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By the way, thank you, Dorayaki, The Dancing Cavalier, LuvObi, Super Tinfoil Man Part 2 and Boss Aayla Security, and also anyone who's been reading this piece!

Chapter 3

"There, you're happy now?" Obi-Wan laid a mattress on the floor next to Qui-Gon's bed, "Now I've been kicked out from MY room by YOUR clone."

"Then why don't you object?" Qui-Gon handed him a sheet and a blanket, "I was ready to fight for you, but then you just surrendered for no reason."

"Well…" Obi-Wan sighed heavily and sat down on the mattress, "I feel maybe I should give my room to #2, because he's been created to live in this world only for the purpose of doing another person's work. #1 is generous and doesn't ask for much, but if #2 has requirements, I should do my best to meet them. I would do the same if #1 asked for anything, too. I can't help feeling sorry for them. Therefore," he sighed again, "I guess I'm doing this for the sake of virtue. They're my Master's clones, after all." He went back to spreading the sheet over the mattress.

"So you're doing this…for me?" Qui-Gon asked gently, touched by Obi-Wan's sacrifice for him.

"Is there another person in this quarters has clones?" Obi-Wan said bitterly, "But then again, I am doing this for the sake of virtue. Hmm…" he contemplated, "So you should say I am doing this for the sake of virtue because of the fact that you are MY Master and most important of all, because of your thoughtlessness and idiocy."

"You always have to be so irritating, don't you?" Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes and arched an eyebrow.

"Well, what can I say," Obi-Wan shook his head ruefully, "you just HAVE to be so stubborn and selfish."

"Selfish?" Qui-Gon's eyes widened, then he continued coldly, "Please elaborate."

Obi-Wan took a deep breath, then began: "YOU CLONED YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU WERE TOO STUPID TO FIND YOURSELF A NORMAL ASSISTANT! AND OUR TROUBLE HAS STARTED BECAUSE YOU WERE AFRAID THAT YOU WOULD LOSE YOUR PATHETIC LIFE FOR THE WORKLOADS, DESPITE THE TRUTH YOU'VE ONLY HAVE HALF MONTH LEFT! AND NOW I AM LIVING IN A WORLD OF SHIT BECAUSE YOU CANNOT STAND EVEN HALF MONTH OF SORTING DATA WORK! AND WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO SORTING DATA WORK? BECAUSE YOU NEVER LISTENED TO MY SUGGESTION TO NOT SIGN YOUR DAMN NAME LIGHTLY! SO THE ONLY REASON YOU'VE CLONED YOURSELF AND GOT US STUCK WITH THIS MESS IS YOU ARE FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF!"

Beyond Obi-Wan's expectation, Qui-Gon roared back: "IT'S NEVER JUST ABOUT ME, YOU HEARTLESS IDIOT! I AM NOT BLIND, AND I SAW YOUR PROBLEMS AND FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE LIVING FORCE! BEING YOUR MASTER, HOW COULD I JUST STAND ASIDE AND DO NOTHING! BUT I AM NO GOD, I COULDN'T SPARE MYSELF ENOUGH TIME AND STRENGTH TO TEACH YOU UNLESS I COULD FIND A WAY TO FINISH THAT FORCE-DAMN WORK FASTER!"

Obi-Wan fell silent instantly, then asked quietly, "So it was…because of me?"

"Don't flatter yourself. It was only fifty percent because of you." Qui-Gon replied coldly, though Obi-Wan could sense Qui-Gon was lying.

A knock on the door brought both of them to attention. #2's sleepy voice spoke behind the door, "Time to sleep now, Love Birds. Stop disturbing my sleep, will you?"

Then they heard #2 yawned loudly and went away. They heard a brief conversation between #2 and #1:

"How did you tolerate this, #1? Their barking is unbelievable!"

"But I never knew they are in love with each other."

"Give me a break. They can't be more obvious."

"They can't?"

"Sure. You just take a look at the way they glance at each other and you'll figure out in no time."

"Wow. Maybe I should try it once tomorrow."

"Maybe. But now I'm back to sleep. Good night, #1."

"Good night, #2."

And everything went back to silence again.

The Master and the Padawan stared at each other for a short moment, and then looked away.

