was Padme fast asleep or still up worrying about her people? And speaking of worrying, what was happening with his mother? Was she sad? Was she also worried sick about him? Would he ever see her again?

The young boy couldn't help but shudder slightly as he remembered only too well, how close that dark shadow with the red lightsabre had come to slicing him and Una clean in half only a few hours ago.

Una…was she alright? The others had said she was strong and tough, but she had looked so pale when the other Jedi, Obi-Wan, had carried her away…

Quietly he slid out of his small cot, keeping the blanket Padme had given him tight around his shoulders as he shuffled out the door.

Neither Qui-Gon nor Slyde seemed to notice his leaving, for they only grunted where they lay or rolled over to snore louder on the other side. Despite being alone on this strange ship, Anakin was not afraid to walk down a level and search for the tiny medical bay.

It wasn't difficult to find as it was right off the galley, though he briefly wondered if he should have not waited till morning to come to visit.

But then he briefly shrugged it off. After all, he was just going to poke his head in, nothing more. Most likely Una would still be asleep, and he'd probably be back in bed in a few minutes again anyway.

Yet when the automatic door opened he found to his surprise, Una was sitting up in the medical bed fiddling with a small hand-blaster, while the larger form of Obi-Wan was curled up in a corner of the room, wrapped up in his Jedi robes and breathing softly as he slept.

Una looked up as she caught sight of her new visitor, and despite her haggard appearance, she did her best to smile.

"Oh, hey Ani. What are you doing up?"

"Can't sleep" Anakin mumbled looking up at her. "what are you doing?"

"Just a little maintenance work. I can't sleep either. Come, wanna look?" Una patted the spot beside her and smirked as Anakin quickly rushed over to sit beside her, his blanket still wrapped tight around his shoulders.

"The power pack is fried" He pointed at the half-opened weapon and Una nodded.

"Yeah, that's because the cooling module here is quite weak." She pointed to the butt of the blaster "For operating fire-arms on hot planets like Tatooine you need something with a little more juice to keep things from overheating. Especially when you need to keep this at a high stun level. However, if you're just looking for a quick bang for your creds this build isn't too bad either."

"Can I hold it?" Anakin asked excitedly, but his face fell as Una shook her head.

"No. Not until you're old enough"

"But I've handled the droid blasters all the time at Watto's shop." He whined.

"Perhaps, but even if it is crap, this blaster is still way more powerful than anything in that scrap shop. Oh don't look at me like that kiddo," she smirked as the young boy pouted. "I wasn't even allowed to hold a blaster outside of a shooting range until I was twelve, and even then I still had supervision and a child-lock on even though I was the best shot of my crew." She added her tone slightly sour only to cough distractedly. "But whatever, the point is you're still too young to be handling a dangerous weapon like this, even if it is dismantled."

"You sound like my mum." Anakin mumbled softly "She never let me fix this kind of cool stuff at home."

There was a pause as Una put the blaster away to the side and looked at Anakin. The light in his excited eyes now dimmed as a gloomy sadness washed over him.

Without thinking she reached out and wrapped an arm around his small shoulders.

"You miss her huh?"

"Yeah" Anakin mumbled, leaning into her uninjured side. "You think I'll ever see her again?"

"I don't know." Una murmured "Life's not always so clear cut. Maybe you will see her one day, maybe you won't. Either way, you love her and she loves you, and so you'll always have each other…right here"

She pressed the tips of her fingers into Anakin's chest, and he frowned.

"I don't understand."

"Don't worry, you will one day" Una ruffled his sandy locks affectionately as he curled further into her side and shivered.

"Are you cold?"

"Yeah" Anakin mumbled, keeping his attention fixed on the collar of her soft white nightgown.

"First night in space huh?" She smirked as she felt him nod into her shoulder. "Want to sleep here tonight?"

She chuckled as Anakin nodded vigorously, his cheeks flushing a dark pink. He felt so childish for asking, but Una to her credit did not comment nor tease as they made to position themselves to lie comfortably side-by-side on the medical bed.

