Inheritance

Lying in Wait

"You said you both felt a dark presence when you removed the box from its casing?"

"Yes, it was very strong," Anakin answers. Mace stares at him with a raised eyebrow.

"And yet you still opened it?" he asks. Anakin shrugs not really knowing what answer he is supposed to give the master since the fact that they did indeed open the box is obvious. Mace turns his attention back to the small cube. He closes his eyes and reaches out with the Force. Anakin waits for a moment, then does the same. Both Jedi quietly extend their senses out toward the tiny object in the next room. They wrap the Force around it, turning it this way and that in their minds, scanning it, probing it deeply before finally withdrawing.

"I do feel a dark force within it, but it is very weak," Mace says.

"It wasn't like that when we opened it. It was almost like a slap in the face," Anakin responds. Mace's brow furrows.

"Perhaps it expended its energy when it first affected Obi-Wan on the ship."

"His black out?" Anakin asks. Mace nods then he crosses to the rear of the control room and activates a comm. panel. In moments, the two Jedi are greeted by the familiar face of the Grand Master of their Order.

"Master Yoda," Mace says with a bow of his head.

"Heard from you we had not. Concerned we were becoming."

"I apologize, Master. Things are not... what we expected."

"Hmmmm, yes," the little green Jedi nods with closed eyes. "Much trouble I sense. Tied it is with the dark side of the Force. In great danger I fear Master Kenobi is."

"Yes, Master. It seems that Kenobi has been struck by... something," Mace finishes unsatisfied with his own word choice. He motions for Anakin to step forward and then Anakin tells the ancient master the same story he told the Korun Council member moments ago. Mace takes over the story after the rescue. He reports on the status of Obi-Wan's condition and his concerns over the box. Yoda sits patiently until both Jedi have relayed all there was to tell.

"Right to be concerned you are. Familiar this is not. Alert the Council and consult with Madame Jocasta I will."

"Thank you, Master," Mace bows thinking that the communication was about to end, but it appeared that the small master still had more to say though his mouth remained shut in a thin line.

"Is there something else, Master?" he asks. Yoda's ears droop slightly as he knows his next statements will not be well received, but that it must be said.

"If infected by the dark side of the Force Kenobi is, best it may be for now to sever his connection," he finishes. For a moment, there is a flicker of emotion across Mace's usually inscrutably stoic expression. Anakin is oblivious to the Council member's flash of feeling, but the subtle showing is not lost on the Grand Master. Mace sighs heavily.

"Do you truly believe that is the best course of action?"

"A solution it is not, but hope I do it is enough until an answer we may find. Contact you when more I have," Yoda answers sadly. Mace nods.

"I understand," he says then he terminates the transmission. He turns to Anakin with an uncharacteristically somber expression that immediately sets the younger knight on edge.

"What did he mean by sever his connection?"

Mace looks directly at Anakin.