"#2 sure is clever and more sensitive than #1." Obi-Wan stated emotionlessly.

"And that's what makes him a smartass." Qui-Gon nodded emotionlessly, too.

"I, uh…" Obi-Wan swallowed, "I am sorry for what I said, Master."

"You should." Qui-Gon nodded approvingly.

"I admit I was being arrogant –"

"And stupid."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, then said in resignation, "Yes, and stupid. And will you please forgive me, Master?" Obi-Wan looked up at his Master with apologies in his eyes, "I know only saying 'sorry' wouldn't be enough –"

"No." Qui-Gon suddenly pulled Obi-Wan into his embrace tightly, "But this would be." Then Qui-Gon lowered his head to kiss Obi-Wan's lips gently, who immediately became boneless in his arms.

Obi-Wan tried to pull back weakly, murmuring: "That's not what I meant…"

"Then what did you mean?" Qui-Gon caressed the Padawan's cheek tenderly.

"Uh…I meant…" Obi-Wan swallowed, trying to think coherently under Qui-Gon's touch, "I would do the…the weekly cleaning work for…for you…"

Qui-Gon's head jerked up instantly, "Weekly cleaning work?"

"It's your turn this week to clean up our quarters." Obi-Wan returned to be sober again quickly.

"But I thought I did the cleaning work last week."

"No, it was I who did the cleaning work last week."

"Fine." Qui-Gon said, "Since I've already forgiven you, so I'll do it myself…" he trailed off as he glanced at the bedroom door, "Maybe my dear clone #2 could be of service."

"But I thought he's going to do your report." Obi-Wan frowned.

"That's his problem." Qui-Gon said irresponsibly, "Now," he let go of Obi-Wan and went back to putting away Obi-Wan's stuff, "perhaps we should try to get you settle down here faster and go to sleep. I am really tired now."

"How come? You didn't do any sorting work today, in fact, you haven't done ANY sorting work since #1 came here."

"Haven't you ever heard of that 'mind-exhausted is worse than body-exhausted'?"

"Your mind is exhausted?"

"Yep."

"Why?"

"Because of the pressure of being a Master! Now, shush, go back to work."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and began tending to his blanket.

"Master?" Obi-Wan asked as he finally finished settling down in his Master's bedroom, sitting on the mattress on the floor.

"Mm?" Qui-Gon answered absently as he lay down on his bed.

"Do you think there will be more clones of you in the future?"

Qui-Gon closed his eyes wearily, "I hope not. Two are already enough – or even too many."

"Why do I have a feeling that #2 will clone himself?"

"Be quiet, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon said sleepily, "I'm already asleep."

"Then why are you talking?"

"Mind your own business…" Qui-Gon really fell asleep this time.

Obi-Wan gazed at his sleeping Master for a moment, then he stood up to move Qui-Gon into the cover of the blanket – the older man had fallen asleep on top of his blanket.

"#2, that's MY cup!" Qui-Gon exclaimed indignantly at #2, who was still sipping milk with his cup.

"So?" #2 didn't even bother to glance at him, "I'm your clone, remember? So your cup is my cup, too, Original."

"That doesn't make any sense!"

"That's because your intelligence is not enough for you to understand the words coming from my wise mouth."

"But, #2," #1 remarked tentatively, "it REALLY doesn't make any sense."

#2 shrugged, "Then let's just say that I got the cup first."

"And?" Qui-Gon said coldly.

"And I will be the one to use it at least this breakfast." #2 replied with equal coldness, plus some arrogance.

"Okay, okay, you win." Qui-Gon sighed, too annoyed by #2 to continue arguing and walked away, "I'll just find a new one."

As Qui-Gon #2 was thinking that he was lucky this morning, Qui-Gon abruptly turned around, added: "By the way, #2, after you finish my mission report today – I gave you the details of it already last night – you will clean the quarters."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You know, clean the quarters." Qui-Gon smiled ironically, "That shall be very easy for such a wise person like you."

As #2 opened his mouth, intent to retort, Qui-Gon cut him off abruptly, "I will check your work tonight."

Then he left the breakfast area to meet his apprentice, who was now having breakfast in the Dining Hall, for he was sure there would be a conflict in the quarters this morning.