Not that she could. She remembered her first night in space only too clearly. It was cold, and everyone in the ship was asleep. All save Slyde who had let her sit up with him in the cockpit till she had nodded off in his lap, listening to his soothing voice as he explained away the ship's navigation system to her.

Her heart ached at the memory.

Had he known then that she was a force-sensitive then? He must have done. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had recognised she was Force Sensitive within two days of meeting her and they were Jedi…like Slyde.

Una snorted at the idea, trying to imagine the Deveronian in the Jedi robes, a bright lightsabre by his side. Unfortunately for her, the image was not difficult to conjure up in her mind. Indeed, the whole getup seemed to suit him.

I should've known…he was always so well educated, so wise, so disciplined…

She sighed softly to herself as she settled the blanket around herself and Anakin.

Slyde, her old man, her dad in all but species and blood…and it turned out she didn't even know him at all.

"Una?" she blinked and looked down. Anakin was curled into her side and looking up at her with big round blue eyes.

"Yes, Ani?"

"Are you okay? You look sad"

"I am a little bit" Una admitted quietly.

"Is it because your shoulder hurts?" Anakin tilted his head, anxiously.

"Something like that. Don't worry. I'll get through it" Una assured him gently. "Now come on, let's get some sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow."

"M'Kay." Anakin yawned wide as he snuggled closer into her side and scrunched up his eyes tight "Una."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"Anytime kid" Una smiled, stroking the little boy's head as he drifted off into the land of dreams, Una following not long after, neither of them noticing the small gleam of blue as Obi-Wan cracked open an eye from where he sat.

He watched the pair of them carefully, his gaze softening as he listened to their breaths mingle in the cold night air.

He should've supposed the boy would have had trouble on his first night away from his mother. Though Obi-Wan had to admit his choice of comfort was a surprising one. He'd have thought Padme or Qui-Gon would have been the first port of call, for they were so calm and thoughtful with their actions.

Una Crest, you are a strange and surprising person that is for certain

The Jedi Padawan sighed softly to himself as he looked at the young bounty hunter woman's face.

She looked so peaceful…so young and carefree. Like any other twenty-year-old young woman he might have passed on a street. The small smile playing on her lips wasn't a smirk or a jeer, but a soft, warm upward quirk of the lips as she held the young nine-year-old boy to her, her arms forming a shell around him, much like a mother cat would curl protectively around her young.

She suddenly shifted in her sleep, but thankfully she was only moving to accommodate Anakin as he maneuvered into a half-starfish position on his front.

Obi-Wan smirked and shut his eyes, concentrating hard on both the child's and the young woman's minds.

Where there had been uncertainty and fear in Anakin's mind before, now there was peace and silence. Una's too was quiet, but he could still feel the sadness from before seeping through her like a stain on white paper.

It was odd, Obi-Wan frowned softly to himself. She had accepted the truth about herself so readily already, that much was plain for him to see, yet her heart was still hurting.

It was the lie…

He realised, grimacing with pity. Una wasn't angry about finding out what she was. She was angry because the man she had trusted for so long had lied to her and kept himself a secret for all this time.

I guess anyone would feel angry at being lied to their whole life-wait…what's that?

Obi-Wan's brow crinkled as he concentrated hard on Una's mind, only to shudder as he felt something cold sweep through him.

Something cold and menacing…something that didn't belong to either Una nor Anakin.

It felt like…

The dark side.

Obi-Wan wondered his fist clenching on the sleeve of his robes as he focused all his might on the horrible cold aura and flung up strong walls against it.

The dark side pressed even harder against them, much like a shoal of fish would strain against a giant net.

Obi-Wan could feel sweat starting to bead on his brow as the dark side suddenly shifted its focus onto Anakin.

The young boy whimpered and clung tighter to Una who in turn held the boy closer to her. As she did so Obi-Wan could feel her mind unconsciously reaching out to wrap around Anakin like a warm barrier, doubling the already strong protective shields the Jedi had pulled up around them both.

That only proved to make the evil force angrier, and it doubled its attack with such fierce aggression that Una couldn't help but whimper out loud from where she lay.

