The Shadows Star: Book 2

13: There's Two Of Them

The frigid chill seeped into her bones, casting an icy foreboding over the room. The men sensed it too; their expressions turned grave in unison. Without a word exchanged, a silent understanding conveyed that something imminent loomed on the horizon.

Obi-Wan and Anakin surged into the senator's bedroom, closely followed by Sombra. Anakin, senses heightened, leaped onto the bed, lightsaber ignited. With deft precision, he dispatched two poisonous Kouhun creatures that had infiltrated the room.

During the chaos, Sombra's sharp eyes caught sight of a small droid responsible for the intrusion. Instinctively, she leaped out of the window, grasping the flying droid's chassis. Anakin's voice echoed behind her, but she remained resolute in making their disrupted plan count.

Inside, Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance, knowing explanations had to wait. They bolted outside, spotting a yellow two-seater speeder nearby. Anakin slid into the driver's seat, with Obi-Wan beside him.

The speeder roared to life as they pursued Sombra, clinging to the droid as it weaved through the Coruscant skyline. Neon lights blurred in the night air. Sombra's determination was palpable as she clung to the droid, eyes fixed on her target. The bounty hunter noticed Sombra and opened fire. "I have a bad feeling about this," Sombra muttered in fear.

A burst of flames erupted in the distance. Sombra let go of the droid as a blaster bolt struck it, sending her into a free fall. The droid exploded, and a bounty hunter sped away on a speeder.

Anakin's heart raced as he maneuvered the speeder to catch her. Sombra gripped the speeder, her eyes meeting Anakin's with a mix of relief and frustration.

As they soared through the city, Anakin's grip tightened. Sombra pulled herself into the speeder, annoyed at her limited seating options—either on Anakin's or Obi-Wan's lap. "Well, that was terrifying. Seriously, a two-seater? What took you so long anyway?"

"Oh, you know, angel, I couldn't find a speeder I really liked, with an open cockpit and the right speed capabilities. And then, of course, I had to get your favorite color..."

"That's fantastic, Ani. Your wit still works even though your ears don't. Scoot over, will you!"

Anakin, playfully retorting, yelled, "There's nowhere to scoot, just sit on my lap." He smirked, thinking he had won.

She rolled her eyes and, purely to irritate him, settled onto Obi-Wan's lap. Anakin's surprise was evident, and she met Obi-Wan's confused look with an innocent smile. Despite her fury at Anakin for going along with Padmé's plan, the possibility of playful revenge improved her mood.

Anakin swerved between transports and buildings, diving and climbing dangerously. In fear of flying out, Sombra leaned into Obi-Wan's solid chest, tucking her head near his neck. Anakin laughed, diving towards the bounty hunter. Obi-Wan held Sombra against him as Anakin pulled up, bursting into laughter at Sombra and Obi-Wan's terrified faces.

"You know I don't like it when you do that!" Obi yelled.

"Sorry, I forgot you don't like flying, Master," Anakin retorted between bouts of giggles.

"I don't mind flying, but what you're doing is suicide!"

Sombra, frustrated with Anakin's antics, whispered into Obi-Wan's ear, "Let's drive poor Ani a bit mad. It's only fair, considering he messed up my entire plan. Just follow my lead."

Obi-Wan's smirk deepened; he leaned in, arm gently around her waist, lips brushing against her hand. "Are you alright, my dear? You had me quite worried back there."

Anakin, trying to stay focused, found himself increasingly distracted. His frustration grew as his attention wavered between the pursuit and the dynamic between his master and the woman he was bonded to.

His patience waned, and with exasperation, he snapped, "Can you two cut it out? We're in the middle of a critical situation here!"

"What has you so tense, my young padawan?" Obi-Wan teased, dripping with playful charm. "You did choose the speeder and even insisted that Sombra take a seat. This is merely a fortunate turn of events."

As the bounty hunter continued through a power refinery, Anakin followed closely. Sombra's focus turned to the hunter shooting a power coupler. "Anakin, go arou—" She yelled as they drove directly through the voltage, electrocuted.

As the chase continued, Sombra couldn't resist pushing the boundaries further. She changed the direction of her teasing, eyes shifting to a more genuine expression as she gazed at Obi-Wan. She appreciated his features up close, fingers tracing the edge of his chin.

"You know, Obi," she said, softening her voice, "I've never noticed it before, but being so close, I must admit, your piercing blue eyes are even more captivating than I imagined."

Obi-Wan's gaze met hers, warmth and sincerity in his eyes. His lips quirked into a gentle smile. "Why, thank you, darling. I've always admired your golden eyes. So bright and rare, I could lose myself in them for a lifetime."

Sombra giggled and batted her eyelashes, "Well perhaps I'll let you."

Anakin's patience wore thin; he couldn't stand the way their banter took an intimate turn. He clenched his jaw, jealousy simmering just beneath the surface. A surge of irritation he couldn't quite control.

Sombra, pushing boundaries, looked at him playfully. "Anakin?" She asked. "You seem a bit uncomfortable. Would you feel better if I was in your lap instead?"

Anakin's surprise was evident, but he didn't hesitate. Without missing a beat, he reached over, pulling Sombra onto his lap. The unexpected turn created a whirlwind in her mind. The sensation of his touch lingered, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Anakin flirted once more. "You were right, angel. I feel much better now." He playfully winked, poking fun at her reddened face and shallow breaths.

Obi-Wan's voice cut through, "If you don't mind, we have a killer to catch. Anakin, stop traumatizing the girl with what you believe is charming; let's go."

As the chase continued, wind rushing around them, Sombra's senses heightened. The hunter took a sudden turn. Instead of following, she pulled the controls out of Anakin's hands, his strong arm securing her against him. Sparks of electricity ran through her as she maneuvered the speeder. Anakin's hand on her abdomen added to the unexpected proximity.

"Where are you going?! He went down there, the other way." Obi-Wan called out.

Anakin knew what she had felt and tried to

explain. "Master, if we keep this chase going, that creep's gonna end up deep-fried. Personally, I'd very much like to find out who he is and who he's working for. This is a shortcut; I think."

Sombra turned up a side street; the hunter was nowhere to be found. Inner panic skyrockets; her entire plan had gone off the rails. She let the killer get away to follow her instincts. Breathing erratic, Ani felt her panic. He leaned in, lips brushing her ear, speaking in a soothing tone, "Breathe, Angel, breathe for me."

His fingers moved in gentle circles, calming her racing heart. Sombra closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath, exhaling slowly, trying to regain composure. With Anakin's touch, she steadied her nerves enough to focus her thoughts.

"Well, you lost him," Obi-Wan scolded. "Well, this is some kind of shortcut. He went completely the other way! Once again..."

Suddenly, the two padawans locked eyes and stood up. "...Excuse us for a moment," Sombra whispered, and they both jumped out of the speeder.

Obi-Wan scrambled to look over the side and saw the two of them land on the hunter's speeder. "Force help me. There's two of them..." he muttered as he pulled the controls to follow after them.

Sombra and Anakin landed on opposite ends of the speeder; the hunter drove erratically to shake them off. The two pulled out their lightsabers; Anakin tried to disarm the driver, accidentally dropping the saber below. Sombra slashed wildly, stabbing through the engine.

As it sputtered and smoked, they followed the speeder's descending trajectory to the bustling city streets below. The padawans jumped away as the speeder crashed, leaving chaos in its wake. The bounty hunter leaped out, making a run for it, and disappearing into a nearby club.