"Padawan," Qui-Gon said with a sigh as he deactivated his lightsaber blade in the Training Hall, "I find that having clones is even worse than not having any clones at all."

"I told you to find a normal assistant." Obi-Wan sighed as well, "But now that you've created them, then they are human beings as well. They have their own personalities and thoughts."

"And that is the worst part and also why Smoky's never proud of his technology of cloning." Qui-Gon sighed, "This is a nightmare."

"Qui-Gon #3 will be your name." Smokieleed said to the newly awaked clone anxiously.

"You bet, dude!" #3 said happily, grinning like a child.

"I hope you know what you're doing, #2." Smokieleed rubbed his forehead in weariness, "Qui-Gon created #1, #1 created you, and now you created #3. Don't you think there are too many Qui-Gons out there?"

"No." #2 smiled, "Sometimes to get more out of life, you have to get more of yourself. Anyway, thank you, Doc." He hugged Smokieleed briefly.

"You're welcome, #2." Smokieleed sighed heavily, "May the Force be with you. And for the last time, do NOT call me Doc. I am a Jedi Master with scientific skills, not a scientist."

"Whatever you say, Doc." #2 shrugged absently, clearly not paying any attention to the Jedi Master, as he was about to talk with #3, who was watching everything around him with over-excited eyes.

Qui-Gon gasped sharply as he saw the scene in front of his eyes when he returned to his quarters: another new Qui-Gon clone was whistling while cleaning the rug with a vacuum cleaner.

"Qui-Gon…#3?" he said tentatively since the clone was too absorbed in doing the cleaning work to notice his presence.

"Yeah?" #3's head snapped up instantly and turned to look at him. He blinked and then his face lit with revelation, "Oh! You must be Gonny! The Original!"

"G-Gonny?" Qui-Gon frowned. Yes, he had a VERY bad feeling about this.

"Yeah, that's your name, isn't it?" #3 hopped excitedly.

"Well…actually it's Qui-Gon."

"That's what I said, Gonny."

"Whatever…" Qui-Gon sighed: he was getting sick of his clones with various personalities.

"Cheer up, dude!" #3 bounced excitedly beside him.

"All right, all right." Qui-Gon put up his hands to motion #3 stop bouncing.

"Master, you know what I heard today –" Obi-Wan, who just came back from outside, dropped the datapads in his hands as he saw a jumping Qui-Gon in the living room.

"Don't tell me this is Qui-Gon #3." He commented in a shaky voice, stunned.

"Obi-Wan, who else can he be?" Qui-Gon rubbed his forehead in weariness.

"I can't believe this – wait, actually, I CAN believe this. That explains why I heard someone saying they saw a singing you on the way to the quarters. But then again, what can you expect if you've assigned so much work to #2?" Obi-Wan said as he picked up the datapads he just dropped.

"Much?" Qui-Gon protested, "I only told him to do the mission report and clean the quarters!"

"Well, obviously that's too much work for his Highness." Obi-Wan snorted.

"I'd be more careful if I were you, young man." #2 emerged from Qui-Gon's study room, eyes narrowed, "You're going way out of your depth."

Before Obi-Wan could retort, Qui-Gon spoke with a cold tone, "I've been expecting you, #2."

"And how may I be of service, Original?" #2 kept his arrogant voice.

"How's the report going?" Qui-Gon said coldly.

"Almost done." #2 tilted his head in superiority, "And #3 is the reason why it'll be finished soon."

"Then why is he so…abnormal?" Qui-Gon said sternly as #3 began singing aloud – and completely off-key – when he mopped the kitchen floor.

"You know, when you make a copy of a copy, it's not as sharp as...well...the original." #3's expression showed he was tired of explaining the easiest things to Qui-Gon.

"So you think you're not responsible for him?" Qui-Gon arched an eyebrow.

"Well, he's your clone."

"No, he's my clone's clone's clone."

"What's the difference?"

"So he is actually YOUR clone!" Qui-Gon was on the verge of anger.

"Hey!" #3 looked out from the kitchen, "No fighting, okay, guys?"

"Okay…" Qui-Gon and #2 replied, tempering their impatience.

"That's the good dudes!" then he turned his eyes to Obi-Wan, shocked, "Who is this sunshine?"