"No, no." she whispered softly but clearly into the air "No…you won't hurt him. I won't let you. I won't let you hurt him-"

Obi-Wan's knuckles turned white as he expanded the mental wall over the two minds. Just where was this dark force coming from? His whole body now trembled from the effort as the dark side all but pounded incessantly against him with the force of a tidal wave, testing his shields for any weak spots he had not yet fortified.

Still, he kept focused, deepening his breaths and reaching further into the force as he pushed back against the unseen enemy.

Was this the young dark fighter that had accosted them before, now doing his best to force his way through the barricade since physical assault had failed? Or was this someone more powerful, more secretive?

He was so consumed in his plight that he did not feel his master's presence over their bond until he spoke.

"Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan what is going on?"

He heard his master speak to him through their mental link.

"It's Una master, the dark side is trying to push into her mind, just like you said it would. I am doing what I can to shield both her and the boy, but the dark side it's-ugh!-it's persistent."

"Hold on as long as you can, we are on our way-Obi-Wan-"

But Obi-Wan didn't hear the rest of the sentence as with a hard snap like an elastic band the dark force suddenly disappeared. The kickback was so strong that the young padawan felt his whole-body jerk from the impact.

That's it, it's drawing back to launch one solid blow with all its strength.

Obi-Wan's fists were balled up so tight that his nails began to dig into his own flesh. Everything was swimming. His vision, his hearing, but that didn't stop him from focusing with all his might on his mental shields as he braced himself for impact.

Five seconds he waited…ten seconds…thirty seconds…one minute and…nothing.

Where is it? What's going on? Such a powerful force can't have given up so suddenly.

He was vaguely aware of the sound of nearby footsteps and of two deep worried voices which sounded muffled to his ears. Then a hand appeared out from nowhere and gently shook his shoulder.

"Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan can you hear me?" Qui-Gon's voice shook slightly as he worriedly checked his padawan over.

His entire form was drenched with sweat and one of his palms bled from where his nails had dug into his palm. Yet otherwise, he seemed unscathed as he opened a bleary blue eye.

"I-I can master" Obi-Wan nodded, relieved to find the world slightly less blurred and distorted as he was helped to sit up. "Wait-are they-they-"

"They seem fine" a deep smooth voice rumbled and Obi-Wan looked up to see Slyde standing over the medical bed his hand hovering over both Anakin and Una's foreheads.

Like Obi-Wan, Una too was sweating buckets, yet she seemed too exhausted to awaken from her slumber and was wincing in pain as her injured shoulder throbbed.

"Nima…Nima?" She whispered breathlessly to the ceiling; eyes still shut.

Anakin, on the other hand, was mostly alright, his breathing was calming down as he relaxed into his protector's hold.

"Well, I'll be." Slyde's hairless brow rose in astonishment "Looks like the little tyke got through without a hitch."

"It was Una" Obi-Wan rasped, coughing roughly through his very raw throat. "She protected him, shielded him with her mind."

"That explains why Anakin has stayed unscathed" Qui-Gon sighed deeply, relief flooding through him as he stood up to check on the young woman for himself.

"She should be fine," Slyde said quietly, in response to his friend's anxious face. "She's just exhausted. The effort has cost her a great deal of strength."

"Nonetheless, we should get her to a Jedi healer as soon as we land in Coruscant" Qui-Gon frowned at the Deveronian beside him darkly, "I thought you said you never taught her the ways of the Force"

"I didn't" Slyde muttered, his jaw tensing uncomfortably "I swear I don't know how she was able to keep her mental walls up, let alone make them in the first place."

"Maternal instinct can be a powerful motivator" Qui-Gon folded his arms as he looked down on the young woman and the child held in her arms. "and there is no doubt your protégé shares a strong bond with Anakin. It was lucky he was under her protection when the attacker made his move."

"And it was lucky Obi-Wan was here to guard both of them" Slyde turned to Obi-Wan who was still curled up in his spot, breathing heavily as he began to relax.

"Thank you, kid. Without you, the two of them would have been surely done for."