Obi-Wan felt the hair on the back of his neck stand at that nickname. Qui-Gon sighed, "He's my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Pleased to meet you, sunshine!" he exclaimed happily and disappeared into the kitchen again.

"Sunshine?" Obi-Wan turned to look at his Master.

Qui-Gon just shrugged and turned to look at the door as it opened. #1 came in, humming slightly. Then he found the three people in the living room were all staring at him.

"What?" #1 looked at them in confusion.

"You're #1, right?" Qui-Gon said cautiously.

"Yeah…I suppose so." #1 answered nervously, "What's wrong?"

"Just to make sure you're not a new clone." #2 said with his composure.

"A new clone? Why would there be a new clone? #2, you won't clone yourself, will you?"

"Well…"

"You will!"

"As a matter of fact, I did."

#1 gasped sharply and stiffened at once as he heard someone singing loudly – and still off-key – in the kitchen.

"That's him?"

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and #2 all nodded in unison, and at the same time, #3 bounced out of the kitchen, grinning like a child: "FINISHED!"

"Oh' dear…" Qui-Gon shook his head in despair as he was now looking at someone that looked exactly like himself but acting like a lunatic. Well, not really a lunatic, but someone too easy to get excited.

"Qui-Gon," #1 touched his arm tentatively, "Master Wie'woo-ta said my job – I mean, your job – ends today."

"What?" Qui-Gon said absently, not believing his ears.

"Uh, he said your job of sorting data ends today."

"And I don't need to sort any data anymore?"

"Yeah."

"And I'm a free man again?"

"Yeah."

"Since today?"

"At least that's what he said." #1 said, "And he also said your job ended a little earlier than scheduled because the Council has found someone who is thrilled to do the sorting work."

"Thank you, #1! You're the best!" Qui-Gon hugged #1 tightly.

"Uh…Qui-Gon…? Can't breathe…" #1 said in an incoherent and choked voice, struggled to save himself from his original's arms.

"Oh, sorry!" Qui-Gon finally released him and turned to hold Obi-Wan up by the waist and swing him in a circle. Obi-Wan was stunned that Qui-Gon held him like that in front of the other three.

"I told you they're lovers." #2 nudged #1 with his elbow smugly.

"They sure are." #1 murmured absently.

#3 whistled at full volume at Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, which made Obi-Wan blush fiercely, "You should take sunshine out on a date, Gonny!"

"Gonny?" Obi-Wan repeated in shock.

"Well, that's a cute name, Original." #2 smiled in irony, and Qui-Gon snorted.

"Then how do you call him?" #1 asked #3 curiously, pointing at #2.

"Lanny, of course!"

"You just HAVE to ask, don't you, #1?" #2 said, annoyed.

"All right, no fighting." Qui-Gon interrupted, "#3's right, I'm taking Obi-Wan out for dinner tonight because today is his birthday."

"It is?" Obi-Wan's brow furrowed, "I thought my birthday's on…Hmm…when is my birthday anyway?"

Qui-Gon rolled his eyes, "It's today, my forgetful Padawan."

"You're sure?"

"Certainly."

"How can you ever be so sure?"

"Because I'm your Master! Listen, Obi-Wan, you want me to take you out or not?"

"Perhaps yes." Obi-Wan said thoughtfully, "We should celebrate your freedom day."

"I don't need to celebrate my freedom day."

"Nor do I need to celebrate my birthday."

"Ugh, cut it out!" #2 exclaimed, "You two just can't stop arguing, can you? Now, Original, just take your little girlfriend out and have fun and leave me in peace!"

"Girlfriend?" yelled Obi-Wan furiously, "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means you're a –"

Qui-Gon blocked Obi-Wan's hearing immediately and dragged him out of the quarters before #2 could say anything that would make his short-tempered Padawan explode like a bomb.

Once Obi-Wan was out of the quarters, Qui-Gon went back and gave each of the clones some money to spend if they didn't want to have dinner in the Dining Hall.

Then he took Obi-Wan's lean yet warm hand in his callused one and headed for one of the highest-class restaurants on Coruscant near the Temple – The Six Seasons. He smiled inwardly as he was sure this would be a beautiful and romantic dinner – though a bit expensive, but that would be worthwhile.

To be continued...

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