"I was only doing what needed to be done" Obi-Wan grunted leaning back where he sat. He had never felt so exhausted in his life. He was almost grateful when he felt his master nudging him to sleep through the force, his mind going blissfully blank as he shut his eyes.

"Rest Obi-Wan. We will take over from here. You have done well" Qui-Gon smiled as he saw the young man succumb to his exhaustion.

"Not bad for a Padawan" Slyde muttered as he took a seat on the medical bed beside Una's feet. "Holding off a mental attack from the dark side for as long as he did. He's got talent. I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a knight sometime soon."

"Neither would I." Qui-Gon admitted his lips twitching in a small slightly proud smirk. "though I fear he still has much to learn"

"As do you and me, old friend. And yet here we are." Slyde snorted folding his arms as he looked down at Una's sleeping face. "Your boy was right. I was wrong to keep Una in the dark about this. Had I trained her properly in the Force she might have been able to defend herself today…I was just…I was just so worried she'd fail…that she'd end up like me."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Qui-Gon's smirk softened with sympathy as he looked on the face of his old friend. "Yes, you might have lied and hidden the truth. But look at all the good you've also done. You saved a child from slavery. You gave her a home and a family, as strange and as unorthodox as they were. You taught her skills that have enabled her not just to survive, but to thrive as well as a somewhat decent living being. Could you have been more honest with her about her powers? of course, however, all in all, you could have done a whole lot worse."

"You make me sound so noble and heroic." Slyde rolled his eyes "But ever since I left the Order I've done things…some horrible things…"

He trailed off, staring at the wall in front of him.

"You're afraid that your inner darkness has rubbed off on Una." Qui-Gon folded his arms in his robes. "Maybe she has picked up some of your less desirable traits. It's only natural since you've cared for her for so long. But I don't think you need to worry. In the short time I spent with your daughter before you arrived she has been nothing but loyal, resourceful and resilient, and as long as you keep faith in her I think she'll continue to be so, even if she is angry with you. Now come, let's get comfortable, I think this is going to be a long night."

"You're telling me" Slyde grunted reaching out to stroke a dark wavy lock from Una's clammy face.

"I'm sorry Wildcat. I'm so sorry I dragged you into all of this. I will tell you everything when we get to Coruscant, I promise. Just be patient with me for a little while longer." He whispered as he leaned down and pressed his lips against her brow, not noticing for the smallest of seconds as Una's lips quirked upwards into a small smile.

Damn little hunter woman, she's under better protection than I thought.

Darth snarled as he paced up and down the length of his darkened private office.

That had been close way too close for comfort. He had only meant to probe and peek into the young bounty hunter woman's mind if only to get a glimpse of the strong beacon of light she held against her. Yet before he had even peeked one iota into her thoughts, she had sensed him and reacted so strongly that she'd awoken the Jedi that had been guarding her.

That Jedi…whoever he was, he was strong. Strong enough to be a knight if those shields were anything to go by. But no that couldn't be right. The report from Chancellor Vallorum had stated that a Jedi Master and his Padawan had gone to settle the negotiations, not two knights.

He must be on the verge of ending his apprenticeship.

Sidious mused. Yes, that seemed about right. The younger force wielder might have been powerful but lacked the finesse of a master, though he more than made up for it with a stubborn resilience.

And the woman…Sidious could see why Darth Maul was cautious of her. There was a darkness in her that much was true, but she was still very much the master of her own mind. She would not bend the knee to anyone let alone a master who would give her orders.

It would be a difficult task to turn her to the Dark Side, but not an impossible one…if only he knew which pressure point to strike at.

But not tonight. No…it was of no use to try again tonight what with the Jedi acting as sentinels over the woman and the strange powerful anomaly she protected.

Tomorrow, I will be meeting with them tomorrow in person. Then I can get a better gauge of the situation and see if my apprentice's words ring true. I've waited years for such an opportunity, I can wait a little longer.

A sneer crept up his pale face under his black hood.

The Jedi might have won this little battle, but they were no match for what the Dark Lord of the Sith had in store.

Soon…soon I'll have the most powerful vergence of power in my grasp…and no one, not even the Jedi will be able to stop me.